What is therapy dog training? What is a therapy dog in itself? They are dogs that are used by people or can be taken into specific surroundings to offer therapy in ways like comfort or companionship to people who are in need. Professionals, in fields like healthcare, have started to realize the benefits that a therapy dog can bring upon people and they are started to appreciate them as well. They do not have any specific task to complete, as all they need to do is provide comfort and become the companion of a person who is need, for example, people in wheelchairs or people who are facing some other type of disability. They are not kept for reasons particular to the owner of the dog rather they are kept to help others feel good by providing them with assistance and comfort.

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.