A therapy dog is one that is “trained” to provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, libraries, disaster areas and hospice units. The amount of training to become a therapy dog depends on the dog’s temperament, which is the most important requirement of all. Some dogs need training while others are naturals at the act of providing comfort.
Therapy dogs come in all sizes and breeds. As long as the dog is friendly, patient, confident, gentle and at ease in most situations, he or she has what it takes to become a therapy dog. Therapy dogs must be mellow so that they do not become excited about strange hands reaching out to them.
The primary job of a therapy dog is to allow those that they do not know to make physical contact with them. They must be able to tolerate hugging from children they do not know and petting from young and old. Smaller dogs may be asked to sit on someone’s lap or bed.
Therapy dogs don’t have to be trained to perform tricks. They are appreciated for the company that they provide. However, some therapy dogs are trained to play games with the people they encounter.
It is important to note that therapy dogs are not the same as service or assistance dogs that directly assist people in performing tasks. Service dogs have a legal right to accompany their owners into buildings and businesses. In the United States, the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 protects service dogs at the federal level.
Therapy dogs are not protected by the disabilities act because they do not provide direct assistance with daily tasks. There is no law that says a therapy dog must be allowed to enter a building. If allowed, therapy dogs must meet some stringent requirements to be allowed access to public buildings.
There are several organizations that provide testing and accreditation for therapy dogs. In the United States, therapy dogs are often required to pass the equivalent of the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen test. Therapy dogs frequently have to pass tests that are designed to determine if the dog will work well in certain environments. These tests are performed to make sure a dog can handle sudden loud noises and that they are completely comfortable with strangers and unusual places. The tests also ensure that the dog is not scared of people using walkers, canes or wheelchairs. The dogs must prove they can safely interact with people of all ages.
One such testing agency is Therapy Dogs International, which is a volunteer organization dedicated to regulating, testing and registering therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers.
Therapy Dogs International was founded in 1976 in New Jersey and the organization works with all types of dogs. Some have pedigrees. Others may have been adopted from rescue groups or animal shelters. As of 2009, more than 21,000 dog/handler teams were registered. To learn more about Therapy Dogs International, visit http://www.tdi-dog.org/About.aspx.
It is important that therapy dogs have current vaccinations because they do come in contact with other animals and people. Therapy dogs must also have a disposition that allows them to get along well with other animals they may encounter in public areas. They could end up working with other dog/handler teams.
There are many benefits to visitations of therapy dogs to nursing and retirement homes. The residents are often lonely and a dog brings a temporary ray of sunshine into their lives. Many had to leave their pets behind, so a therapy dog visit evokes pleasant memories of their favorite animals.
Therapy dogs that visit hospitals play an important role in the recovery of sick people. It is amazing what a little canine comfort can do for sick people of any age. A therapy dog can put a smile on the face of a youngster battling cancer. Alzheimer patients will often react to therapy dogs when all other attempts to reach them have failed.
It is also amazing what therapy dogs can accomplish in schools and public libraries. Children that struggle to read can be motivated by the therapy dogs that visit their classrooms. Struggling to read in front of people can be a cause of embarrassment for children. They instinctively know that the dog is not going to judge them. Thus, they are comfortable and relaxed and soon find themselves reading and comprehending information.
If you think your dog could make a difference in someone’s life, consider learning more about therapy dog organizations in your area. There is an everlasting need for canines that can sooth.
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