As pet dog lovers, we know how a pet dog can comfort, energize, motivate and bring joy. therapy dogs take those good qualities and spread them around.
One of Baxter’s friends, Leto the terrific Dane, is a therapy dog. In fact, her owner, Cory Huston, coordinates the St. John ambulance therapy pet dog program in Burlington, Ontario. I recently sat down with Cory to ask about her experience in the program.
While St. John ambulance operates all around the world, its only therapy pet dog program is in Canada.
Therapy dogs with St. John are active in nursing homes, group homes, schools, libraries and even hospitals (in some areas).
People join because they want to give back to their community and share the happiness of their pet dog with others.
How to join a therapy pet dog organization
People self-identify as volunteers. Cory and her team examine the dogs before admitting them to the program.
“There is a test involved which takes a couple of hours to see how your pet dog reacts to other dogs, to people, to noises and distractions—to simulate what would happen in a therapy environment,” says Cory. “We want dogs to be delighted doing this work.”
St. John does not supply or require any training for the dogs. However, dogs have to have basic obedience skills and people have to have control of their dogs. Cory explains, “Your pet dog can’t pull you down the hallway of a nursing home.”
A normal check out for a therapy dog
What does a therapy pet dog do?
Visits can happen one-on-one or in groups. In retirement homes, volunteers may gather in a common room and allow residents to meet and pet the dogs. In nursing homes, they may be assigned particular rooms and individuals to visit.
Most shifts are about an hour, and volunteers try to see as lots of people as possible during that time. Shifts are available in the evening or during the day, depending on volunteers’ schedules.
Little dogs are particularly suited for people who are in bed or in wheelchairs, as they can sit in people’s laps. Leto, who is a terrific Dane, is tall enough for a person in bed to easily pet her.
“All we’re doing is visiting. We’re there to make them have a nicer day,” says Cory. “The pet dog is the focus rather than the handler. In fact, a lot of people don’t care whether you’re there or not. It’s all about the dog.”
80% of dogs in the St. John program work in retirement or nursing homes. After a special evaluation, dogs also do sessions in schools and libraries, checking out with classes or helping children with reading. In Paws for Stories, dogs lay on the floor beside children, who then read a story to the pet dog to help them build confidence in reading.
“I had a little kid and when I first started working with him in the fall, he couldn’t read. It took ages for him to read even a word like ‘pig,’” shares Cory. “By June he was reading Marley and Me. now he always has a book in his hand and he reads his sister bedtime stories. That is why I do it. It’s so rewarding.”
Safety for dogs and people
Safety is the first worry in the program. Volunteers are not allowed to step individuals in case of falls. Dogs have to stay on leash and the handler has to hold the leash in any way times.
“Most of the time I like that people don’t do tricks with the dogs. Old people’s skin is so fragile, and just doing high fives can scratch them,” says Cory.
Handlers need to also take care of their dogs—watching for things on the floor that their pet dog might eat, people who want to feed the dogs, or children who pull ears or tails. “Sometimes kids tend to be careless,” describes Cory’s spouse Jeremy.
“They’ll be sitting with Leto and then they’ll jump up, and they’ll stand on her foot. I have to be careful that they don’t kick Leto by mistake.”
Characteristics for success
The type of therapy depends on the dog. For example, Leto thrives a lot more with children, rather than retirement and nursing homes.
Dogs have to be well socialized, so that they are comfortable with other dogs, people, noises and situations. Dogs also have to be up-to-date on their vaccinations and in general good health. therapy dogs must be very self-confident, calm and want to check out with people.
Likewise, the handler has to be calm, personable, friendly and like people. As well, it’s crucial that handlers respect the policies of their therapy pet dog organization and be committed to completing their volunteer shifts—St. John asks for one hour a week from its volunteers.
Even with the most social of dogs, therapy sessions can be tiring. Leto works for about an hour and a half at a time.“Longer than that and she’ll turn her back on people or go lay down under a table. She won’t interact with people anymore,” says Jeremy. For a therapy session to work, your pet dog need to be having fun. Pay attention to your pet dog and know her limits.
Challenges for therapy dogs and their handlers
As satisfying as it is to be a therapy dog, often volunteers encounter challenging situations. With people who have dementia or autism, some days they love your dog, and the next day they don’t. people may yell or cry.
“You have to be really careful how your pet dog reacts when somebody’s crying because some dogs just really hate it and get upset and just come over to you and cower. other dogs want to discuss and say what’s going on and depending on the reason for the kid crying that may not be the best situation,” says Cory.
Some people have little impulse control and may react physically—one child once punched Leto.
Most of the time, staff at the facility will encourage the handlers if they’re going into a challenging situation and will typically accompany the volunteers and the dogs.
The rewards
Therapy dogs supply many benefits for people they encounter. For staff and teachers, therapy dogs can help them deal with the anxiety of their jobs. For individuals and children, its a fun, calming activity during their days.
And for the volunteers, the appreciation they receive and happiness they bring keeps them committed to the program.
Cory tells the story of being at a nursing home and seeing an elderly gentleman sitting in a chair.
The man’s daughter came over and asked if they could bring the pet dog to check out with her dad. So they took the pet dog over. The man was just sitting there and then all of the sudden he started to pet the pet dog and then started talking to the dog.
The daughter burst into tears and explained her daddy hadn’t spoken in three months. Not a single word.
“He sat there and spoke to that pet dog for about 20 minutes,” says Cory. “That kind of stuff is why I do what I do.”
Have you considered training your pet dog for therapy work? Do you know any therapy dogs?
St. John ambulance therapy pet dog program started in Canada in 1992 and today a lot more than 3,300 therapy pet dog teams give a lot more than 230,000 hours of their time annually bringing happiness and comfort to the sick, lonely and those who need a friendly visit.
Julia Preston is a regular writer for That Mutt. check out her blog home on 129 Acres where she writes about her adventures of country living and diy renovating.