Therapy Dogs and Service Dogs

At Kindred Spirits Canine Education Center in Vista, CA, along with family pet training, we also provide training for both therapy dogs and for service dogs. When we get calls from dog owners seeking assitance with their dog's training, we find that many people are confused as to which is which.

An easy to remember definition is: a therapy dog is a privately owned pet who, with his owner, provides warmth and affection to other people. A service dog provides assitance to his owner.

Therapy dogs and their owners may visit nursing homes, senior centers, assisted living facilities, day care centers for seniors or for children, schools, and even libraries. On these visits, the dog's owner will be a part of the visit, initiating conversations and introducing the dog, while the dog may solicit petting, may perform tricks, or may just snuggle close to provide some affection.

Therapy dogs must be well trained, with a good understanding of the basic obedience commands. They also need to be well socialized to people of all ages, sizes, and ethnic backgrounds, as well to and of the sights, sounds and smells that they may encounter on a visit. Therapy dogs cannot jump on people, paw or scratch, or put their mouth on people. They should also be introduced to wheelchairs, walkers, and canes.

Therapy dogs should be provided access to any buildings or public transportation while going to, from and during a therapy dog visit. Therapy dogs do not, however, have unlimited access as do service dogs.

Service dogs provide assistance to their owners, but that service can vary tremendously according to the owner's individual needs. Dogs can now notify their owners of immending seizures, or of low or high blood sugar. Dogs can pick up dropped items, can provide balance assistance, can open or close doors, cupboards and drawers, and can even turn levers on the faucet. Dogs also provide assistance to those people suffering from emotional or mental disabilities, including Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.

Service dogs can be thought of a medical tool that must accompany the user at all times. These dogs may go anywhere their owner goes and the dog and owner may not be discriminated against because of the dog's presence.

For more on service dogs and therapy dogs. check out our podcast on the subject!

Liz

Therapy Dogs at Christmas

I'm sorry it's been a month since I've posted to this blog; my only excuse is that I've been very busy. Christmas is one of my favorite times of year and I do it up right! smile....

My dogs and I also make quite a few therapy dog visits this time of year - more so than we do during the rest of the year.

Riker, my eight year old Australian Shepherd, is very much as extrovert - to put it nicely! His goal in life is to love people. That means everyone needs lots of enthusiastic love with - if he's allowed - lots of wet, sloppy kisses. Although most adults would prefer to pass ont he kisses, luckliy most kids enjoy the spirit in which the kisses are given. Riker and I have been visiting a day care center for foster children for more than five years. Most of the kids are pre-school age although a few are older. Here, Riker is in his element. Kids can get as much love and kisses as they feel they need.

Although Riker also visits a senior center a couple of times a month, I have to be careful there as he assumes the seniors can be loved as enthusiastically as the kids are; and obviously that's not true. But the Grandmas and Grandpas do appreciate his sweet face and obvious affection.

My youngest Aussie, Bashir, didn't start therapy dog work until recently, at the age of 3. As a younger dog, he didn't want strangers to pet him. Since the Aussie breed standard says that these dogs should be reserved and cautious with strangers, that was fine with me. I let him grow up and mature, and he worked with me in our training classes. However, recently he has shown more of a willingness to go up to people so I began his therapy dog training. I'm glad I did because he is absolutely wonderful with senior citizens.

Bashir is a thinker; he thinks first then does something. Somehow he figured out, even without my help, that he must be very gentle with the people we're visiting and he is. He gives very soft, gentle kisses, and he positions his head under their hands. He's not affected by their state of health, odd movements, or different speech patterns.

Today, Bashir and I visited a very nice facility that was hosting a Christmas tea. The other therapy dogs went into the recreation room where the party was being held so Bashir and I went up and down the hallways, peeking into the other rooms to see who couldn't go to the party. We stopped in and visited quite a few bedridden people or people who just didn't feel like a party and I'm very glad we did.

One gentleman, a retired US Marine Corps SgtMajor, was feeling homesick because of the holidays. When I shared with him that my husband and I were both former Marines, he brightened up. We talked about the Marine Corps, he petted Bashir, and then we talked about dogs. When I left later, he was in much better spirits.

Another gentleman was bedridden and really didn't feel good. But after he petted Bashir, who gave him some genlte kisses on the hand, he smiled and thanked me for coming in to see him.

To me, this is what the spirit of Christmas is all about: sharing with other people. Especially those who may not be as well off as we are. This is the time for giving of ourselves.

If you think that perhaps you would like to train your dog for therapy dog work, listen to our podcasts. One of our up[coming shows will be about therapy dogs and what is required to get your dog certified.

Meanwhile, I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas.

Liz Palika, with my therapy dogs, Riker and Bashir.