Therapy dogs are becoming an increasingly common method for helping people manage a wide range of health issues, particularly when it comes to improving mental health and reducing stress. Therapy dogs can be used for support in many settings, including hospitals, care homes, and schools. Keep reading to find out more.
What Makes a Good Therapy Dog?
There are certain shared characteristics that all good therapy dogs have. This includes a gentle temperament, trainability, and social skills. Therapy dogs are different from service dogs in that therapy dogs are used to provide support for multiple people, while service dogs help individuals with certain disabilities, such as blindness. If you have stress or anxiety due to a traumatic accident, you could make a claim for compensation to cover the cost of a therapy dog.
Top 10 Therapy Dog Breeds
There are a few breeds that are particularly well-suited to being a therapy dog. These include:
- Labrador Retriever: Gentle, smart, easy to train.
- Golden Retriever: Affectionate, friendly, patient.
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: Small, loving and good with children.
- Greyhound: Affectionate and obedient.
- Lurcher: Calm, affectionate, and easy to train.
- German Shepard: Easy to train, aware of their environment, and loyal.
- French Bulldog: Gentle temperament and loving.
- Yorkshire Terrier: Easy to handle and affectionate.
- Border Collie: Easy to train, patient, and gentle.
- Pug: Easy to handle, tolerant, and loving.
Training & Certification
Dogs must undergo training and obtain certification to become therapy dogs in the UK. This involves training in key areas like obedience training, temperament assessments, and socialisation. The Good Dog Training Scheme is a good place to start, and organisations like Pets As Therapy (PAT) Dogs can provide certifications.
Benefits of Therapy Dogs
There are various benefits to therapy dogs for various groups of people. A few of the most notable examples include children with autism, elderly people in care homes, and those recovering from PTSD and trauma. This is because studies show that therapy dogs can reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, improve mood, and heighten overall emotional well-being. Spending time with therapy dogs and petting them helps foster a connection and joy in various different settings. As people become more aware of the benefits of therapy dogs for many different types of people, they will become a lot more common in settings such as hospitals, care homes, and schools.
It has been fascinating and exciting to see the rise of therapy dogs in recent times. Therapy dogs can assist people in many different ways, including reducing stress and improving overall mental well-being. Therapy dogs can be highly effective and are being used in many different settings, but not all dogs are well-suited to this role. It is important that the right dogs are used and trained so that they can be effective at helping people.
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