THERAPY DOGS

What is a Therapy Dog?

Therapy Dogs can be associated with many groups too numerous to mention but one of them is Therapy Dogs International. Therapy Dogs light up the lives of people who live in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospital patients, schools for the mentally retarded, etc.  Therapy Dogs help people just by visiting them and allowing the people to pet them. A warm feeling on the palm of an old person’s hand or even the most deformed hand is cause for a big smile, a loud giggle, a squeal or just a happy sigh of contentment.

Why Should We Take Dogs To Visit Health Care Facilities?

Visiting with animals can help people feel less lonely, and less depressed. Visits from dogs can provide a welcome change from routine or the renewal of old friendships. People become more active and responsive during and after visiting with dogs. An dog visit can offer entertainment or a welcome distraction from pain and infirmity. People often talk to the dogs and share with them their thoughts, feelings and memories. Dog visits provide something to look forward to. Stroking a dog can reduce a person's blood pressure. Petting encourages use of hands and arms, stretching and turning. Many people in hospitals or group homes have had to give up dog ownership and they miss the casual acceptance a dog gives them. A dog pays little attention to age or physical ability, but accepts people as they are. The benefits continue even after the visit. The visit leaves behind memories not only of the visit, but of past experiences. It offers something for people to share.

What Makes a Good Therapy Dog?

A Therapy Dog visiting any facility (or community event) must be social and totally under control – friendly, but not so overly friendly as to inflict unintentional injury to the person the dog is visiting.  A good Therapy Dog is calm, tolerant and polite. The balance between calmness, and friendliness is a difficult one. Your dog must also get along with all other dogs. Even an excellent obedience dog may not be a good visiting dog if it shows little interest in meeting people. An aloof dog may be calm, but may cause people to feel rejected. Therapy Dogs must like people of all ages. If the dog doesn’t enjoy people, it may be hurtful to the person the dog is visiting. The person needs to feel accepted by the dog.

Getting Involved In Therapy Work With Your Dog

If you are interested in your dog becoming a Therapy Dog, you will need to consider your dog's personality, temperament
and behavior. Work with your dog in encountering unusual sights, sounds and smells. A group obedience class will help your
dog to acquire the skills needed to have your dog under control at all times while visiting with your dog. You then need to be tested by a Therapy Dog Certified Evaluator and pass the tests below to be certified to participate.


Once your dog completes the beginner class and is 1 year old or older, he could become a certified therapy dog who would light up the lives of people in nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and disabled and mentally retarded children and adults. As stated above, your dog must have an excellent temperament with people and other dogs and pass the tests below
which not only shows that your dog is under control and obedient, but tests his reaction to people in wheelchairs, on crutches, walkers, canes, etc. Testing for our group (Greater Lehigh Therapy Dogs) is held every couple months. Once you pass the tests, you would then send to Therapy Dogs International (our parent group) for your official card allowing you into any institution for dog therapy. 
 
 

THERAPY DOG INTERNATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

1.  ACCEPTING A FRIENDLY STRANGER
    This test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger to approach it and speak to the handler in a natural,
    everyday situation. The evaluator and handler shake hands and exchange pleasantries. The dog must show no sign of
    resentment or shyness and must not break position or try to go to the evaluator.

2.  SITTING POLITELY FOR PETTING
    This test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger to touch it while it is out with its handler. The
    evaluator pets the dog and then circles the dog and handler. The dog must not show shyness or resentment.

3.  APPEARANCE AND GROOMING
    This practical test demonstrates that the dog will welcome being groomed and examined and will permit a stranger to do 
    so.  It also demonstrates the owner’s care, concern and responsibility. The evaluator inspects the dog, then combs or
    brushes the dog and lightly examines the ears and each front foot.

4.  OUT FOR A WALK (WALKING ON A LOOSE LEASH)
    This test demonstrates that the handler is in control of the dog. The evaluator may use a pre-plotted course or may
    direct the handler/dog team by issuing instructions or commands. There must be a left turn, a right turn and about turn.
    The dog need not be perfectly aligned with the handler and need not sit when the handler stops.

4a. LEAVE-IT
    The handler, with the dog on a loose leash, walks past food on the ground (placed within a distance of three feet) and,
    upon command, the dog should ignore the food.

5.  WALKING THROUGH A CROWD
    This test demonstrates that the dog can move about politely in pedestrian traffic and is under control in public places.
    The dog and handler walk around and pass close to several people.The dog may show some interest in the strangers
    without appearing shy, resentful or over-exuberant. The dog will be tested around medical equipment (such as a
    wheelchair, crutches, cane and walker) to test the dog's reaction to common health care equipment.

5a. REACTION TO MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
    The dog will be tested around medical equipment such as a wheelchair, crutches, cane and walker to test the dog's
     reaction to common health care equipment.

5b. ACCLIMATION TO INFIRMITIES
     This test demonstrates the dog's confidence when exposed to people walking with an uneven gait, shuffling, breathing
     heavily, coughing, wheezing, or other distractions which may be encountered in a facility.

5c. SAY HELLO
     The TDI Certified Evaluator will test the willingness of each dog to visit a person and that the dog can be made readily
     accessible for petting (ie: small dogs can be placed on a person's lap or can be held, medium and large dogs can sit on a
     chair or stand close to the patient to be easily reached.

6.  SIT AND DOWN ON COMMAND/STAYING IN PLACE
    This test demonstrates that the dog has training, will respond to the handler’s command to sit and down and will remain
    in the place commanded by the handler (sit or down position - whichever the handler prefers). The handler may take a
    reasonable amount of time and use more than one command.

7.  COMING WHEN CALLED
    This test demonstrates that the dog will respond to the handler’s command to come when called. The dog is placed in a
    sit position and a 15-foot line will be attached to the collar. The handler will command the dog to come without the pull
    of the long line. The dog does not have to sit in front of the handler.

8.  REACTION TO ANOTHER DOG
    This test demonstrates that the dog can behave politely around other dogs.Two handlers and their dogs approach each
    other from a distance of about 10 yards, stop, shake hands and exchange pleasantries, and continue on for about 5
    yards. The dogs should show no more than a casual interest in each other.

9.  REACTIONS TO DISTRACTIONS
    This test demonstrates that the dog is confident at all times when faced with common distracting situations. The dog
    may express a natural interest and curiosity and may appear slightly startled but should not panic, try to run away,
    show signs of aggression or bark.

10.SUPERVISED SEPARATION
    This test demonstrates that the dog can be left alone with a stranger, if necessary, and will maintain its' training and
    good manners. The dog will be attached to a 6-foot leash for 3 minutes and does not have to stay in position but should
    not whine, howl, pace unnecessarily or show anything other than mild agitation or nervousness. The evaluator holding the
    leash will not talk to or pet your dog.




MISSION STATEMENT

The primary objective of our volunteer organization is to provide comfort and companionship by sharing our certified therapy dogs with the disabled, infirmed, handicapped, ill, and the general public. This is done in a way that increases emotional well-being, promotes healing and improves the quality of life of all who
come into contact with our dogs.  We also participate in public relation and community event activities in an effort to promote our purpose, improve awareness and recruit possible new members. This allows us to expand the list of facilities that will benefit from visits from us and our four-legged companions.

Contact Jackie at (610) 965-4430 to set up an appointment for testing. She can let you know when and where the next test will be given.

 
For more information, visit our website: Greater Lehigh Therapy Dogs.


Jackie Woehrle with "Indy" and Karen with "Zipper" at Pier 94 in New York City after September 11, 2001. We went to Pier 94 to give comfort to the families of the victims of September 11th AND the workers of the various agencies that were helping the victims families with every conceivable service.

THERAPY TEST

Here are the requirements and what you need to bring:

1. Clean and groomed dog with buckle collar or snap collar - no choke or prong collars and a regular leash (no flexi leads).

2. The dog's brush(es) that they are used to.

3. Copy of their shot records.

4. Proof that they are licensed.

5. The test is $10 - pass or fail.

6. You must be here 1/2 hour before your scheduled time to fill out the paperwork.

In the meantime, please email me your information (name, address, phone number, breed of dog, name of dog, and age of dog) now so I can put you on the schedule IF an opening opens up.

If you need to know what the dog will be tested on, above on this page are all of the tests the dog must pass with NO CORRECTIONS.

If you have any questions, email me at lovedogs@ptd.net or click on "Weiner Mail" below to email me.

Larry