 | “Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them and fulfilling an emptiness we didn’t even know we had.” ~ Thom Jones |
Therapy dogs can come in all shapes, sizes and breeds. What they all have in common are the innate abilities required to offer comfort to those who need it. Therapy dogs are highly intelligent and can sense emotions, allowing for close contact and handling by those with large emotions, those who are lonely and those in need of comfort and companionship without feeling responsible for them. A highly sensitive dog would not be a candidate for therapy work as such emotions would cause the dog to become fearful and anxious.
Not all dogs are innately programmed to be a therapy dog. Through careful and specified puppy curriculum and temperament evaluations, we are able to determine which puppies are able to fulfill this type of role. Thinking a puppy that is cuddly, sensitive and obsessed with humans would be a perfect therapy dog, is actually false. These dogs too often take on the emotions of the humans, resulting in an anxious, reactive and unstable dog. A therapy dog is confident, fearless, loves handling, but just as comfortable in their own space.
Not all dogs are innately programmed to be a therapy dog. Through careful and specified puppy curriculum and temperament evaluations, we are able to determine which puppies are able to fulfill this type of role. Thinking a puppy that is cuddly, sensitive and obsessed with humans would be a perfect therapy dog, is actually false. These dogs too often take on the emotions of the humans, resulting in an anxious, reactive and unstable dog. A therapy dog is confident, fearless, loves handling, but just as comfortable in their own space.
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