Therapy dog

Golden Retrievers dark and light

Timmi the Therapy dog from Israel Bernese Mountain Dog 06

Greyhound Therapy Dogs

Therapy dogs are dogs trained to provide affection, comfort, and support to people in settings such as hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, libraries, hospices, or disaster areas. Unlike service dogs, which are trained to perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities, therapy dogs are trained to interact with many people other than their handlers to help improve their physical, social, emotional, and/or cognitive functioning.

History

The use of therapy dogs has roots in the recognition of the bond between humans and animals and its therapeutic effects. The formal use of therapy dogs is often attributed to Elaine Smith, a registered nurse who, in 1976, noticed how well patients responded to visits by a certain chaplain and his Golden Retriever. Inspired, Smith started a program for training dogs to visit institutions, and the demand for therapy dogs has grown since then.

Training and Certification

Therapy dogs must be friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and at ease in all situations. They undergo extensive training and must pass a series of tests to ensure they are well-behaved and can handle unexpected situations. Organizations such as Therapy Dogs International (TDI) and Pet Partners provide certification for therapy dogs, ensuring they meet specific health and behavior standards.

Types of Therapy Dogs

There are three main types of therapy dogs:

• Therapeutic Visitation Dogs - These are household pets whose owners take them to visit hospitals, nursing homes, detention facilities, and rehabilitation facilities. They help people who are away from home due to mental or physical illness to feel less lonely and isolated.
• Animal Assisted Therapy Dogs - These dogs assist physical and occupational therapists in meeting goals important to an individual's recovery. Tasks might include helping a patient regain motor skills by having the patient move the dog's paws or encouraging a child with speech issues to communicate by giving commands to the dog.
• Facility Therapy Dogs - These dogs primarily work in nursing homes and are often trained to help keep patients with Alzheimer's disease or other mental illnesses from getting into trouble. They live at the facility and become part of the treatment program.

Benefits

The presence of therapy dogs has been shown to offer numerous benefits, including:

• Reducing stress and anxiety
• Lowering blood pressure
• Increasing levels of endorphins and oxytocin
• Improving physical well-being
• Enhancing social attention, behavior, interpersonal interactions, and mood
• Encouraging communication

Challenges and Considerations

While therapy dogs provide many benefits, there are challenges and considerations to their use. Facilities must ensure that patients do not have allergies or phobias of dogs. There is also the need to maintain high standards of cleanliness and to ensure the dogs are healthy and vaccinated to prevent the spread of diseases.

Conclusion

Therapy dogs play a vital role in the healing and comfort of thousands of people every day. Their ability to provide unconditional love and support makes them an invaluable asset to the therapeutic process. As research continues to uncover the benefits of animal-assisted therapy, the use of therapy dogs is likely to expand, bringing joy and healing to more people in need.

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