Q. Can my dog be a therapy dog?

A. Therapy work can truly be a rewarding and special experience that allows you and your dog to work as a team. If you feel that you would like to volunteer your time to visit people who may benefit from pet therapy, then the first step is to prepare for a therapy test.

Therapy

tests ensure you and your dog are ready to begin therapy work. These tests generally take an hour or two to complete, so attending a preliminary class can be very helpful for you and your dog to prepare.

The class should give you valuable information regarding the types of facilities that are often looking for pet therapy visits, such as hospitals, nursing homes, hospice, etc. You can also use the class as an opportunity to determine the type of visits that are best for you and your dog. For instance, small lap dogs typically do amazingly well with elderly patients because they can be placed easily on laps or in beds. These dogs should exhibit a very calm demeanor and be able to lay down for petting for long periods of time.

Other types of therapy visits can take place in private homes, libraries, schools and many other places. Dogs that can lie down for long periods of time are great for reading programs for children to enhance their skills by reading aloud to dogs. More lively dogs are great for active participation with people who can give commands, play and interact with the dog.

Keep in mind, though, that not all dogs are suited for therapy work, even with very intensive training. Dogs who are reactive to other dogs are typically not suitable because they get excited and bark when they see other dogs, startling or scaring patients and disrupting facility operations. Dogs that are shy or timid may reject petting, causing patients to feel disappointed.

Successful therapy dogs must be responsive to their owners’ directions in all types of distracting situations. Therapy tests are designed to test the whole team, so how your dog responds to your instructions and follows your lead is key to a good result.

About the Expert

The owner of Family K9, Liz Huskey focuses on training for the family dog. She is a Certified Dog Trainer (ABCDT), AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and Therapy Dog International (TDI) Evaluator. Liz shares her dog Otis with others through pet therapy. To learn more about therapy dog evaluation or training with Liz, please visit the website at www.familyk9dogs.com or call 630-862-5078.