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Our Active Australian Certified Therapy “Doodles”; Southern Cross Smooch aka “Smooch” ThD, CGC; Spring Creek’s Ranger aka “Ranger” ThD, CGC. |
What is a Therapy Dog?
A therapy dog’s main purpose is to brng a smile to someone and brighten their day. Therapy dogs are trained and evaluated for temperament, training and safety. They are also certified to be healthy and free of disease and parasites, and regularly groomed. Therapy dogs visit as a team with their owner/handler.
What is the difference between a therapy dog and a service dog?
Therapy dogs are different from service or assistance dogs. Therapy dogs provide love and comfort to people on a volunteer basis, whereas a service or assistance dog provides people with the assistance they need to live
and perform daily tasks on their own. There are service dogs for the visually impaired, hearing impaired, mobility impaired, seizure alert dogs, and more. Therapy dogs, however, are only allowed to go to establishments where they are invited to go. Many hospitals, long-term care facilities, libraries, schools, and more realize the importance and benefits of pet provided therapy and welcome visits from therapy dogs.
How do therapy dogs make a difference?
Therapy dogs help people in hospitals, long-term care and assistance living facilities by brightening their day. It has been scientifically proven that petting and interacting with a dog lowers stress hormones, blood pressure, and helps relieve depression. Besides the physical benefits, dogs make people smile and laugh. The emotional benefits cannot be weighed!
Therapy dogs also provide the emotional benefits listed above along with educational benefits for children in libraries and schools. Some therapy dogs participate in reading programs for children with reading problems. Children come and read to a therapy dog and the experience is much less intimidating than reading in front of their peers. This takes away the anxiety of making a mistake. Dogs never judge!
Where do therapy dogs go to visit?
Therapy dogs visit in many different institutions and facilities including, but not limited to: hospitals, long-term care facilities, assisted-living facilities, libraries and schools. Dogs can visit anywhere they are welcome!
What makes a dog a good candidate for a therapy dog?
The most important quality a therapy dog should possess is a good temperament. Therapy dogs should love to meet strangers and show this by waging their tail and body. They should also be exited when meeting people, but focused and calm. Your dog should be obedience trained and exposed to medical equipment which can be achieved by attending therapy dog/obedience classes with your dog. So, dogs should bring excitement and happiness to a person when they visit, but be able to be calm so that they are welcome wherever they go!
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