| To those that are already Therapy Dog & Handler Certified: How tired are you and your dog after a visit?
That, I think, is one of the reasons that the evaluators push the dogs. It is not an easy thing to do, being a Therapy Dog. The dogs seem to 'take in' the stress of the surroundings and the stress that some of the patients are showing, and that can be exhausting.
I visit a local childrens hospital once a month, and Ben has developed a bond with alot of the kids (we keep in touch with the parents and if they are close enough, we'll go visit them at home once as well), and he seems to know whether someone has gone home, or they have passed away. He can tell by the reactions we get from the staff when asking about people, and he seems to react to that.
After a visit, he and I will usually come home and take a long nap. Then, of course, it's a yummy extra special dinner for both of us!
When Ben and I were tested by Delta Society, it was noted that of all the dogs that took the test, Ben seemed to ENJOY the clumsy/exhuberant petting potrion of the test! As she was on her knees rubbing him and poking him with her elbows, he leaned INTO the evaluator, asking for more, with this look in his eyes as if to say, "Oh yeah, right there...that's the spot!" She loved that about him!
Ben was spooked by the helper wearing a shawl that she waved at him but he looked to me for reassurance and when he saw that I was OK, he quickly recovered. It's not only the dog that is being tested, it is the both of you, as a team. The evaluators want to see how you and the dog interact and how the dog recovers from uncomfortable situations (how you assist him in doing that).
It sucks (can I use that term here??!!) that evaluators are biased against rotties, but I am SO PROUD to tell people that ben is Therapy Dog! It seems to immediately change their view of him (if not rotties in general).
Thinking of testing for Therapy Dog certification - get to it! It's often fun, definitely fulfilling, yet stressful, and a wonderful thing to do. To see the faces of people when you go to visit is almost worth just walking in the door! They light up when they see animals. Many patients repond better to animals than to many traditional treatments.
How many of us de-stress by talking to our dogs, or just merely petting them? Your dog is your own personal Therapy Dog!  |