Pet Therapy
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sneakysheepie wrote: Does anyone have experience with Pet Therapy and OES? I am thinking about participating with Winston in a Pet Therapy program with the local senior center. Does anyone have any comments about the pros and cons of this?
A lot of people have done or do pet therapy with their OES. I'm sure you'll get a bunch of responses. Belle and I visited an ahlzheimer's home for about a year. When I had her certified I was hoping she'd be able to work with kids, because she loves them. The tester recommended seniors because they needed really gentle dogs and she is very gentle. I do think you have to match the right dog with the right situation. Belle would never approach anyone without an invitation. It didn't have to be verbal - she would read people's body language, but with ahlzheimer's a lot of the patients were too far into their own world - a pushier dog would have fared better to be honest. In fact, I think Sybil would be excellent 
I think in Belle's case she found that particular situation draining in some ways, as did I. She never seemed to mind, but we always seemed to need a nap afterwards. All that trying to read body language that often just wasn't there, or was often very conflicting. You have to be prepared to see people you've been talking to on some level for months suddenly dissappear forever into their own world. Of course, in other settings (and this one too), you have to be prepared for the day you show up and someone is gone forever. I'm not trying to dissuade you - I think it's a wonderful thing to do, so worthwhile. And OES are so perfect for it. Most people can't resist friendly fluff. Just looking at one is often enough to cheer you up, right? Let alone the stress relief from fluffing up their hair. And our dogs are so intuitive and sensitive. Which can be both good and bad. 
Kristine |
| I have had 2 therapy dogs for the last 18 years....and Heart, hopefully will be my third.. Millie, my beardie was great!!! She passed away about 5 years ago. Pearl, my 10 yr old OES is just as great....and Heart will carry on the tradition....Good Luck!!!
( It's the BEST therapy for me more than anyone else!!!! There is no greater joy than to know you and your dog have made a difference in someone's life just by a 5 minute visit.) |
| Both of my boys (OES and Komondor) just passed the test and we'll be starting soon. We're looking forward to it! |
Better get Clyde's butt fixed first, wouldn't want to scare anybody  |
| Chewie is a therapy dog, as well as my basset Simon. My 14 yr old choc lab Macy is retired.I have worked with the program for over 20 years. My 1st was my GSD Jenny. In between were: Ollie our 1st OES, a rat terrier named Kipper, our min pins Dino and Tazz. Daughter LeAnne had Kipper, and her OES Clay is now a therapy dog.
It is wonderful to do - I can think of very few volunteer activities I enjoy more. For lots of dogs it is draining. They really enjoy it, but as Kristine mentioned, they need to nap after. It is like their energy is transferred to the people they visit. One exception is Tazz - our little old min pin. He is retired now d/t his health, but he actually got an energy boost after visits. It's like he got a high from it! He is a shy guy, but by accident we discovered he absolutely loves Sr citizens. He would go on my visits to the assisted livings for Alzheimers patients. They were tickled pink to have him visit, as they still were fairly functional physically. He just went from old lady to old lady! Being tiny (7 pounds) he could be on them without risk of skin tears. People love when Chewie visits. The hair really gets them. Even the people who can barely move get a smile when they feel all that fluff.  Chewie doesn't get tired, I think he could go on forever. He did a week of camp nurse with me last summer - he was in heaven. The more kids, the better he liked it. They just hugged and hugged him, patted him, talked to him!
I had a pet psychic do a reading on him last summer - at the prompting of a fellow OES friend. I introduced Chewie to her, said how old he was and rattled off the list of all the activities we do. Her response was "This dog is an old soul. He may enjoy and do well at all the sports, but he was put on this earth to heal. Doing therapy work will be his main job in his life."  Wow. We were speechless. How cool is that??
Getting a good foundation in obedience, along with all the socializing you can squeeze in is a wonderful start. Good luck. |
ButtersStotch wrote: Both of my boys (OES and Komondor) just passed the test and we'll be starting soon. We're looking forward to it!
What is the test? Nothing has been said about this. The facility Winston and I are going to just want me to bring Winston in this Friday to check things out - Where do you get certification? Thanks, Stephanie & Winston |
sneakysheepie wrote: ButtersStotch wrote: Both of my boys (OES and Komondor) just passed the test and we'll be starting soon. We're looking forward to it! What is the test? Nothing has been said about this. The facility Winston and I are going to just want me to bring Winston in this Friday to check things out - Where do you get certification? Thanks, Stephanie & Winston The organization I work with is Therapy Dogs International, Inc. - (TDI) It is the oldest in the US, but there are several other therapy groups, both national and regional ones. Some others that come to mind are Delta, Therapy Dogs Incorporated. The web site for TDI is www.tdi-dog.org I am also an evaluator for TDI, as well as the AKC-CGC.IF you have questions, feel free to PM me.  |
| I found this on YouTube. I hope the link works. It is a video of a dog being tested for Therapy Dog Certification.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKdN-1p4tGI |
DandAbi wrote: I found this on YouTube. I hope the link works. It is a video of a dog being tested for Therapy Dog Certification.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKdN-1p4tGI Not really too accurate for the US. This one is from Slovakia and their test format is different than most seen here. I did notice that she was doing her heeling and recall with treats - absolutely a no no here. Instant failure. Dogs need to test on a flat buckle collar with no treats. That would not be an accurate test of the dog's true temperament and control/behavior.  |
| Phoebe and I just came back from our second hospice visit. She did very well on both visits letting visitors and staff pet her.
Tonight, our patient said that she never thought that she would have a dog coming to visit her. The nurse asked us to visit another patient, a very frail elderly lady who loves dogs. She had an OES stuffed toy in her room. Phoebe is not a certified therapy dog. To be a hospice Paw Pal they do have to have an obedience certificate. I had to go to eight hours of classes, prove that I had auto insurance, give 2 references, submit to a background check and take a TB test. And we both have ID badges. After about 45 minutes, Phoebe is ready to head home. Nancy in Cincinnati |
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