In recent time researchers have come to a conclusion that dog owners have always known - pets are good for our physical and emotional health.   Perhaps, due in part to what researchers have confirmed, more pet owners than ever have become interested in therapy work.  Most types of pets have been used in therapy work, but dogs are certainly the most common.  Dogs after all are “man’s best friend”.

What Is a Therapy Dog?

Most often therapy dogs help put an end to the loneliness of nursing home residents.  Other places therapy dogs visit include hospitals, psychiatric wards, juvenile centers and schools.  Therapy dog visits can be broken down into two main types: the Warm and Fuzzy Visits and the Demo Visits.

Warm and fuzzy visits at nursing homes, hospitals, etc.  are done either room to room or by gathering interested residents into one large area.  When going room to room always be sure to knock and ask the resident if they would like to be visited  by your dog.

Demo visits are done by gathering interested nursing home or hospital residents into a large room as an audience.  The dogs then perform tricks, do agility obstacles that owners have brought along, play doggy games or perform obedience routines.  Dog owners usually introduce themselves and their dogs before the routine.  Afterwards there may be a meet and greet between people and dogs.  Demo visits are common at schools and often used in conjunction with a talk on responsible dog ownership, dog care or dog safety.

What Is Needed To Do Therapy Visits?

While your dog legally does not require any special training or certification to participate in therapy work, we don’t suggest visiting prior to having your dog tested and certified.  Many facilities now require certification for all visiting dogs.  One reason to have your dog certified is that the large therapy dog organizations provide therapy dog insurance.  With such insurance, if your  dog were to injure someone you can’t be held liable.  To pass therapy dog tests your dog will need to walk nicely on-lead, Sit and Down on cue, Stay when told, Sit for greeting and be left alone with a stranger.  Your dog also will  be tested for reaction to noise and visual  distractions, showing no more than mild interest.  Many therapy dogs are also taught specialized behaviors to make their job easier, such as putting feet up on cue or turning around so people in wheelchairs can reach them.

Is Your Dog a Future Therapy Dog?

Therapy work is not for every dog, even with proper training.  Dogs who make the best therapy dogs for warm and fuzzy visits are those which are calm, sweet, outgoing and tolerant.  Since therapy work can be stressful and hard on the dog, emotionally shy, nervous, timid or overly reactive dogs are probably best pursuing other activities which can help build their confidence without demanding one-on-one attention from strange people.