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Therapy Dogs at AthleticDogs.com
Therapy dogs are trained to provide attention and affection to people in hospitals, retirement and nursing homes, schools, or anywhere else there are people in need of comfort. Therapy dog and handler teams are often present following disasters as well to comfort the folks involved in those stressful situations.
There are few limitations on which dogs may become therapy dogs. Any size and breed of dog can do the job, as long the temperament is right. Good therapy dogs must be friendly, patient, gentle, confident, and at ease in just about any environment. They must enjoy contact with a variety of humans and be comfortable being petted and handled...even by those who are not accustomed to interacting with dogs.
The primary responsibility of a therapy dog is to allow unfamiliar people to find comfort in handling him or her. Depending on the situation, the dog may experience aggressive hugging and petting from kids or may need to rest quietly next to the sick or elderly. They may perform tricks or play structured games with the new people or may need to stand calmly to accept pets. Whatever the situation, a good therapy dog will remain calm and happy and be flexible in giving and receiving the level of attention needed.
Therapy dogs are not service dogs. That is, they are not generally trained to directly assist humans or have a legal right to go wherever the owner goes. Therapy dogs are not covered under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), thus various institutions may establish their own rules and regulations about whether these dogs are allowed and under what conditions. In general, most institutions require at least the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen status, but many require an additional registration with an independent therapy dog organization.
Therapy Dog Organizations
Therapy dog organizations exist throughout the US and Canada. Some are for-
AKC The AKC Canine Good Citizen test is the first step in becoming a therapy dog.
Therapy Dog History
The first documented story of a dog acting in a therapeutic capacity dates back to WWII. Smoky, a Yorkshire Terrier, was adopted from the battlefield by Corporal William Wynne. At first, she worked with the soldiers to install communication lines below ground, but when the Corporal fell ill, Smoky’s career as a therapy dog began.
Corporal Wynne’s fellow soldiers brought Smoky by to cheer him up and his doctor, Dr. Charles Mayo of the Mayo Clinic fame, allowed Smoky to stay overnight. The other wounded and ailing soldiers were cheered by her visits, and soon Dr. Mayo was taking Smoky along on his rounds. Even after Corporal Wynne was up and around, Smoky’s role as a therapy dog continued.
The first formal application of therapy dogs was established by an American RN. Elaine Smith was working in a hospital in England and noticed the positive response from patients who were visited by the local chaplain and his Golden Retriever. After returning to the US in 1976, Smith launched the first program for training dogs to visit hospitals and other institutions where the folks needed a little cheering up.
In 1982, Tender Loving Zoo (TLZ) was founded by Nancy Stanley to develop animal therapy
for severely handicapped children. She began with her own poodle, Freeway, but soon
expanded the program to include dogs on loan from the local pet store. The positive
response to Ms. Stanley’s efforts has played a significant role in the rapid growth
of animal-
Therapy dog programs are now available all across North America and around the world.
The AKC reports that the Canine Good Citizen program (usually the first test for
potential therapy dogs) is the fastest growing dog program in the US. One reason
is that this basic training makes for a better behaved, more social dog all around.
Those who volunteer to help others through therapy dog programs take the CGC training
a bit further and are able to share the enjoyment of a well-
Therapy Dogs – How to get involved
Most therapy dog organizations have a clear set of rules about which dogs can qualify to If you believe your dog is a good candidate for a therapy dog, there are a few things to do before you drop in to the nearest hospital or school.
First, be sure your dog has successfully completed basic obedience training. He or she should be completely under control in a variety of environments and respond to your commands, even from a distance.
Second, look for local therapy dog programs and organizations. Most cities do have groups active in scheduling therapy dog visits and are always happy to have new volunteers. Most will require that your dog pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen test and some will establish their own registration tests as well. Often, registering with these organizations will also provide insurance for you and your therapy dog, just in case something ever goes wrong!
Read over the expectations for these tests and do a good bit of practice before you try to test. The AKC Canine Good Citizen details are here. Information on the training and equipment you will need to become a successful therapy team (handler and dog) can be found here.
If there is no organized therapy dog program in your area, simply call the institutions
you are interested in visiting directly. In most cases, the activity director will
have an established policy on therapy pets and will be happy to help you. Some institutions
may not have any guidelines set, but once they meet you and your well-
Some of the most common institutions that allow therapy dogs are:
- Hospitals The Director of Volunteers generally handles therapy dog programs. You will need the appropriate registration and insurance to participate, and many bigger facilities require orientation visits or formal permission from each department before you can visit.
- Schools & Libraries The principal or guidance counselors at schools or the activity director at the library are usually in charge of general therapy dog programs, and may have opportunities for you and your dog to work with special needs programs and the like. You may be required to submit to a background check as well.
- Mental Health Facilities Dog therapy teams can have a very calming effect on mental health patients and the positive results of recent programs means more institutions are allowing therapy dogs to visit.
- Shelters Homeless, youth, and abuse shelters often allow dog therapy teams to help participants through tough times. You may be required to submit to a background check as well.
- Camps Many summer camps, such as those that deal with pediatric cancer, MS, and autism, use therapy dog teams to work with the campers.
AKC Canine Good Citizen Test
The AKC Canine Good Citizen test is the first step in training your dog as a therapy dog.
Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger
This test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger to approach it and speak to the handler in a natural, everyday situation. The evaluator walks up to the dog and handler and greets the handler in a friendly manner, ignoring the dog. The evaluator and handler shake hands and exchange pleasantries. The dog must show no sign of resentment or shyness, and must not break position or try to go to the evaluator.
Test 2: Sitting politely for petting
This test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger to touch it while it is out with its handler. With the dog sitting at the handler's side, to begin the exercise, the evaluator pets the dog on the head and body. The handler may talk to his or her dog throughout the exercise. The dog may stand in place as it is petted. The dog must not show shyness or resentment.
Test 3: Appearance and grooming
This practical test demonstrates that the dog will welcome being groomed and examined and will permit someone, such as a veterinarian, groomer or friend of the owner, to do so. It also demonstrates the owner's care, concern and sense of responsibility. The evaluator inspects the dog to determine if it is clean and groomed. The dog must appear to be in healthy condition (i.e., proper weight, clean, healthy and alert). The handler should supply the comb or brush commonly used on the dog. The evaluator then softly combs or brushes the dog, and in a natural manner, lightly examines the ears and gently picks up each front foot. It is not necessary for the dog to hold a specific position during the examination, and the handler may talk to the dog, praise it and give encouragement throughout.
Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)
This test demonstrates that the handler is in control of the dog. The dog may be
on either side of the handler. The dog's position should leave no doubt that the
dog is attentive to the handler and is responding to the handler's movements and
changes of direction. The dog need not be perfectly aligned with the handler and
need not sit when the handler stops. The evaluator may use a pre-
Test 5: Walking through a crowd
This test demonstrates that the dog can move about politely in pedestrian traffic
and is under control in public places. The dog and handler walk around and pass close
to several people (at least three). The dog may show some interest in the strangers
but should continue to walk with the handler, without evidence of over-
Test 6: Sit, down, and stay
This test demonstrates that the dog has training, will respond to the handler's commands to sit and down and will remain in the place commanded by the handler (sit or down position, whichever the handler prefers). The dog must do sit AND down on command, then the owner chooses the position for leaving the dog in the stay. Prior to this test, the dog's leash is replaced with a line 20 feet long. The handler may take a reasonable amount of time and use more than one command to get the dog to sit and then down. The evaluator must determine if the dog has responded to the handler's commands. The handler may not force the dog into position but may touch the dog to offer gentle guidance. When instructed by the evaluator, the handler tells the dog to stay and walks forward the length of the line, turns and returns to the dog at a natural pace. The dog must remain in the place in which it was left (it may change position) until the evaluator instructs the handler to release the dog. The dog may be released from the front or the side.
Test 7: Recall
This test demonstrates that the dog will come when called by the handler. The handler will walk 10 feet from the dog, turn to face the dog, and call the dog. The handler may use encouragement to get the dog to come. Handlers may choose to tell dogs to "stay" or "wait" or they may simply walk away, giving no instructions to the dog.
Test 8: Reaction to another dog
This test demonstrates that the dog can behave politely around other dogs. Two handlers and their dogs approach each other from a distance of about 20 feet, stop, shake hands and exchange pleasantries, and continue on for about 10 feet. The dogs should show no more than casual interest in each other. Neither dog should go to the other dog or its handler.
Test 9: Reaction to distraction
This test demonstrates that the dog is confident at all times when faced with common distracting situations. The evaluator will select and present two distractions. Examples of distractions include dropping a chair, rolling a crate dolly past the dog, having a jogger run in front of the dog, or dropping a crutch or cane. The dog may express natural interest and curiosity and/or may appear slightly startled but should not panic, try to run away, show aggressiveness, or bark. The handler may talk to the dog and encourage or praise it throughout the exercise.
Test 10: Supervised separation
This test demonstrates that a dog can be left with a trusted person, if necessary, and will maintain training and good manners. Evaluators are encouraged to say something like, "Would you like me to watch your dog?" and then take hold of the dog's leash. The owner will go out of sight for three minutes. The dog does not have to stay in position but should not continually bark, whine, or pace unnecessarily, or show anything stronger than mild agitation or nervousness. Evaluators may talk to the dog but should not engage in excessive talking, petting, or management attempts (e.g, "there, there, it's alright").
Therapy Dogs Training and Equipment
Training to be a therapy dog team requires strong basic obedience skills and exposure to a variety of people and environments. The skills your dog will need to become a successful therapy dog include:
- Basic Obedience All dogs must be experts in basic obedience. That is, they must follow your commands and signals (sit, stay, stand, heel, etc.) without fail and not be distracted by other people, dogs, or activity around them. The AthleticDogs.com ebook series, Basic Training for the Athletic Dog, walks you through every fundamental skill your dog needs to succeed in any dog sport.
- Advanced Obedience Following basic commands (sit, down, stay) is not usually enough to pass therapy dog tests. Rather, your dog will need the advanced skills of managing his or her behavior without constant treats and without hesitation. The more fragile the people your therapy team works with, the more advanced the dog’s obedience skills must be.
- Tolerance of People A good therapy dog will happily accept attention from all sorts of people, young or old, healthy or ill, active or bedridden.
- Tolerance of Noise Therapy dogs must not be spooked by new or strange sounds, including voices, machinery, and the like. They must reliably behave as normal regardless of the noise around them or the voices of the folks they visit.
- Tolerance of Environment Hospitals, nursing homes, and even schools are very different environments from your dog’s home and local park. Therapy dogs are likely to be exposed to everything from wheelchairs to aggressive hoards of kids to medical machinery, and must be able to maintain their friendly, cheerful temperament regardless of the circumstances.
Equipment
The equipment required to work toward therapy dog status include:
- Collar & Leash The CGC and most therapy dog tests require the dog be in a comfortable buckle or slip collar and leash. Specialized training collars are generally not allowed, though you may elect to use them during training. You will also need a 20’ (or longer) lead for distance skills.
- Brush or Comb The CGC test requires that your dog be tolerant of grooming, even by strangers.
- Therapy Dog Vest and Patch
