Therapy Dogs

Let’s talk about Therapy Dogs

Today's discussion is about therapy dogs. Maybe you’ve seen them out in the world working their canine magic and thought to yourself, ‘everyone loves my dog, he would make a great therapy dog.’ Well maybe, but before we get into all that, let's discuss what a therapy dog is and what it isn’t. Therapy dogs are trained to offer comfort and attention to people in a variety of settings such as schools, hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, airports, and disaster areas. Therapy dogs are not service dogs and are not recognized by the ADA, Americans with disabilities act. Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks for people with disabilities, such as alerting their handler that their blood sugar is too low or are about to have a seizure. They can also open doors, pick up items or be trained as a seeing eye dog. When coming across a service dog in public, it is wise to refrain from petting or distracting the dog. Therapy dogs are also not emotional support or comfort dogs which offer emotional support to their owner and no one else. Someone with PTSD or severe anxiety may benefit from having an emotional support dog near when they have an episode or attack. While not covered under the ADA, they are protected under the Federal Fair Housing Act, which allows them to live with their owners in housing that otherwise does not allow pets.

So, are you thinking your dog might have what it takes to be a therapy dog? Alright, let me ask you a few questions that I want you to answer honestly. First question: Does your dog tolerate strangers and genuinely loves to meet and greet them? Does he do so in a calm manner? Does he jump up to greet people? Is your dog reactive? Will he react if a child were to grab his head and pull him in for a kiss on his snout? Will he react if a dementia patient takes hold of his tail and squeezes for dear life? I know exactly what you're thinking, ‘it’s not the dog's fault!’ And you're right, it's not the dog's fault, except when it comes to therapy dogs. Therapy dogs are held to a higher standard and must follow the rules set forth by the organization you certify with.

Potential therapy dogs must be able to greet strangers and offer attention willingly. A dog who has to be bribed or forced to interact with people other than you is not a good fit for therapy work. Often therapy dogs will be working around environmental distractions and must remain calm and unfazed. These distractions can be noises such as children yelling, metal trays and walkers clanging, machines beeping, people hovering over them, petting and sometimes poking and pulling their fur. This does not mean you cannot intervene to stop unwanted behavior from strangers, because you certainly must advocate for your dog and remove them from potentially disastrous situations. Your job as part of a therapy team is to stand up and be your dog's voice. You must diligently watch over your dog and know how to read his body language. You need to understand when your dog has had enough for one visit and when it’s time to retire for good. Just because you and your dog enjoy the work now, does not mean your dog always will. I really don’t mean to make therapy dog work sound frightful or traumatic, because it’s not. In fact, it’s one of the most rewarding activities you can do with your dog. Knowing you and your dog as a team can have a positive impact on someone's day, if only for a few minutes, is truly gratifying.

If you feel your dog exhibits all the skills necessary to be a therapy dog, then you can decide which organization fits your needs and arrange to be either evaluated or take a test to be certified. Each organization has their own rules and procedures for certifying a team. There are many different organizations both national and local. Some of the most recognized organizations are Therapy Dogs international, Pet Partners, Alliance of therapy dogs and Love on a Leash. The best way to prepare for a therapy dog test is to take classes in your area from local training facilities. Classes that are beneficial besides a therapy dog preparation class are basic obedience and canine good citizen classes. Therapy dogs must be well mannered, obedient and socialized. Learning a few fun tricks in a Tricks class is also a great idea. People of all ages enjoy watching a dog perform a few tricks.

Dogs bring so much joy to the world.

Written by Louisa Redman