therapy dog is a dog trained to provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, with people with learning difficulties and stressful situations such as disaster areas.

Therapy dogs come in all sizes and breeds. The most important characteristic of a therapy dog is its temperament. A good therapy dog must be friendly, patient, confident, at ease in all situations, and gentle. Therapy dogs must enjoy human contact and be content to be petted and handled, sometimes clumsily.

A therapy dog's primary job is to allow unfamiliar people to make physical contact with it and to enjoy that contact. Children in particular enjoy hugging animals; adults usually enjoy simply petting the dog. The dog might need to be lifted onto, or climb onto, an invalid's lap or bed and sit or lie comfortably there. Many dogs contribute to the visiting experience by performing small tricks for their audiences or by playing carefully structured games.



National listing on Theraphy Dogs

Find a group to join

What is expected of a theraphy dog

1. Proof of current Inoculations, including Rabies, distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, and parvo virus.

2. Proof of Health, such as a current health certificate from a Veterinarian.

3. Visible cleanliness, no sign of fleas / ticks, clean ears etc.

4. Dog must appear healthy, alert and not grossly over or under weight.

5. Yearly physical and stool check.

6. Annual Heartworm Test

The next items are the basic obedience requirements of the AKC/CGC Test
. Appearance and Grooming
The dog must appear well groomed, clean and must permit a stranger to groom him.

2. Accepting a Stranger
The handler must shake hand with a stranger, the dog must not shy or show resentment. Neither must he approach the stranger.

3. Walk on Loose lead:
The dog must walk to the left of handler, doesn't have to "heel"

4. Walk through crowd
Exercise is done in a crowd of people and dogs that are strangers. The Dog should not have a problem negotiating foot traffic. May show interest in strangers, but not to the extent that he strains at the lead or show resentment.

5. Sit for exam
Dog must allow a stranger to approach him and pat him, may not exhibit shyness or resentment.

6. Sit and Down on command
Designed to demonstrate that the dog has had some formal training. The dog must respond readily to the handlers command. No force may be used, but more than one command is allowed.

7. Stay in position
In either a sit or down, the dog must remain in the position commanded by his handler until the evaluator allows the handler to release.

8. Reaction to another dog
The dog should demonstrate no more than casual interest in a strange dog.

9. Reaction to distractions
A test of confidence, the dog may show surprise when presented with noises and distractions, but not run away or show aggressiveness.

10. Dog left alone
This test shows that a dog has good manners and training. The handler hands the dog lead to a stranger* and leaves the room. The evaluator stays with the dog*, observing that there is no excessive stress, nervousness or agitation. (*amended by AKC in 1998, many CGC testers will attempt to still tie your dog to a stationary object. If this occurs, run, don't walk to AKC and inform them of this info. It mans the tester is not keeping up with AKC rules and regs as well as keeping thier training updated.)