Therapy Dogs

In defining a Therapy Dog, I've come across quite a number of terms. It seems each organizaton has its own version of how to use the term *Therapy Dog*. There is also mention of Animal Enhanced Therapy, Animal Assisted Activity and Animal Assisted Therapy to consider. I think the best thing to do is refer you to each organization's website and let you decide for yourself what should be called a Therapy Dog. Please follow the links and visit these organizations to see firsthand what they say. Meanwhile, we will be calling my dog, Helga, a *Therapy Dog*

KPETS.org
Love On a Leash
Therapy Dogs Inc.
Delta Society 

 What does it take to be a Therapy Dog?

Each organization has its own set of requirements, so contact the organization you are interested in registering with for exact requirements. Generally, the dog must know obedience: come, sit, stay, down and walking on a loose lead, walking safely through a crowd, reacting well to crowds, other dogs, rough petting, loud noises, wheel chairs, wobbly crutches, walkers, etc .

 Wisdom Passed Down to Me:

Obedience training and socialization should start from puppyhood. When training, keep in mind the age of the dog (if it is a puppy it will act like a puppy and that should be expected), and this should be fun. If the dog is not having fun, stop. Clicker training is a great way to start and positive. Clicker training can be started at any age! I noticed a difference in Helga's learning when we started with the clicker. It went so well, I'm even using it to train our cats!

Something to keep in mind is this isn't only about what the human wants to do, the pet also must want to do the work. Watch for signs of stress or displacement behaviors. If this is happening during training or socialization, you need to re-evaluate the situation and start in a less stressful environment for the dog. If there is a point you are not having fun, chances are the dog isn't either.

Another point to remember is YOU are your pet's advocate. It looks up to you to only place it in safe situations. If ever you have a sense something isn't right or going well, remove yourself and you pet immediately. If you have to provide an excuse to leave a situation, do so tactfully, but do remove the pet immediately, safely. Don't set the pet up for failure.

Contact your local organization or national group and hook up with other teams already registered to see if you'll really like the work. You will get to observe and be a part without having your own pet there, less distraction and you will get to see what the work is really like.

Therapy Dogs are not service dogs/ assistance dogs and do not come under the Disabilities Act to be allowed in public places. Never try to pass off a therapy dog as a service dog. To take a therapy dog or dog in training to be a therapy dog into a public place, speak with a supervisor and explain what you are doing, ask for permission to enter since your dog is not a service dog. It is illegal to pass off a therapy dog as a service dog. (see The Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) )

Therapy Pet visitations are a wonderful experience. They brightens people's faces, and put a gleam in their eyes to see a pet come into their rooms. Each Therapy Pet Team has many stories they can tell of the difference their pet made in someone's day.  It is amazing how much animals mean to the human heart and spirit.  Bed-ridden people try to lean forward to get a better look at the pet.  Hands with arthritis that can't feed themselves, pet the dog all the while forgetting the pain.  The tears of joy that stream down their faces as they see us walk in the room.  It is more than companionship.... it is an emotional journey that heals the heart, gives purpose to continue another day.  I could go on!  Perhaps in another article devoted entirely to visits.  (grin)

Lessons From My First 10 Months

My own experience during the first 10 months has shown me... have fun with it. At first I was very nervous with Helga, wondering how I was going to do the work. It made me feel uptight, and Helga reflected that energy. Once I relaxed and looked to enjoy the visits, Helga did the same. The visits can be just a couple minutes with 1 person, or longer depending upon circumstances for that day. Relax, and enjoy it.

It is important to teach a dog to be polite. That includes being polite to other dogs. Having a dog that is friendly and running up to people and other dogs to say hi, is not polite and the people or dogs that are being rushed up into their faces are within their rights to complaint (if it is a human) or to bark and growl (if it is a dog). The offending culprit is the impolite-rush-in-someone's-face dog and owner. Another point to keep in mind is the dogs' age... it is many times part of the adolescence obnoxiousness that the handler is working the dog through.... and you know how well teenagers listen. (grin)

What is a proper greeting with humans and dogs? To greet a human, the dog should not be jumping up on them nor being *licky-licky*. A *kiss* is appropriate if the human is asked if they like doggy kisses. A dog never greets another dog in the face, nose to nose. They should meet from the side. A dog coming into another dog's face is an aggressive action and is rightly met with a warning growl or bark. Unfortunately you may come across some dogs (even therapy dogs) that were never taught how to be polite. You probably won't notice that, but you will hear the warning bark from the dog that was just rushed in the face with this aggressive action. Your first thought would be that the barking dog is aggressive and isn't friendly, when in reality the offender is the rude dog that wasn't taught polite behavior by its owner. Take some time, read some books on proper greeting behavior. It will benefit you, your dog, and the people you will be visiting.