I think it is wonderful to have a pet that is qualified and trained to be a therapy dog --- and one that you can take places that therapy dogs are invited to visit and make the world a happier and brighter place for many people.
But - before you all get excited about this - there are many things to consider. All dogs (even the cute little things that we love) are not good candidates to be therapy dogs. Are you ready and do you have time to do a lot of "volunteer work?" (This is the whole purpose of having a therapy dog.) Are you ready for training - and certification for yourself and your dog? And, there are expenses involved and carrying insurance for these little guys is a must.
There is a great deal on the Internet about certification for therapy dogs - worth reading and checking into if you are really interested.
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I do want to share at least this much with you.................
Temperament is the most important factor. (Remember the old real estate cliche, "location, location, location"? Well, in therapy work it's "temperament, temperament, temperament"--because nothing else will take its place.
A dog who is friendly--who really likes people in general--is already a promising candidate. The dog who is friendly and well behaved--no jumping, running around, licking people without permission--is on the way to certification. The dog who is trained to work around people who are bedridden or in wheelchairs, who is always under the handler's precise control, who can perhaps perform a few entertaining tricks--is halfway there. The dog who can take accidental mishaps in stride (such as when a disturbed client yells or brandishes a cane), who can deal alike with the endlessly repetitive interactions of Alzheimers patients, with the grabbing and gurgling of infants, and with the unpredicatability of psychiatric inpatients--and give every indication of enjoying its work--is indeed a Therapy Dog.
Note that very little has been said about training, as such. Yes, training matters--but unless the dog is friendly to start with, the training may well be wasted for this particular purpose. I have personally known a number of highly-trained dogs, some with truly impressive obedience titles, who would be barely adequate (if that) as Therapy Dogs.
Of our own dogs, the better-trained one, who will retrieve various objects by name, perform lengthy out-of-sight sits and stays, etc., etc., is not a Therapy-Dog prospect for several reasons, the most important of which is that he likes most strangers but not by any means all. He also has very normal reactions to disturbances and perceiving threats involving either himself or us.
Our less-trained dog, on the other hand, is a natural. She not only loves everyone, but she is virtually "people-proof." If a cyclist ran over her tail after a parade, she would not (as her better-trained colleague did) bark at the person; she would look to me for a signal. You get the idea.
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My sister's Bichon is a therapy dog. They go out at least once a week(sometimes more) to visit handicapped and sick people who enjoy their visit. They make regular visits to several nursing homes and visit the children and geriatric wards regularly at many different nursing homes and hospitals. They visit schools several times a year to educate young people about therapy dogs and what they are and how they can brighten the day for many people. My sister doesn't work - and does a great deal of volunteer work with her little dog -- and, of course they both enjoy doing it very much.
My sister never takes her dog to places that they aren't invited to visit or where dogs aren't allowed. She is not handicapped and her dog is not a service dog that needs to be with her at all times. She would be appalled at people taking advantage of what she and her dog do to brightened the lives of many unfortunate people in the world --- so that they can take their dogs where they shouldn't be.
On the other hand -- if some of you really have a little dog that would be a good candidate to be a therapy dog - and you and your dog are willing to be trained - and certified - and you are able and willing do the volunteer work that is the purpose of being certified --- I really have a lot of admiration for you. I think it is a wonderful thing for people and their dogs to do.
Carol Jean |