They say laughter is the best medicine. And what can make you
laugh more than the loving antics and attentions of a dog? Anyone who
has ever owned a dog knows how wonderful he or she makes you feel when
you’re down. Your best canine buddy is always happy to see you. His
ears perk up, he starts wagging his tail, and you’re greeted with
sloppy kisses and unconditional love and affection. Doctors will
confirm that having a pet makes you feel happier and less stressed.
Playing with a pet will even lower your blood pressure.
And that’s why therapy dogs are in such great demand. Therapy
dogs and their handlers visit hospitals, nursing and retirement homes,
day care centers, libraries, schools, even correctional facilities.
Nothing says love like warm eyes and a cold nose. A therapy dog can
help young people understand the importance of pets in their lives and
how to care for them. And it’s always a red-letter day in the life of
the sick or elderly person when their favorite therapy dog comes for a
visit.
There are actually three types of therapy dogs:
1. Facility Therapy Dogs
2. Animal Assisted Therapy Dogs
3. Therapeutic Visitation Dogs
Facility Therapy Dogs work mostly in nursing homes and are
trained to work with Alzheimer’s patients, helping to keep them
focused and calm. These dogs are handled by a trained staff member,
and live right there at the facility.
Animal Assisted Therapy Dogs actually work with human physical
and occupational therapists in aiding a patient’s recovery following
accidents or surgery. They help the patient regain the motion in their
limbs, as well as their fine motor control. The patients can even
relearn the skills necessary for caring for their own pets.
The third and most common therapy dogs are the Therapeutic Visitation
Dogs. These people’s pets have been especially trained for visits to
hospitals, schools, nursing homes, as well as detention and
rehabilitation facilities. For those in long-term care, who miss their
own much-loved pets, this is a bright spot in their day. A visit from
one of these animals can really lift the patients’ spirits and help
motivate them in their therapy. A visit from a therapy dog gives the
patients something else to think and talk about besides themselves and
their illnesses. Just touching and petting the animal can boost the
spirit and stimulate the senses. It brings joy and fun back into a
life sometimes overcome with boredom and depression.
“Therapy Dogs provide the humans they visit with emotional and
physical support. Emotional benefits are difficult to measure, which
means therapy dogs help people without knowing exactly why,” says
Kathy Davis, author of Therapy Dogs, DogWise Publishing.
Think your little furry buddy might make a good therapy dog? Here are
the basic criteria for determining whether your companion qualifies as
a therapy dog.
1. He must be at least one year old. Puppies are cute and cuddly, but
discipline is a necessity.
2. He must be healthy and completely up-to-date on his vaccinations.
You’ll need verification, in writing, from your veterinarian.
3. He must be well groomed and free of parasites. That means a bath
and brushing before all visitations. Don’t forget his teeth!
4. He must get along well with other animals. Social ability is a must
in these settings.
5. He must obey you even with distractions all around. In hospitals,
there are all manner of strange smells, sounds, equipment being moved
around, etc. He must be easy going, calm and not easily spooked.
6. He should be at ease with strangers handling him. Everyone is going
to want to pet and stroke him. Children will probably get in his face.
He must be well mannered and friendly. Most dogs love the attention
and affection.
So, if you’ve decided that Fido is the perfect candidate for this kind
of job, what’s next?
Check online or in your phone book for the nearest organization
of therapy dogs. Whichever organization you decide to contact will
want to meet you and your furry companion. Then there will be a series
of tests to see if your team has what it takes.
The cost to enter the program is nominal, but the rules are strict
and all dogs and their handlers must go through, and pass, the
training program. Each team of therapy dog and handler will then be
assigned a schedule of events. Let the fun begin!
Therapy dogs are working dogs, who take their jobs seriously, but
it’s evident that they love what they do, and it shows. The bright
eyes, the wagging tail, the warmth and unconditional love, well that
says it all.
Billie Smith Administrative Manager of Therapy Dogs Inc. puts it
this way, “If you don’t do it, you don’t get it. It is truly a win-win
situation for all involved. The dog and handler spend quality time
together. The dog gets all the petting while his/her handler just
stands there and brags about them. The person doing the petting is
forgetting all the aches and pains, and negative things happening to
them for a brief moment in time. The child stroking the dog while
reading in a relaxed state is improving his/her reading skills. When
the visit ends, it is always with a smile and a ‘Thank You’ and that
is worth more than all the money in the world. Everyone is happy and
you have done nothing more than share your pet. The registration is
simple and the sense of accomplishment is overwhelming. Sharing smiles
and joy is what it is all about.”
(Alanna Parke Kvale is the author of "Widowhood is Not Funny", and the
owner of APK Copywriting Services - you can find her at
www.alannaparkekvale.com).
