Once it was introduced in America, the very first therapy dog training system was introduced upon its arrival. It did not take long for people to discover the main benefits of therapy dogs. Most professionals realized that having such companions around for help would help to bring a fall in stress levels, increase positive attitudes and decrease levels of blood pressure. This, slowly and gradually, led to an increase in the demand for quality therapy dogs and therapy dog training.

We see many different dog services around us but therapy dogs are a little different from such direct assistant services. The primary role of a dog in this position is that it should make physical contact with a stranger. The dog should enjoy this experience without feeling any sort of fear or aggression. Mostly, either the type of people that will meet a therapy dog will be on wheelchairs or sporting other type of medical equipment or so this is why a dog should be trained to be able to put up against such items.

The dog needs to be made comfortable around this sort of equipment and besides this; they should also be made familiar to any unusual sound that the dog may come across. One of the challenges that therapy dogs face is children. No child will go hug a dog unless he is trained properly because otherwise there are high chances that the dog will act inappropriately. One of the key features that a dog needs to possess is a low temperament. Since a dog will experience a lot of touching and physical interaction like being picked up, the dog needs to be able to put up against such interaction.

Any breed of a dog can be eligible for therapy dog training. The breed is the last thing that a person needs to look at, as they need to look at personality features. There is no doubt that a dog is friendly and loving as there are reasons why people call a dog to be a man’s best friend. They are able to socialize with other animals and people in a good manner as well as handle noisy situations very well. The dog should be able to walk without a leash and worked around by strangers. Since most people that a dog will meet are disabled, it is a rare case that a dog will need extensive therapy dog training.

Dogs from any breed and age group can be chosen to become a therapy dog but it is generally preferred to have older dogs with a calmer and friendly nature – selecting an aggressive, furious dog for therapy dog training is probably not a very good idea since he will never be able to completely let go off his nature. Usually, a dog between the age of 3 to 5 years is chosen, that has a welcoming attitude towards people; do not go for a too young or a too old dog since both of them will require extra effort on your part.

For good therapy dog training, you will have to be very consistent. The first and foremost thing to do is to make your dog familiar to the most basic commands like that of sitting down and standing up. Your dog should follow these commands no matter who gives them – so make sure that he is not too attached to you, otherwise he will get aggressive every time someone comes near you or touches you and that is exactly the kind of behavior that needs to be controlled for in therapy dog training.

Taking you dog out for regular walks and making him familiar with new faces every day can act as a positive reinforcement in his attitude. Along with this, it is best to take your dog along in shows and crowded market places, so that he gets used to a lot of noise and people – once your dog is well aware of the fact that he is not supposed to bark and show aggression towards strangers, you can consider your training to be working.

Therapy dog training also requires you to take good care of your dog’s health; make sure that he gets his vaccinations on time and that he is having proper food throughout the day. Take him for regular checkups to a good vet and keep a record of all the injections and medicines that the vet is giving him.

Along with this, make sure that you give me the proper love and affection – the more affectionate you are with him, the gentler he will become towards human beings in general. Reinforce things in such a way that he enjoys learning them; use whistle, hand and feet gestures to make him understand when you are not happy with him. Therapy dog training may take a long time; so do not lose hope if your dog does not respond to your things in the beginning, just remain calm and you will be able to see results in a couple of months.

Getting therapy dog training and certification will help you as well as your dog make a significant difference in the lives of people especially people who really need some cheering up, are in need of a companion and a little extra dose of love. Children who are ill and senior citizens who are in a frail condition are the most excited when they are greeted by a therapy dog. A wagging tail tends to bring smiles on the faces of these individuals. Therapy dogs have come out to be a great source of companionship and comfort for people who are experiencing specific illnesses. These people include: patients of Alzheimer’s, autistic children, children suffering from learning disabilities and individuals who are recovering from any major surgery or even recovering from injuries. The presences of therapy dogs help introduce an aura of calmness, which helps to decrease any anxiety, stress and fear that patients may be faced with.

Being the owner of a therapy dog can be highly rewarding if you take a minute to consider the good that comes out of it. It helps to brighten up the day of various people even if they do not anything special like tricks etc. The people you visit will remember you and your therapy dog throughout the day. In order to ensure the maximum possible happiness to come out from your visit, it highly important that you get the best therapy dog training. It is necessary that all dogs get therapy dog training if that is what your intention is to do with your dog.

When it comes to the matter of therapy dogs, it really does not matter what the breed or the size is of the dog. There are other two things that need to be looked into, these are in the personality of the dog rather than its physical features, they are the temperament of the dog, and they need to be social. The dog’s temperament needs to be calm, stable and gentle and this can primarily be done by going through some therapy dog training. They need to have a feeling of security because during their time, they will experience and interact with many different people, so you also need to ensure that the dog is under your own supervision.

A therapy dog should not, and cannot, show any tendencies of being aggressive towards a child, an adult or even towards another dog because dogs tend to react negatively towards unusual sounds and some particular types of equipment. The qualification that we consider the most important is being fond of social interaction and being able to put up against being petted and touched by strangers and the owner alike.

This article will serve your guide to training you dog to be a therapy dog .We must look at some of the most important things to look for when we’re thinking about using our family pet for therapy work a therapy dog should have a gentle and calm nature. They need to be able to understand the come behaviors as in side, down, stay etc.

1. The first thing we should choice in a dog for therapy dog work is a calm natured dog. Dog needs to be able to get along with everyone. It is not the trained behavior but the behavior, which is necessary for assisting the care facilities or places we may visit.

2. Second step to look for in a dog is to approach gently in a positive manner and show support towards teaching the dog very basic directives. It is empirically verified that when treated with such attitude, dogs show a thirst of learning, they will come, stay and down therapy to learn obedience skills.

3. Third step is that you need to be able to teach your dog that it is quite normal that you can talk with others and even strangers can stop by, shake hands and start talking with you. Your dog must not become too protective in this regard.

4. The next step is that you should be able to take your dog on unusual places so that he can learn and be aware of new noises and see different places. Ideally, you can go to carnivals, parades and markets so he gets accustomed to unusual sounds.

5. In addition, you need to teach your dog that every time sniffing, jumping, licking, barking and groaning are not acceptable. You should ensure your dog’s health by routine checkups, keeping him clean and going to your local Veterinarians.

It is also very important to have a knowhow about the breeds of dogs and to know which breed is more suitable to become therapy dogs. Depending on the temperament, every dog is different and not necessarily able to be therapy dog.

Dog training is all about teaching techniques and developing special habits in your dog so that you control his actions. Therapy dog training is very important for every person having a dog. Through various techniques, we see many examples around us in which dogs are playing important roles in our lives and they are making it even easier for us.

However, when it comes to Therapy Dogs, some well-known breeds are easy to train compared to others. Therapy dogs come in all sizes. In large breed dogs, Golden retrievers and Labradors retrievers are known to gentle and have been trained by generations of people since the beginning of times. If you wish to make Pit-bull or Doberman into a therapy dog you must get it assessed before staring its therapy dog training, as these dogs are part of some very aggressive breeds that are even banned in some areas of the world.

In small breed dogs, a Lap dog is ideal for someone who has disabilities related to body movements such as bending or moving freely. This dog is so small in structure that it does not need to be caressed all the time; it keeps wiggling around feet on its own. In short, it does not demand the kind of attention a big dog requires. There are some branches of the Terrier group, which might be too hyperactive to make excellent therapy dogs. Small dogs are known to be more nervous and having the tendency to get scared instantly. However, there are always exceptions; Terriers cannot be ruled out completely. If the dog is assessed before therapy dog training, there is good chance the dog will turn out to be suitable.

Third kind of breed is the mixed dog breed; breeding together dogs from two different races create these dogs. These dogs are generally healthier and are known to be excellent for treatment to become therapy dogs. Their temperament can be bred for specific behavior; this depends on the parent dogs used. There are various breed dogs, which look very attractive as they have completely different personalities. These dogs are increasing in popularity for their temperament and usually they make excellent companions.

There is one more breed of dogs known as Hypoallergic Dogs; people tend to have certain allergies related to these dogs. Most of these dogs have furs, which are clogged with germs, and when the owner gets in contact, he develops certain kind of allergies. So the use of these dogs for Therapy is not advised. Dogs in this category include Poodles, Bicon Frise, Portuguese dogs.

Now let us assume that your dog has cleared and possesses all the “pre-qualifications” that the dog needs to become a therapy dog. Now the next step of therapy dog training is the actual training and practicing its obedience. Therapy dog training requirements actually vary as there are two programs that primarily offering this sort of certification. Besides these two requirements, several other tests help to certify a dog as a therapy dog. One of these certifications is done by an orientation and desensitization course. This specific course helps the dog to get familiar with things that the dos is not used to seeing at the home and these things include elevators, escalators and some specific types of medical equipment. This equipment can sometimes irritate the ears of dogs as they emit sounds that the dog does not find friendly.

Besides these test that we have mentioned above, some obedience tests need to be cleared before your dog can be cleared and certified as a therapy dog. Here are some of the things that need to be addressed through therapy dog training:

• Allow a stranger to handle the dog and groom him too
• Not shying away from a stranger that is, a friendly stranger, when he approaches or is present
• Letting the dog walk loosely without a lead
• Being able to walk calmly when in a group of people without showing any signs of aggression
• Sit/stand calmly while letting a stranger touch him and walk towards him
• Obey verbal commands like “sit” or “stay”
• Come towards anyone who calls him by his name
• Show only casual interest around by stranger dogs
• Remain calm when the owner leaves the room
• Confidently react towards distractions and noises without being aggressive

These are just some of scenarios that a dog should react normally to. In addition, one of the best ways to ensure that this happens is by conducting organized and frequent therapy dog training sessions. You should try your best that you attend these training sessions regularly along with your dog. If you attend these sessions with your dog in-person, you will be taken on field trips with your dog so that he becomes familiarized with such surroundings.

This article will serve your guide to therapy dog training. First of all, you must choose a dog that you want to make into a therapy dog. This is a very important step as not every dog can be trained to become a therapy dog. A dog’s temperament is what decides whether it can be a therapy dog or not. The dog must be friendly in nature, must show keen interest in his surroundings and must not be hyperactive; showing no feelings to the world around it.

Second step is where you are to start training your dog gently. You must understand this is a process, which takes a lot of time and demands a lot of patience. One must comprehend the fact that dog is an animal that cannot think or respond like humans. Therapy dog training is advised to start gradually with basic commands like sit, stand, and stay instilled to dog initially. The dog must be taught manners of staying in the house without making a mess and must also be taught to be obedient.

Third step is where you teach your dog to be gentle towards strangers. Dogs have been blessed with the sense of loyalty. It is often seen that a dog gets disturbed when a stranger tries to interact with his master. This is something that a therapy dog cannot do, as it is to stay and interact with strangers all the time. So this feeling of restlessness must be eliminated from the dog.

Fourth step is when you introduce your dog to external world. You should walk his to everyday life places like parks, parades, flea markets and other outdoor events so that it gets accustomed to the world outside house doors and also to the sounds that are present outdoors like honking sounds of cars or children playing/screaming in a park. This is done so that the animal does not get restless when he is exposed to these sounds after therapy dog training.

Fifth step is when you start improving your dog’s manners. In this step you are to discourage your dog from certain unpleasant actions which might make other people despise it. These actions include jumping, sniffing, barking, licking and growling.

In the last step, you are supposed to make sure your dog is healthy. You must also make sure that its appearance is presentable. The dog must look very clean and tidy as it is be around random people who have no affection for the dog. To make them get interested the dog must look best.

It is not important or necessary that people send their dogs to therapy dog training but then there is that proportion of dogs that do require such training. Most dogs are not comfortable around kids as they touch too much, or other strangers given the fact that are using the support of medical equipment like wheelchairs, crutches etc. What therapy dog training does is it introduces socialization into the lives of dogs. Why you ask? Well this is in order to get the dog more relaxed in such an environment and are also more calm and happy to meet new people in different situations.

It should be remembered that not everyone meets a dog in the same way. Some may be gentle, which will feel pleasing to the dog, whereas there are some people who are entirely clumsy and pet your dog with a heavy hand which may push the dog into a more aggressive nature. At moments like this, a dog needs to try its best to remain calm and not get hyperactive about it; this is what therapy dog training will ensure.

We have mentioned repeatedly, that not all dogs can play the role of a therapy dog even if they undergo therapy dog training. This is not due to reasons like not being of an appropriate weight or of a specific height. Dogs need to be made into animals that are friendly, gentle, can adapt to different situations and are calm and patient. They should be made into creatures that can put up and deal with unpredictable situations.

However, some people say there are specific breeds, which can make a significant difference. Dogs like Labradors or Golden Retrievers are said to be generally happy dogs and comparatively more calm and friendly. On the other hand, imagine having a therapy dog in the form of a Rottweiler or a Bulldog? How suitable do you think this would be? Therefore, it is completely wrong to say that the breed of a dog does not matter as it clearly does but then again we are forced to say that it depends totally on the training that is given to a dog.

Therapy dogs are not part of some special breed that has such friendly characteristics, but a therapy dog can be come from any breed, and therapy dog training is what makes a normal dog into a therapy dog.

Consider the fact that therapy dog provides unconditional love and warmness, which helps lower blood pressure, eases pain and reduces depression, it is a win situation for both the doctors and patients or teaches and students, whatever may the situation be.

As far as treatment is concerned, prime concern is the temperament of the dog concerned. You are advised to choose a dog that has a calm and friendly behavior. Treatment also concentrates on this aspect greatly and improves these skills in the dog. A dog must not be hyperactive, one who shows no interest in its surrounds or a dog that is not very friendly/social, treatment cannot change such a dog. Overall, depending on temperament, not every dog can be a therapy dog. A dog must be sensitive to human touch and be content to be patted if it is ever to become a therapy dog.

A therapy dog’s primary job is to make people feel comfortable whenever it is around them. 5 out of 10 people say that they feel uncomfortable when in company of a dog. It is not abnormal to be afraid of a dog as it is a wild animal that, if left free, kills its prey. So one is always a little apprehensive while making contact with a dog. Children specially feel terrified by a dog; the sound of dog barking scares them. Even adults find it disturbing. Completely opposing to that, a therapy dog is supposed to give you a friendly and warm feeling. This is prime quality of these dogs as they are present in environments where disabled/ill people live. The god might need to be lifted into an individual’s lap or might climb into someone’s bed to sit or lie comfortably there.

These dogs are also supposed to provide a very welcoming experience to people who are visiting a placed housing these dogs. They are also able to play games that are taught to them under controlled conditions where there attacking abilities are killed completely.

The basic thing about therapy dog training is to make him used to strangers; it can be very hard since it requires the trainer to completely mound the nature of the dog. If you are planning to train your dog as a therapy dog, you can start by taking him for a walk and giving him positive reinforcement about not barking at strangers. A regular walk to the park along with different people can make him realize that he does not have to bark on every passerby. In addition to this, you should also take your dog to the market, stadium and other noisy places so that he gets used to being around random people.

It is also very important to teach your dog the simple tricks of sitting down and standing up not only at your command but also at the command of others; at the same time, you will also have to make him get used to the fact that he is not allowed to lick anyone’s hands or feet. This is necessary because he will be visiting many patients with different diseases once he is fully trained and quality by the authorities. Along with this therapy dog training, you also need to maintain your dogs’ good health; make sure that you feed him well and take him for a regular checkup. In addition to this, keep a record of all this vaccinations and injections, as the people at GSC will be inquiring you about it once they come to check your dog to see if he really qualifies to become a good dog therapist.

Therapy dog training calls for a lot of patience and hard work with your pet; it may take months or even years to train your dog properly but once trained he can help so many people out there that you will feel that all your effort was totally worthwhile.