Therapy dog

Golden Retrievers are often used as therapy dogs due to their calm demeanor, gentle disposition, and friendliness to strangers.

A therapy dog is a dog that might be trained to provide affection, comfort and love to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, hospices, disaster areas, and are defined but not covered or protected under the Federal Housing Act or Americans with Disabilities act. They also do not have public access rights with exception to the specific places they are visiting and working. Typically the dog would be granted rights by individual facilities only.

The systematic use of therapy dogs is attributed to Elaine Smith, who noticed patients positively responding to visits by a chaplain and his Golden Retriever. In 1976, Smith started a program for training dogs to visit institutions.

Therapy dogs are usually not assistance or service dogs, but can be one or both with some organizations. Many organizations provide evaluation and registration for therapy dogs, sometimes with focus on a particular therapeutic practice such as reading to dogs.

Description

A therapy dog is a dog that might be trained to provide affection, comfort and love to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, hospices, disaster areas, and to people with anxiety disorders or autism. Therapy dogs are usually not assistance or service dogs, but can be one or both with some organizations.[1]

In the U.S., therapy dogs are not service animals and are not afforded the same privileges as service animals are.[2] Theraphy dogs earn the

AKC Therapy Dog title.[3]

History

The systematic use of therapy dogs is attributed to Elaine Smith,[4][5] who worked as a registered nurse. Smith noticed how well patients responded to visits by a chaplain and his Golden Retriever. In 1976, Smith started a program for training dogs to visit institutions, and the demand for therapy dogs continued to grow.

Classification

Therapy dogs are usually not assistance or service dogs, but can be one or both with some organizations. Therapy dogs are not trained to assist specific individuals and do not qualify as service dogs under the Americans with Disabilities Act.[6]

Many organizations provide evaluation and registration for therapy dogs. Typical tests might ensure that a dog can handle sudden loud or strange noises; can walk on assorted unfamiliar surfaces comfortably; are not frightened by people with canes, wheelchairs, or unusual styles of walking or moving; get along well with children and with the elderly; and so on. Institutions may invite, limit, or prohibit access by therapy dogs. If allowed, many institutions have requirements for therapy dogs. United States-based Therapy Dogs International (TDI) bans the use of service dogs in their therapy dog program.[7][8] Service dogs perform tasks for persons with disabilities and have a legal right to accompany their owners in most areas.[9]

In Canada, St John Ambulance provides therapy dog certification. In the UK, Pets As Therapy (PAT) provides visiting dogs and cats to establishments where pets are otherwise not available. Also in the UK Therapy Dogs Nationwide (TDN) provide visiting dogs to establishments.

Breeds

Common breeds used in therapy dog application and research includes Golden Retrievers and Labradors.[10][11][12] Therapy dogs are limited to a certain size or breed, the main factor that is important is their temperament. The dog must be friendly and patient, and be at ease when certain situations occur. Therapy dogs should be okay with being pet and cuddled, even if a stranger unknowingly does so. There are certain things to look for before choosing which dog is right for you. [13]

Use

At colleges and universities

Therapy Fluffies at UC San Diego

Some colleges and universities in the US bring therapy dogs to campus to help students de-stress. These campus events are often referred to as "Therapy Fluffies", a term coined by Torrey Trust, the original founder of the UC San Diego therapy dog de-stress event.[14] In 2009, Sharon Franks, shared the idea of bringing therapy dogs to campus with the UC San Diego Office of Student Wellness.[15]

Since the autumn of 2010, "Therapy Fluffies" has visited the UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, and UC Riverside campuses during the week before mid-term and final exams.[16][17] These events give students and staff the opportunity to pet and relax with therapy-certified dogs.[18] The university also works with the Inland Empire Pet Partners, a service of the Humane Society to bring therapy-certified dogs to the campus’ Mental Health Day Spa, held quarterly.[19][20]

In 2014, Concordia University, Wisconsin became the first university in the US to adopt a full-time therapy dog to its campus in Mequon, WI. The golden retriever, Zoey, is a Lutheran church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog, trained to interact with people at churches, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, events, and in disaster response situations.[21]

Reading

Programs such as the Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program to promote literacy and communication skills. The practice uses therapy dogs to encourage children to read aloud by giving them a nonjudgemental listener.[22]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADA" (PDF). ADA. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals - ADA National Network". adata.org.
  3. ↑ "What is a Therapy Dog? – American Kennel Club". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  4. ↑ "Therapy Dogs International". www.tdi-dog.org.
  5. ↑ "Founder of therapy dogs in the US died". www.oes.org.
  6. ↑ "Information Resource on Assistance Animals for the Disabled". Nal.usda.gov. September 19, 2011. Archived from the original on April 23, 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Therapy Dogs International". www.tdi-dog.org.
  8. ↑ "ADA Requirements: Service Animals". www.ada.gov.
  9. ↑ "Revised ADA Requirements: Service Animals" (PDF). ADA. 2011.
  10. ↑ Fine, Aubrey H. (May 12, 2015). Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy: Foundations and Guidelines for Animal-Assisted Interventions. Academic Press. p. 105. ISBN 978-0-12-801436-3.
  11. ↑ Silva, Nathiana B.; Osório, Flávia L. (April 4, 2018). "Impact of an animal-assisted therapy programme on physiological and psychosocial variables of paediatric oncology patients". PLoS ONE. 4 (13).
  12. ↑ Davis, Rebecca (May 1, 2018). "A 4-Legged Approach to Clinical Education and Research". The ASHA Leader. 23: 32–33.
  13. ↑ "How Do I Get My Dog to be a Therapy Dog". therapydogs.com.
  14. ↑ Gastaldo, John (December 8, 2015). "Therapy Fluffies at UCSD". San Diego Tribune. Archived from the original on December 23, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  15. ↑ Bowler, Matthew (December 9, 2015). "San Diego Colleges Use Dogs To Take Bite Out Of Exam Stress". KPBS. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Therapy Fluffies at UC Davis". Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  17. ↑ Keckeisen, Kevin (December 7, 2012). "Riverside: Therapy dogs help UCR students relieve stress". The Press Enterprise. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  18. ↑ "The Mind Spa". Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Therapy dogs provide relief to stressed out students". UC Riverside. May 26, 2010. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Students at UC Riverside get some pet therapy as they cram for exams". CBS Los Angeles. June 4, 2014. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  21. ↑ McCarthy, C. "K-9 comfort dog drives on CUW's campus". Concordia University Wisconsin. Archived from the original on March 31, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  22. ↑ Thackara, Gina (March 19, 2017). "Event at Pittston Memorial Library allows youngsters to read to animals". Times Leader.
    • Sherwinski, Adam (January 30, 2018). "Joplin Public Library gets surprise visit from therapy dogs". Four States Home Page.
    • Harding, Tanner (January 28, 2018). "Famous Amos: Therapy dog a hit at Plumb library". Sippican Week.
    • Van Kirk, Celeste (February 4, 2018). "Woman rescues Spanish greyhounds, gives them new purpose in life". Observer-Reporter.
    • Endo, Judy (August 31, 2014). "Therapy animals: Healing power in furry, or feathered, packages". The Citizens Voice.
    • "Read Team Steps". Therapy Animals.
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