Could Your Dog Become A Therapy Dog?
The answer to this question is
YES!
One of the most rewarding things you will ever do in your life, is to work along side your dog, helping to bring love, comfort and joy to someone in need.
You think your dog could be a candidate for working as a therapy dog? Here are a few things to consider.
What is a therapy dog? Therapy dogs are dogs of any size, breed, color, shape, sex or age and use the power of the human-animal bond to help people. The help may come in the form of emotional support. For example, a dog may visit the elderly and show them that they are loved by allowing the person to hold the dog while they laugh or cry. The help may also be physical. For example, dogs can be used to encourage a stroke victim to move an arm to pet the dog.
Why are dogs used as part of therapy? It is the unconditional love that these animals provide to those that are ill, disabled, elderly or anyone who is in a facility and is deprived of acceptance, love or touch. Therapy dogs can be used in many different situations, such as during social activities or physical therapy. Everyone benefits from therapy dogs – the individual(s) who needs the therapy, the staff at the facility, the individual’s family, the handler and the therapy dog itself.
Any breed of dog can be used as a therapy dog. The dog’s personality is an important factor in choosing a therapy dog. A therapy dog must like people. It must be gentle, outgoing, calm, stable, friendly and in good physical health. It should not be easily frightened by strange objects or loud noises. Puppies do not make good candidates for therapy dogs because they may not yet be fully house-trained and are still unpredictable and full of energy. They also may not have had all of their immunizations and can be easily frightened by new things. It is not necessary for a therapy dog to start as a puppy. Many successful therapy dogs begin as adults. The sex of the dog is not important either. However, it is recommended that the dog is spayed/neutered.
Therapy dogs are required to be very well trained and of course non-aggressive. They cannot jump up on people, paw, or scratch. They cannot bite, mouth, or lick unless commanded and must be under their owner’s control at all times, with no leaping, pulling, or barking. They must also be clean, well-groomed, and free of parasites or other zoonotic diseases (those that can be transferred from animals to humans). They should be checked regularly by a veterinarian to ensure that the dog is in good health and is able to work.
Do you think your dog possesses the qualities to be a therapy dog? What other things must be considered before you look into it? The dog’s personality and temperament are of the utmost importance. Is your dog well-socialized to both adults and small children? Does the dog cry every time he gets a vaccination or is he/she the stoic kind? A therapy dog must enjoy being touched and cannot be over-excited or fearful of being handled. They must get along with other dogs because visiting therapy dogs often travel as a group. Is the dog reliable with distractions? During training, does he/she be easily distracted by other dogs/people/noises/objects? The dog should be exposed to as many strange noises as possible and should react in a curious but controlled manner. It should not react fearfully or try to snap/bite when startled. A good therapy dog must also need to be completely and reliably house-trained. Both you and your dog must enjoy obedience training and have enough time to invest in training because a lot of that will be needed in order to be a certified therapy dog.
Dogs make wonderful companions and their never-ending love and companionship make a positive impact on the lives of many. Studies have shown that post-op patients recover faster while in contact with dogs and other therapy animals. They provide inspiration to those who are in need of encouragement, such as patients suffering from a chronic disease. The use of animals in therapy has been recognized in the medical community for some time now, and many people are learning what pet owners have always known – that pets are good for us. They provide companionship and love, encourage activity, provide a listening ear, and most importantly, they give people a reason to smile.
The following are some of the benchmarks that must be met before being certified.
1. Accept a Friendly Stranger – You and your dog will approach a stranger and you will shake the stranger’s hand. Your dog should show neither signs of aggression nor fear.
2. Sit Politely for Petting – Your dog should obey a sit command and accept petting from the evaluator.
3. Appearance and Grooming – You certainly want your dog well groomed before you take him to be tested, but he must also allow the evaluator to lean over him and brush him.
4. Out for a Walk – The evaluator wants to see you walk with your dog on a loose lead. No tugging or pulling by you or your dog.
5. Walking Through a Crowd – Volunteers will be on hand to provide a crowd atmosphere. Your dog will need to show neither aggression nor fear.
6. Sit and Down on Command/Staying in Place – Your dog will need to obey these commands to include staying while you walk across a room or show ring.
7. Coming When Called – Sit, down, and stay commands are the most important things your dog can learn. Not only can obeying these commands possibly save his life, but is essential in being a good canine citizen and a possible therapy dog. You will be asked to leave your dog and he must stay until you call him to you. Then he must come directly to you with little or no hesitation.
8. Reaction to Another Dog – You and your dog will greet another handler and dog. Your dog may show only a mild interest in the other dog, but may not display aggression or fear.
9. Reactions to Distractions – This includes a person running and a loud crashing sound. Everyone should teach their dog the “leave it” command. Distractions can come at any time when you are in public. Having control of your dog means you have successfully taught it to ignore distractions upon command.
10. Supervised Separation – You will ask a stranger to hold your dog for you while you go out of sight for three minutes. Your dog must remain calm during this time of separation
Some therapy dog groups modify the CGC test by adding the following elements.
1. Reactions to Distractions: Here your dog must walk within three feet of a bowl of dog food and obey the “leave it” command. Believe me, this will come up in your therapy career. You don’t want your dog slurping out of a patient’s plate!
2. Walking Through a Crowd – This time the people in the crowd will be using medical equipment such as walkers, canes, wheelchairs, and crutches. Your dog must not shy away from people using such equipment and allow them to pet him.
3. Meet the Patient – Your dog needs to show a willingness to make himself easily accessible for petting. Small dogs are expected to get on a chair if necessary so they can get closer to someone who may be too weak to reach out to them.
Most importantly in a TDI test, you and your dog are tested as a team. The TDI Certified Evaluator will judge both the conduct of the handler and the dog. Although AKC allows slip collars (fabric or chain) for their CGC test, TDI only allows a flat buckle or snap collar. Training collars, harnesses, or Halti’s are not allowed.
If you think this is something you and your dog would be interested in trying, please contact me and I will direct you to a training facility.