Tessa Quinn
Therapy dogs are trained to provide emotional support, comfort, and companionship to people in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, mental health institutions, disaster areas, and other settings. Any breed of dog can be trained to become a therapy dog, but it requires time, patience, and dedication. The dog must be friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and at ease in all situations, and must enjoy human contact and attention. Therapy dog training involves teaching the dog obedience, social skills, and confidence, as well as exposing them to different situations and environments. Therapy dogs must also undergo a certification process, which includes a temperament assessment, basic training, and, in some cases, a therapy-specific test.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Friendly, patient, confident, gentle, at ease in all situations |
| Age | Dogs must be at least one year old |
| Training | Basic manners, obedience, social skills, confidence, exposure to different settings, desensitization to sound and sudden movements |
| Certification | AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test, therapy-specific test |
| Handler | Owner or another handler |
| Settings | Hospitals, nursing homes, schools, disaster areas, mental health institutions, airports, libraries, courtrooms |
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What You'll Learn
- Temperament: Friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and at ease in all situations
- Basic training: Good manners, obedience, and social skills
- Exposure to different settings: Hospitals, nursing homes, schools, disaster areas, etc
- Focus on the handler: Ignore distractions, people, and sudden movements
- Certification: AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test, health checks, and temperament assessments
Temperament: Friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and at ease in all situations
The temperament of a therapy dog is the most important characteristic. A hospital therapy dog must be friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and at ease in all situations.
Therapy dogs must enjoy human contact and be happy to be petted, cuddled, and handled, sometimes clumsily, by unfamiliar people. They should be relaxed and happy around new people and in new environments. They should also be trained to ignore distractions and stay focused on their handler, even with exciting smells, people, or noises around. This is particularly important in hospitals, where there may be loud or sudden noises, or sudden movements.
Therapy dogs must be well-mannered and under the control of their handlers at all times. They should be trained in basic obedience, with commands such as "sit", "down", and "stay". They should also be socialised and exposed to different types of settings and situations, so they can remain calm and relaxed in all environments.
Therapy dogs must be at least one year old, and certification organisations will conduct a temperament assessment as part of the process. Dogs that are friendly, patient, confident, and gentle will make excellent therapy dogs, provided they have the right training and exposure to different situations.
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Basic training: Good manners, obedience, and social skills
Basic training is essential for therapy dogs to acquire good manners, obedience, and social skills. Therapy dogs should be friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and at ease in all situations. They must enjoy human contact and be content with being petted, cuddled, and handled, sometimes clumsily, by unfamiliar people.
Therapy dogs need to undergo basic training to develop good manners and social skills. They should be exposed to different types of settings and people to ensure they can remain relaxed and happy amid unfamiliar surroundings. Basic training may include teaching dogs to come when called, sit, stay, and react appropriately to friendly strangers and other dogs.
Obedience is a crucial aspect of basic training for therapy dogs. They should be able to follow commands consistently and stay focused on their handler, even with distractions such as exciting smells, people, or noises. Advanced training can help dogs learn to ignore these distractions and remain obedient.
Therapy dogs should also be desensitized to sounds and sudden movements, which is important in hospitals and schools. They need to be well-mannered and under the control of their handlers at all times. Handlers play a significant role in guiding the dogs and ensuring they exhibit good behaviour.
The AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test is a widely recognised assessment for basic training. It evaluates a dog's socialization, friendliness, and obedience. The CGC certification is often a prerequisite for therapy dog programs, and many organisations require dogs to pass this test before advancing to specific therapy dog training.
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Exposure to different settings: Hospitals, nursing homes, schools, disaster areas, etc
A key part of training a therapy dog is exposing them to different settings and situations. Therapy dogs can be taken to a variety of places, including hospitals, nursing homes, schools, mental health institutions, airports, disaster areas, and even courtrooms. The dogs provide emotional support, comfort, and companionship to people in these settings.
It is important to ensure that your dog is relaxed and happy in unfamiliar surroundings and with different people. They should be trained to stay focused on their handler, even with exciting smells, people, or noises around. This can be achieved through advanced training, where dogs learn to ignore distractions and sudden movements.
Therapy dogs should also be well-mannered and have good social skills, as they will be interacting with a diverse range of individuals. They must be friendly, patient, confident, and gentle, enjoying human contact and attention.
To prepare for these various settings, it is recommended to join a national or local therapy chapter that holds social events. This helps both the dog and the handler make friends and get accustomed to different environments.
Additionally, therapy dog organizations can pair you with the right facilities and volunteer opportunities. These organizations provide education, field training, mentorship, and screening for both dogs and handlers. They can guide you in obtaining the necessary certifications and clearances, such as background checks and health checks, to ensure your dog is well-prepared for any setting they may encounter.
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Focus on the handler: Ignore distractions, people, and sudden movements
Training a therapy dog is no easy task and requires a lot of work and dedication from both the dog and the handler. Therapy dogs provide relief to those in anxiety-provoking situations, bring comfort to those who are grieving or lonely, and offer affection to people in institutions such as hospitals.
Therapy dogs need to stay focused on their handler and ignore distractions, people, and sudden movements. To achieve this, it is important to start by choosing a low-distraction environment, such as your backyard, to begin training. This will help your dog better focus on your commands and learn the desired behaviour. Once your dog has mastered basic commands in a low-distraction environment, you can then gradually increase the level of distraction. This approach is known as "proofing", which helps reinforce good behaviour and ensures your dog will respond to your commands, regardless of the distractions present.
When increasing the level of distraction, always do so gradually, only increasing when your dog is consistently responding to your commands in the current level of distraction. For example, if your dog is obsessed with balls, don't start by tossing the ball past them while teaching them to stay. Instead, start with the ball on the ground several feet away while asking for a stay. If they can handle that, gradually move the ball closer, then hold the ball, and finally, toss it in your hand.
In addition to training in environments with varying levels of distraction, it is important to teach your dog specific commands that will help them focus on you and ignore distractions. The command "watch me" is a valuable skill for therapy dogs, as it tells your dog to make eye contact with you and switch their focus from a distraction back to you. To teach this command, say your dog's name followed by "watch me". When they make eye contact, offer praise and reward them with a treat. You can practice this command in crowded areas such as a dog park or college campus. Another useful command is "leave it", which teaches your dog when something is off-limits and prevents them from becoming distracted.
By teaching your dog to ignore distractions and focus on you, they will be better able to provide productive therapy visits and effectively comfort and support individuals in need.
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Certification: AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test, health checks, and temperament assessments
To become a certified therapy dog, your dog must possess certain characteristics and pass specific tests. The American Kennel Club (AKC) offers the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test, which evaluates a dog's behaviour and temperament. Dogs that pass the CGC test receive a certificate, a CGC medal, and are listed in the AKC's CGC registry. Additionally, they are eligible to use the CGC title after their name.
The AKC also offers temperament testing, which is recognised by several AKC Parent Clubs. This test assesses a dog's reaction and behaviour towards various elements, such as strangers of different demeanours, ranging from friendly to threatening. Dogs that pass the temperament test can have this noted on their AKC record and receive an AKC certificate.
Therapy Dogs International (TDI) is another organisation that offers evaluation and certification for therapy dogs. TDI dogs must be at least one year old and pass a test assessing obedience, temperament, and suitability for therapy work. The handler must also pass a background check to ensure the safety and integrity of the therapy sessions. The Alliance of Therapy Dogs has a similar three-part evaluation process that includes a temperament test and observed visits.
In addition to temperament assessments and obedience tests, health checks are also important for therapy dogs. Organisations often require proof of vaccinations and regular health check-ups to protect both the dog and the individuals they interact with. Therapy dogs should be clean, well-groomed, and free of odours to ensure a pleasant experience for those they visit. Regular grooming is, therefore, an important part of maintaining the health and hygiene of a therapy dog.
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Frequently asked questions
A therapy dog must be friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and at ease in all situations. Therapy dogs must enjoy human contact and be content with being petted, cuddled, and handled by unfamiliar people.
Dogs must be at least one year old to become a therapy dog. It is also important to understand your dog's temperament and lifestyle. Dogs must undergo basic training to establish good manners, social skills, and exposure to different settings.
First, your dog must pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test, which covers basic obedience and good manners. After that, you can contact an organization to acquire your dog's therapy certification. This includes a temperament assessment, advanced training, and more.
Two internationally recognized groups are Pet Partners and Therapy Dogs International. The Alliance of Therapy Dogs provides testing, certification, and insurance for therapy dogs and their handlers.
Therapy dogs provide many physical and mental health benefits to the people they visit, such as lowering blood pressure and reducing anxiety. Therapy dog work is also rewarding for the handler and the dog, as it allows them to connect with the community and spread joy.
