Therapy Dogs
In the United States, therapy dogs are used in various environments such as nursing homes, physical therapy facilities, and hospitals. Most recently their role has expanded to include visiting schools and court settings to help support and comfort victims of domestic violence. Testifying and standing up against someone who has harmed them can be devastating to children and therapy dogs give them comfort and strength.
Therapy dogs are able to bring a calm to children with special needs and sometime they are able to break through a wall the children have built up to the outside world. With a wag of a tail and an offering of a paw, these dogs are able to bring happiness to children and adults that need it the most. Nursing homes report that residents that once were depressed and in a state of refusing to participate socially, come alive once they are visited by a therapy dog. The dogs improve moods and the levels of communication and engagement.
One noted story was of an elderly woman from New York who hadn't spoken in years and constantly clutched a stuffed toy dog while she stared into space. After many visits from a therapy dog, the woman started responding, eventually abandoning her stuffed animal. Eventually she reached out and stroked the therapy dog's fur and spoke the dogs name - her first words in years.
The requirement for a therapy dog candidate include a calm, friendly and well behaved dog at least 1 year of age. Signs of a good dog include a relaxed and confident nature. The training that is required includes a 12 hour course where the dog owner is taught how to handle the dog around people confined to wheelchairs and who have IV's. A vet has to approve the dog physically for the work. Then a 22 part evaluation of the dog's obedience skills as well your control of your dog are conducted.
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