A Day In The Life Of A Therapy Dog Team

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A few days a week we take our Therapy dogs on an outing to visit local nursing homes. Not only do we look forward to the visit, the dogs get excited when we put on their Therapy Dog vests, knowing they are going to work, and the residents of the nursing homes look forward to the visit also.
Our first visit gives us the opportunity to walk through the facility and to meet the staff and volunteers. As we walk down the halls we have the opportunity to meet some of the residents. Some of them make room for us as we walk by with big smiles on their faces, others stop in their tracks in amazement and wonder and want to meet and pet the dogs. The quieter ones watch silently.
Some are still in their rooms so we ask permission before entering their space. Most want one or both of the dogs to stay and visit for a while, but once in a while a resident will silently wave us away not wanting to be bothered.
Our second visit is always better than our first. Everyone has been told we are coming and anxiously wait for us to arrive. We are greeted by big smiles by those in the lobby making us glad to be back. Again, we walk down the halls, this time though, we stay a little longer, letting people gather around us waiting to pet our dogs. We learn some of their names as they open up while stroking the dog. As they speak the dogs patiently sit or stand enjoying the experience and the attention.
We take our time, visiting the next group waiting in the hall, Again, we visit the residents who are in their rooms. They enjoy the quiet visit and the individual attention and often talk more openly about their families, careers and highlights of their lives.
By the third visit we can see definate changes in everyone. They are very happy and very anxious to see us, but now the visits have become more personal. Some of them remember the names of the dogs, others give the dogs names. Now, they eagerly but gently pet the dogs happy to see them again. Being comfortable with the dogs makes them open up and they talk to us about their families, their past careers and some of the things they like to do. We often hear about their children and pets and what they did during the week.
Some of the quiet, shy individuals venture forth to meet the dogs for the first time letting us guide their hands to the dog’s body for a pat.
Each visit makes the residents more comfortable with us and the dogs. They have something to look forward to and something to talk about or think about after we leave. It is not uncommon for individuals who have not spoken in months to start speaking quietly to the dogs while petting them. Others find the dogs amusing giving them a good laugh for the day. Some just like to look at them. The people who do not have regular family visits especially look forward to our weekly visits. Whether our residents are laughing, watching or actively participating, we know we are making a big difference in their lives and in the lives of those who care for them.

Upcoming Classes

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Location: Good Samaritan Church, 5220 Crowders Cove Ln, Lake Wylie, SC

Therapy Dog Class – *Special $149* (was $199)

Class begins Saturday, March 3rd at 10am. There will be 7 classes.

Therapy Dog Class teaches dogs and owners the fundamentals of therapy dog work. Dogs and owners wishing to attend this class must have previously completed a basic obedience class or an equivalent. This course teaches the skills and environmental training that is required for therapy dogs. This course is great if you are looking into doing therapy work in schools, nursing homes and hospitals. Many of our previous graduates are already involved in these types of exciting and fulfilling programs.

Canine Good Citizen Class – $129

Class begins Wednesday, March 14th at 6pm. There will be 6 classes.

This is a great class for owners and dogs who have taken basic obedience classes and would like to continue training or for those interested in pursuing Therapy Dog work. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club.

Please contact Alison Pennington at 704.770.8205 or apennington@highlandcanine.com for more information or to sign up for a class.

Visit our website at www.therapydogclub.com for more information about our club and trainers.

Therapy Dogs in Schools

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I was recently talking to a friend of mine, who is a teacher at a local elementary school, about the benefits of therapy dogs in schools. She just started a reading program in her elementary school and is already seeing the many benefits of having the children read to the dogs. Many people are becoming more aware of just how beneficial dogs can be in schools. Therapy dogs can help children of all ages and learning levels become more interested in learning and getting involved in school programs. Therapy dogs give the children something to look forward to when going to school. In some cases they can even aid in solving behavior issues with children.

Reading programs are often the first thing people think of when they think of therapy dogs in schools. Children who are having trouble reading out loud to teachers or fellow students often feel more comfortable and relaxed when reading to a dog. Dogs are not judgmental and do not correct the children when they make a mistake. Like my friend, many teachers see improvements in their students reading levels after just a few sessions with the dog. Some of her students even go home and read to their own dogs!

Teachers can also incorporate therapy dogs in their lesson plans for different subjects. The dog can be used for math (transferring the dogs’ weight in pounds to kilograms), writing assignments or research projects. Incorporating the dog in the lesson can get the students more interested in the subject and add a little fun. I recently read about a school that created and named a trophy after the therapy dog that visited them weekly. When a student got a 100% on their homework for the week they got their picture taken with the dog and the trophy on Friday to take home.

Therapy dogs can also be very beneficial in special needs classrooms. Dogs provide unconditional love and support to children who might not have a lot of friends. Dogs can open up dialogue for children with special needs both with educators and their fellow classmates. Other children often want to become their friend because they see them with the dog. For children with emotional struggles, petting a dog can reduce stress and help calm them down.

As a therapy dog team, the handler and the dog can visit schools and teach valuable lessons in dog safety – how to properly pet a dog, what to do if you see a lost dog, etc. They can also discuss how to treat an animal properly and as a result can prevent animal abuse in the future.

For a dog to become a Therapy dog in a classroom they must be trained and socialized well. As with all therapy dogs, the dog must have solid basic obedience – sit, down, stay, come, heel. It is very important that the dog is good with children of all different ages and can tolerate being around many children at one time.

If you have questions about therapy dogs in schools or would like to learn more please contact Alison Pennington at 704-770-8205 or apennington@highlandcanine.com.

Selecting a Therapy Dog

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Selecting the right kind of therapy dog is imperative to the outcome of the dog’s training and its ability to perform the duties that will be required of it on a daily basis. Therapy dogs must be healthy, happy, and social dogs that enjoy human companionship.  Therapy dogs can be either purebred or mixed as long as they have the proper temperament.  The ideal therapy dog should be comfortable interacting with a variety of people in numerous settings.  Selecting a therapy dog that is friendly and genuinely enjoys the company of others is crucial.  Therapy dogs must be comfortable around a variety of people who may look differently, smell differently, or talk differently from what they are used to.

Socialization is key for training a therapy dog.  Making sure that they are given plenty of opportunities to interact and socialize with a variety of people is critical.  Therapy dogs will be exposed to different environments and situations and must exhibit the proper temperament.  Therapy dogs need to have strong nerves and be capable of bouncing back quickly from unusual or difficult situations.  Through heavy socialization early on in life, many behavioral problems such as aggression or phobias can be stopped before they ever develop.  This is important as therapy dogs cannot be afraid of or act aggressively toward the people they are trained to help.

When selecting a potential therapy dog, conduct a series of tests to determine their suitability.  For example, test the dog’s reaction to various noise creating objects or situations.  Throwing a metal bowl on the ground, turning on a drill, a radio turned up high, or other loud noises should not cause the dog to fall apart.  The dog may startle, but it should bounce back and not become so terrified that it runs away and refuses to return.  Therapy dogs are often in facilities where there may be loud noises and lots of activity going on around them, so it is important that they can handle these situations.  It is also important to look at how the dog reacts to handling.  The dog should allow you to touch it on the ears, tail, stomach, paws, face, and any other location on their body.  Additionally, the dog should allow you to open its mouth and check its teeth.  The dog should be able to handle all of this, as it will be in situations where it is frequently handled by others. Another factor to test is how easy it is to bait the dog into a sit or a down.  The dog should be willing to learn and be motivated by treats, toys, or attention to perform this.  Therapy dogs must have obedience training before they can go into public facilities such as hospitals or nursing homes, so it is important to know how easy it will be to teach them basic obedience.

Training therapy dogs is a rewarding endeavor. However, the process can be disappointing if the right dog is not chosen first.  If you have questions concerning selecting a therapy dog, feel free to call Lisa Scobel at 504-858-5284 or email her at lscobel@highlandcanine.com