Therapy dogs can help persons that have been isolated by disease, disability, age, mental illness, distress or grief. They can assist with physical, occupational, rehabilitation, vocational, social, group and family therapy. Therapy dogs have been known to stimulate a person to talk, play, walk, pet and groom the dog in a way that they would not with another person. They can encourage the person to socialize and talk about their pets, their families/friends. Some persons adopt the therapy dog as their special visitor & friend. The therapy dog asks for nothing, loves unconditionally and helps the person feel safe and protected.
Therapy dogs and their handlers are go to nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, mental hospitals/programs, schools, hospitals, hospice programs, prisons and individuals homes. In addition to companion skills our therapy dogs do a variety of activities: obedience, agility, pull wheelchairs and carts, go for walks, play hide and seek, track, retrieve, find scents, pose for pictures, do tricks and dress up in costumes for special occasions.
Our therapy dogs and handlers must be a team before they apply for certification as part of our therapy dog team. Each dog must be healthy, well-groomed, obedient and of excellent temperament. All of our therapy dogs are friendly and sociable. They love to be worked and petted. They must be able to work under much distraction and stress. The dogs are used to wheelchairs, crutches, bicycles, vehicles, elevators and public places.
All of our canine team members are skilled in companion and social skills. Some of our more advanced canine team members are skilled in assistance dog skills (service, signal, guide, seizure alert). They can interact with a persons rehabilitation and social therapy goals.
Our Thanks to the Washington State Veterans Home in Retsil, Washington for many years of therapy dog team training and certifications. Our thanks to Therapy Dogs Inc. for their assistance in certification of our therapy dog team. All of our canines and their handlers are volunteers. If you have a need for a therapy dog visitation please contact us.