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Becoming A Therapy Dog

Becoming A Therapy Dog. What is a therapy dog?. A dog trained to provide affection and comfort to people in a variety of settings Hospitals, nursing homes, hospices Retirement homes Schools Disaster areas Anyone with a learning difficulty. Who can be a therapy dog?.

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Becoming A Therapy Dog

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  1. Becoming A Therapy Dog

  2. What is a therapy dog? • A dog trained to provide affection and comfort to people in a variety of settings • Hospitals, nursing homes, hospices • Retirement homes • Schools • Disaster areas • Anyone with a learning difficulty

  3. Who can be a therapy dog? • Therapy dogs come in all sizes and breeds • Most important characteristic is: • A GOOD TEMPERMENT! • A therapy dog must be: • Friendly, patient, confident, gentle • At ease in all situations • Must enjoy human contact • Be content to be petted and handled, sometimes clumsily

  4. What does a therapy dog do? • Allow unfamiliar people to make physical contact with it and to enjoy that contact • Children may hug the dog, adults may just pat the dog • The dog may need to be lifted onto, or climb onto, an individual’s lap or bed and sit or lie comfortably there • Some dogs perform tricks! • In hospice, therapy dogs reduce death anxiety

  5. What effect does a therapy dog have? • Relieves human stress • Lowers blood pressure • Raises spirits • Helps children overcome speech and emotional disorders

  6. What are therapy dogs NOT? • Therapy dogs are NOT service or assistance dogs • Service dogs directly assist humans and have a legal right to accompany their owners in most areas • Service dogs are legally protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

  7. Can a therapy dog go to school? • Colleges and universities across the US bring therapy dogs to campus • Especially during midterm and final exam weeks to help students de-stress, relax and smile • True Grit (Gritty) – mascot at UMBC and Certified Therapy Dog!

  8. How can I become a therapy dog? • Make sure the owner and the dog have “the right stuff” • Pass basic obedience training • Sit, stay, come, walk well on lead, and “leave it” • Enroll in AKC’s Canine Good Citizen Program • Participate in therapy dog training program • 12 hours of in person instruction • Clean bill of health from veterinarian • Be evaluated by Therapy Dogs International • Send in registration packet!

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