How to Train Your Dog for Treatment
Dogs are professionals at making you feel better when you have a bad day or are confined to the couch during an illness, and they can help other people feel the same vast canine love with a little practice. Teaching your dog to become a therapy dog means it can bring joy to children who are stuck in the hospital, provide companionship for seniors, and comfort people with disabilities.
What types of dogs are suitable for therapy training
The first step when thinking about certifying your puppy as a therapy dog is to find out if he is the right type. Jennifer Henley, Ph.D., San Francisco’s animal therapy program manager at the SPCA, says personality matters far more than breed when it comes to dogs that perform well in therapy. Your dog should:
- Enjoy meeting new people
- Have no negative history (such as biting or biting)
- Follow commands like sit down, leave, stay and go down
- It’s okay with new noises, smells and environments
- Be able to stay calm and sit still during visits
Training and working as a therapy dog is a lot of work for both of you, so not only should your dog love work, it should also love this type of work. For example, if your dog enjoys jobs such as searching, grazing, or stalking, they may not be suitable for therapy because it involves ignoring distractions and executing commands quickly. Dogs that are known for their intelligence and are easy to train, such as guard dogs or terriers, can receive therapy training faster and are better suited.
Henley recommends knowing the boundaries of dogs so that if it turns out that they don’t like therapy work, you can find another way to help your community, such as joining a search and rescue volunteer group.
Who will your dog help
Most people know that therapy dogs and their owners are beneficial by visiting those in need of company, but you may not realize how much of an impact you can have. Henley describes the main benefits of working as a zootherapy volunteer:
I am honored to help someone in times of need like this and be a part of it and know that your dog brings joy, comfort, peace, motivation for physical therapy, etc., Incredibly helpful.
When it comes to who you and your dog invite to help with therapy visits, you have tons of options. Here are some common features you probably have nearby:
- Hospitals : Children, like other patients, need a friendly face to brighten their day.
- Nursing Homes and Nursing Centers : Bring Comfort to Seniors. Especially suitable for knee-sized dogs.
- Libraries and Schools : Help kids learn to read by providing an impartial fluffy audience.
Check with local libraries, community centers, and shelters if there are other programs you and your dog can join.
How to train and certify your dog
You will likely need to invest a lot of time and effort in training your dog and getting certified for therapeutic work, but the happiness you bring to those in need can be worth it. The exact standards for the assessment exam and certification depend on which organization you are certified with, but training usually includes:
- Study sessions (usually 4+ hours over several weeks)
- Your dog is demonstrating the ability to follow a series of commands (sit down, stay, get out, leave, say hello)
- Supervised visits to observe how your dog is doing
- Proof of health from a veterinarian (you may need to resubmit it annually)
You may also have the opportunity to go through multiple levels of certification as your dog adds more of the therapy visit experience under his collar. The American Kennel Club offers the Canine Good Citizen therapeutic training and certification program. Your local SPCA may also have a program, SF SPCA has Assisted Animal Therapy .
In addition to providing a valuable service to your community, getting certified, training therapy dogs, and actually volunteering can strengthen the bond between you and your dog.