Summary:
Therapy dogs serve an important purpose in the lives of nursing home residents, hospital patients and others. If you have ever wondered if your own dog would make a good therapist, this article is for you.

Details or Sample:
We have all seen those stories on the news about therapy dogs visiting nursing homes, hospitals and other institutions. We have marveled in the miraculous healing nature of those four legged ambassadors, and perhaps we have envisioned our own canine companions in a similar role. Therapy dogs serve an important function in our society, and they are sought after by many different facilities.

If you have ever wondered if your own pooch would be a good therapy dog, first consider the personality traits that make a dog a great therapy animal. In order to be successful as a therapy dog, it is important that the dog be not only friendly and outgoing, but that he has a number of other important qualities as well.

A Calm and Easygoing Nature
In order to be a good therapy dog, your dog will need to possess a calm, gentle and easygoing nature. Dogs who are high strung and nervous typically will not be successful as therapy dogs.

Many people assume that therapy dogs must be large breeds, but in fact many successful therapy dogs are quite small. The key is that those dogs are calm and friendly, not hyper and overactive. Small dogs can be very enthusiastic and outgoing, and many nursing home residents and hospital patients look forward to these tiny visitors.

No matter what the size of the dog, it is important that he be very friendly and enthusiastic, especially when meeting new people. The best therapy dogs love to be touched, petted and hugged, and they are willing to stand quietly and allow all new visitors to get to know them.

Man’s Best Friend
It is not for nothing that dogs have earned the “man’s best friend” reputation. Dogs are friendly and outgoing by nature, and the best therapy dogs are especially friendly and eager to meet new people. This enthusiasm shows from the moment the therapy dogs arrive until the time they depart.

Dogs that show any aggressive tendency should not be used as therapy dogs, and it is important for dog owners to take an honest assessment of their own animals before thinking about life as a therapy dog. Good manners are an essential part of the therapy dog’s life, and it is important for dog owners to stress good manners at every turn.

Part of those good manners is the ability to walk calmly on a loose lead. If the dog tries to pull ahead or charge to the end of the leash it could create a tripping hazard, especially in a convalescent home or hospital setting.

Even though formal obedience training is not a requirement for therapy dogs, it is always a good idea for dog owners to enroll their animals in some sort of obedience class. Not only will obedience classes teach the dog manners, but they will also help teach the dog to interact well with a wide variety of people and animals.

A good therapy dog will also understand all the basic command, including sit, stay, lie down and stay. Some therapy dog owners go further – teaching their dogs tricks they can use to delight their new friends. Therapy dogs should also be taught not to jump on people or to bark during their visits. Jumping up on people could create an unsafe situation, and barking could be disruptive in what should be a quiet setting.

A Good Canine Citizen
Those considering registering their dog as a therapy dog should be sure that their dogs get along well with not just people but other animals as well. That is because therapy dogs often are asked to work together in teams, often in combination with other animals. In addition to the visiting therapy cats and dogs, many residences may have their own live in animals, and it is important for the therapy dog to get along well with all two legged and four legged residents.

Last but not least, therapy dogs must be at least one year of age before they can begin their careers. That is because the dogs need to be mature enough to work a full day and not become stressed out or fatigued. While it may look like great fun for the dogs, therapy work can be stressful as well. It is important of the animal to possess the maturity he will need to continuously meet new people and have new experiences. By waiting until much of the puppy stage has gone, dog owners can ensure that their animals are ready to begin training as a happy and healthy therapy dog.

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