A therapy dog promotes improvement in human physical, social, emotional, or cognitive function, and functions in either group or individual settings. By providing comfort and affection, therapy dogs play a role in animal-assisted intervention (AAI) that helps people with or without diagnosed or physical conditions.
All therapy dogs need to be under control and have basic training. Some groups require that the dog pass the Canine Good Citizen test before taking the group’s therapy test. CGC is a great starting point for all potential dogs because your dog will learn basic good manners in CGC including come, sit, stay, down, and how to respond appropriately around other dogs. Read on to find out if your dog could be a therapy dog.
Physical health:
lowers blood pressure
improves cardiovascular health
releases endorphin (Oxycontin) that have a calming effect
diminishes overall physical pain
the act of petting produces an automatic relaxation response, reducing the amount of medication some folks need
Mental Health:
lifts spirits and lessens depression
decreases feelings of isolation and alienation
encourages communication
provides comfort
increases socialization
reduces boredom
lowers anxiety
helps children overcome speech and emotional disorders
creates motivation for the client to recover faster
reduces loneliness
Common Therapy Dog Breeds:
Labrador Retrievers
German Shepherds
Greyhounds
Beagle
Rottweiler
Saint Bernard
Pomeranian
Poodle
Pug
French Bull Dogs
Golden Retriever
As you can see pet therapy is great for not only your mental but physical health as well, and honestly who doesn’t love playing with puppies. Hope I have encouraged at least one person to attend or look into pet therapy as it is a wonderful program all schools and work places should have.
