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| Top Left: Pets in the Classroom, Center: PSI Solutions, Top Right: Dog Time, Bottom Left: Valley Humane Society, Bottom Right: Temescal Associates. |
By Sam Piha
Before introducing a therapy dog into your program, there are several steps that come first:
- Discuss with staff: It is important to discuss the topic of a therapy dog with the program staff. Are they in favor and what questions do they have? There may be a staff member who has a dog that would meet all the requirements for a comfort dog.
- Permission: If the program is school- based, it is important to talk to the principal and learn what are the requirements by the school district (certification, insurance, etc.). It is also important to review with the afterschool provider organization and if appropriate, your landlord.
- Trial Run: You can search for local organizations that allow you to request a therapy dog visit to your program.
How Do I Find a Local Therapy Dog Organizations to Request and Schedule Visits?
You can do an internet search to identify local organizations that feature therapy dogs. These organizations offer additional materials and often provide site visits with their dogs. Organizations should be vetted to some degree. For example, do they meet the Standards of Practice in AAI which stipulates things like insurance coverages and recurring evaluations.
You can do an internet search to identify local organizations that feature therapy dogs. These organizations offer additional materials and often provide site visits with their dogs. Organizations should be vetted to some degree. For example, do they meet the Standards of Practice in AAI which stipulates things like insurance coverages and recurring evaluations.
Can Any Dog Be a Therapy Dog?
According to Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy, “The key to any dog’s ability to be a successful therapy dog is its temperament. In general, a good therapy dog is responsive to its owner as well as other people, has good manners, is willing to learn new things, and doesn’t become overly stressed in new situations. Therapy dogs must be friendly and gentle, enjoy human contact, and feel content being petted and handled.
According to Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy, “The key to any dog’s ability to be a successful therapy dog is its temperament. In general, a good therapy dog is responsive to its owner as well as other people, has good manners, is willing to learn new things, and doesn’t become overly stressed in new situations. Therapy dogs must be friendly and gentle, enjoy human contact, and feel content being petted and handled.
Dogs should be 12 months or older, have lived in a permanent home for at least 6 months, should respond to basic obedience commands (sit, down, stay, etc.), and be able to walk on a loose lead. Dogs must also be healthy and up-to-date on all vaccinations. ” [i] Potential therapy dogs should genuinely enjoy, not just tolerate, interactions with others. If your dog has these qualities, then he or she is a good candidate for animal assisted therapy.
Making Your Dog A Therapy Dog
“Therapy dogs are everyday pets. They do not need extensive training, although obedience training, whether in a class or at home, is very good for reinforcing the bond and communication between you and your pet. Therapy dogs must be well-mannered. No jumping or barking here! Most importantly, you and your dog need to have a bond that demonstrates not owner and pet, but partners. For all the requirements to become certified with The Alliance of Therapy Dogs, go to www.therapydogs.com.” [ii]
“Therapy dogs are everyday pets. They do not need extensive training, although obedience training, whether in a class or at home, is very good for reinforcing the bond and communication between you and your pet. Therapy dogs must be well-mannered. No jumping or barking here! Most importantly, you and your dog need to have a bond that demonstrates not owner and pet, but partners. For all the requirements to become certified with The Alliance of Therapy Dogs, go to www.therapydogs.com.” [ii]
“There is a surge in demand among schools and universities to use therapy dogs to develop better student engagement.” [iii]
Basic Dog Requirements:
Dogs must be well-tempered, outgoing and friendly, and adaptable to a variety of settings. It is also important that the animal is reliably house trained, healthy and free of internal and external parasites, has no history of aggression towards people or other pets, be well bonded and responsive to their handler.
Dogs must be well-tempered, outgoing and friendly, and adaptable to a variety of settings. It is also important that the animal is reliably house trained, healthy and free of internal and external parasites, has no history of aggression towards people or other pets, be well bonded and responsive to their handler.
Therapy Dog Handlers
The bigger challenge is finding therapy dog handlers who are adequately prepared. It’s rarely the dog that causes the problem. Many issues can be traced to a handler who is not capable of recognizing or appropriately responding to changes in their dog’s body language. Therapy Animal Handlers must be able to advocate for their animal at all times, which includes ending interactions when it’s necessary.
Do Therapy Dogs Need Certification?
Therapy dogs don’t need a certification – not even service dogs need to have an official certification or identifying materials on them – but a certification can make things easier when it comes to obtaining emotional support animal rights. It is important that both the handler and the animal have been adequately prepared and vetted to interact with the public.
Therapy dogs don’t need a certification – not even service dogs need to have an official certification or identifying materials on them – but a certification can make things easier when it comes to obtaining emotional support animal rights. It is important that both the handler and the animal have been adequately prepared and vetted to interact with the public.
People interested in being a therapy animal team should seek registration or certification with a reputable therapy animal organization.
If You Want to Get a Therapy Dog Certification
“To get your canine companion in the world of therapy dogs, first it needs basic behavioral training to prepare them for their work with the public. Once they have finished their basic training, therapy dogs must learn to comply with the 10 skills of the Canine Good Citizen test, provided by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Once they pass the CGC test, they must be certified as therapy dogs by one of many qualified organizations.” While the CGC is a useful tool for some teams, it’s not required generally speaking.
Is Additional Insurance Needed?
For therapy dogs, liability insurance can protect against potential financial burdens from accidents or incidents involving the dog, covering expenses like medical bills and legal fees. Consider specialized policies or endorsements for animal liability.
END NOTES:
[i] Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy, Can Any Dog be a Therapy Dog?
[ii] Alliance of Therapy Dogs, How Therapy Dogs Help to Reduce Student Stress and Anxiety
[iii] IBID.
[iv] Matt Fleming, Therapy Dog & Comfort Dog Certification Guide
[i] Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy, Can Any Dog be a Therapy Dog?
[ii] Alliance of Therapy Dogs, How Therapy Dogs Help to Reduce Student Stress and Anxiety
[iii] IBID.
[iv] Matt Fleming, Therapy Dog & Comfort Dog Certification Guide
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