therapy work

Question
My dog is now about 7 mos old, I have worked with him in many fields, I want to get into Therapy work for the ill and needy.
How do I go about this and training him to do this also.

Answer
Hi Betty

Therapy dogs bring comfort, cheer and motivation to people. Working with a variety of people in different situations from nursing homes, to detention facilities, to rehabilitation facilities, the Therapy dog works to lift the spirits of those who are away from home, lonely, and possibly depressed. Health benefits such as lowered blood pressure have also been proven to be a direct result of animal assisted therapy.

Some Therapy dogs simply visit facilities or institutions with their owner, while others actually live at the facility and are handled by a trained member of staff.

Therapy dogs need no specific training other than basic obedience skills. The dog must love people, be well socialized, submissive and even-tempered. They must be certified, and must not shed excessively.


Kind Regards
Patt
www.schreknhaus.com