GOOD DOG: Does your pooch have the goods to be a therapy dog?
If you are looking for something to do with your dog and aren’t interested in competing, consider getting your dog certified as a therapy dog.
Unlike service dogs, which perform specific tasks such as opening doors or retrieving items for humans, therapy dogs visit places like hospitals and assisted living facilities to interact with the patients/residents. Studies have shown that therapy animals not only improve people’s overall emotional state, but can actually accelerate the recovery of those who are sick or recuperating from surgery.
The first thing you need to do is honestly assess your dog’s personality. A therapy dog should be friendly and outgoing, and enjoy physical contact, especially from strangers. If your dog is aloof or not fond of being petted, then therapy work might not be for him.
Make sure that your dog is well socialized with people and other dogs, and that he is at least moderately trained. You will also want to get your dog exposed to a variety of environments. Hospitals are full of unusual sight, sounds, smells and objects (like wheelchairs and IV towers). If your dog spooks easily, you can try to work on desensitizing him, but you have to keep his best interests in mind.
The next step is to contact either the volunteer services department or human resources department of the facility you’re interested in working with. There, you can get specific information about what’s required for their therapy dog program. If you’re considering several facilities, get the requirements for each of them, because they can differ from place to place.
Most places that have a therapy dog program will require that you get your dog certified through one of three certifying agencies: the Delta Society (www.deltasociety.org), Therapy Dogs International (www.tdi-dog.org) or Therapy Dogs Inc. (www.therapydogs.com). They’ve all posted their set of standards and tests, as well as costs and other information, on their Web sites. In addition to ensuring that dogs entering facilities are appropriate for the program, these agencies also cover their “graduates” with liability insurance should something unfortunate occur.
While researching this article, I was delighted to learn that one of our first clients, Joetta Graner (the Schnauzer Lady!), has been the Colorado Springs-area tester/certifier for Therapy Dogs Inc., for eight years! She said people who are interested in getting their dog therapy-certified can call her at 719-471-3117 if they have questions, but to please go through the Web site first.
Both Graner and Bonnie Nixon, from Memorial Hospital Central, said there’s always a need for more therapy dogs at most hospitals, nursing homes and similar facilities.
Every one of our clients who has gone on to do therapy work with their pets say it is incredibly rewarding, and that the dogs love it! We often take for granted the companionship and love we get from our four-legged friends when we see them every day. Imagine how it would feel to be alone, scared, possibly in a great deal of pain and in a strange environment, only to have some happy furball come in and shower you with love and kisses. What a morale booster!
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Jim Beinlich is the owner of Cool K9’s Dog Training in Colorado Springs and a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. Reach him at Jim@coolk9s.com.
