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Virginia Therapy Dog Training

Therapy dogs are dogs that are taken to hospitals, nursing homes or other areas in Virginia where there might be sick people to give patients the physical and emotional benefit of the unconditional love of a dog.

Studies done by medical professionals in Virginia has proven that stroking a dog can have a calming effect, relieve tension, and even lower blood pressure.

There have been cases where stroke patients are somehow able to lift a hand on their paralyzed side in order to touch the soft hair of a friendly canine. Alzheimer patients in the late stages of the disease may not be able to remember much about their past or what they had for lunch, but many are able to remember a dog they had years ago, as far as back when they were children.

Therapy dogs teach gentleness to mentally or socially challenged children. Those who are unable to walk well due to illness can find walking pleasurable if walking is done while holding a dog’s leash and walking corridors.

Therapy dogs are used in Virginia and all over the United States; however, there is no place in Virginia for formal therapy dog training. Basically any dog of sound temperament who has an owner willing to volunteer time can become a therapy dog in Virginia.

While there is no therapy dog training in Virginia, most Virginia institutions that use therapy dogs will want to assess the dog to make sure the dog will make a good therapy dogs. Hospitals and other institutions that are home to sick people cannot take the word of an owner. Some dogs might be absolutely great with the owner and the owner’s family, but may become tense and nervous in places with strangers and odd sounds and smells.

Capabilities a Virginia therapy dog needs to possess include:

• Sitting politely for petting. Dogs that get excited and jump over people when petted do not make good Virginia therapy dogs.
• Walking calmly on a loose leash.
• Walking through a crowd including motorized wheelchairs.
• Being receptive and affectionate with a friendly stranger.
• Reacting well to other dogs, strange and sometimes loud noises, and different smells.
• Sitting on command and sitting still for extended periods of time.

Virginia therapy dogs that pass assessments are sent with their owners to various institutions. Regular visits with a set group of people are encouraged because it can give the patients something regular to look forward to.

Virginia therapy dogs and their owners are volunteers. No owner gets paid to have a therapy dog. Virginia therapy dogs help hundreds of people isolated from general community life because of an illness feel an increased enjoyment in their lives.

Copyright © 2006 Womach Brother Productions - Virginia Therapy Dog Training