Could My Dog Be A Therapy Dog?

Who doesn’t love a good ole therapy pup? Someone to lift your spirits when you’re in the hospital. Or perhaps visit a children’s home to brighten their day? Therapy dogs work in a variety of ways, not just in the most commonly known role of a guide dog for the disabled but for many reasons. Your question is “Could my super pup brighten someone’s day?” The answer is yes! With the right amount of training and certification many dogs can.

Here are a few ideas on what a guide therapy dog would have to achieve in order to step into that role:

1. People Pleaser. Your pooch would have to love the guts out of people. This is what he would be doing each day when he left the house for work. Your dog would have to enjoy being touched and even hugged by people. Many dogs tolerate the hugging and touching part, but fido would have to be ok with this all day.

2. Total Vaccination, and then some. Most dogs receive the common core set of vaccines where as a therapy dog has to undergo a bit more extensive testing and vaccine regimens. As they will be in hospitals, around ill humans and little kids. You can’t have your dog carrying around disease and illness now can you?

3. Obedient. Your pooch will require the best of the best when it comes to manners. No jumping, barking or licking unless on command. He will require total obedience. You can’t have an out of control dog when it comes to the therapy role.

4. Socialized. Fido is going to require socialization to the hilt. He must be able to handle any and all environments, situations and personality types. This may require many months of training via exposure to many environments, people and animals.

If you think your dog has what it takes, reach out to Therapy Dogs Inc. for further details.