You have probably seen
the stories shown on TV where dogs have visited nursing
homes and hospitals and helped the sick improve their health
problems. Perhaps you now are wondering whether or not your
dog could help in a similar fashion. Here are some of the
prerequisites to look for to see if your dog has what it
takes to become a therapy dog.
Perhaps, the most important consideration is whether or not
both you and your dog have the personality most suited to
this type of specialized work. Your dog should be well
trained and friendly. He should not be frightened of
strangers. He should enjoy going out and not be nervous
about new places. He should be comfortable with meeting new
people and allowing new people to touch him. A dog that is
nervous or uncontrollable will not be of any use as a
therapy dog, no matter how friendly he is.
You should also consider your preferences. Are you more
comfortable working with children or Alzheimer’s patients?
Are you comfortable around people with terminal diseases or
do you get emotional or upset? You will need to find a group
that you have a great deal of compassion for, but also one
that you can keep your composure about. Your dog will get
his cues from you, so you need to be in control at all times
and enjoy what you are doing. Knowing whom you want to work
with can make a difference in how you train your dog as
well. For example, will he need to be comfortable around
children or wheel chairs?
Getting A Dog Ready For Certification
Next is to get your dog ready for certification. There are
several things to consider when doing this.
One important thing is to make sure that your dog is in good
health. You will need proof that he is current on all
vaccinations, has had his annual physical, stool, and
heartworm checks, and is free of any parasites or
infections. A simple trip to your veterinarian can take care
of all of these. At the end, you should receive a health
certificate to prove compliance. Keep an eye out for any
unusual symptoms that might signal that something is wrong,
such as excessive scratching or redness to certain body
parts.
In appearance, you dog should be cleaned and well groomed.
He should also allow handling and grooming by other people
that he does not know. For some lines of work, he might be
required to wear a costume or a certain type of collar. Make
sure that he is comfortable with having any accessories
being put on and taken off again.
Your dog should be comfortable around people. This includes
being accepting of strangers and neither shying away from
them or approaching them until given permission. He should
be able to walk through a crowd of people without getting
distracted or straining on the leash. He should allow
petting and touching by complete strangers. He should not
startle or become defensive around loud noises or sudden
movement. Have different people approach him and pet him to
see how it reacts. While they are there, have them make a
loud noise by dropping something or jump suddenly. It is ok
for your dog to look surprised, but he should remain where
he is and not act aggressively.
You will also want to consider training. A good therapy dog
needs to be able to sit, lie down, and stay on command and
without any hesitation. These are absolutely essentially for
therapy work and he should be able to do them effortlessly.
Your dog should be able to walk on a leash without pulling
or needing a constant "heel" command. He should not react to
other dogs in a room.
If your dog sounds like he would be good with all of these
things, the next step to do is get him certified. Most
therapy groups will require that he pass the American Kennel
Club’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test. This test evaluates
behavior and temperament of potential therapy dogs as well
as how suitable they are for use around wheel-chairs,
walkers, and hospital equipment. The therapy organization
may also have additional requirements to the AKC’s test that
will require independent certification.
With a little bit of work and the right temperament, you and
your dog can be on your way to rewarding therapy work
