Therapy Dog
Find out how a Therapy dog can benefit you!
About Our Therapeutic Dogs
At Happy Doodle Farm we have realized that our dogs are capable of changing lives of those in need on a therapeutic level.. We have designed our program to select puppies that have the most optimal temperament needed to become working Therapy Dog through guiding them in the right direction to reach their full potential. We have provided dogs to not only individuals but schools, hospitals, facilities, funeral homes, advocacy centers and even a nursing home! We work to determine whether each puppy is best suited for a public group setting or best for an individual one on one. When a Therapy Dog has completed our program it has become accustomed to making therapy service visits and engaged in public access in order to be prepared for their working life. Each puppy is selected specifically for the job it has been called upon to do in order to best succeed in their work and accommodate their assigned human or workplace. Each Therapy is geared with not only an advanced understanding of obedience but 2 additional commands that help them fulfill their role as an asset to you or your business.
You can expect your Therapeutic Dog to:
- Be reliably house trained and crate trained
- Be further socialized in public with a variety of people and other dogs in a variety of locations and will be expected to maintain appropriate behavior during outings
- Exhibit appropriate car riding etiquette (If big enough will enter and exit car on command)
- Follow the verbal commands “sit, look, down, implied stay (20 feet), heel, in your bed, no, come, up (car), Break!, “Leave it”, and go potty” (some commands have associated hand signals as well)
- Know 2 role specific commands such as “Fist bump” or “Say hi!” for therapy work or “kiss/hug/cuddle/love me” for emotional support type work as examples
- Present their learned commands with normal distractions such as other dogs, people, and background noise
- Present appropriate reactions to wheelchairs, walkers, and other hospital equipment as well as normal facility noises and smells
- Exhibit appropriate behavior to their trainers and strangers including not jumping up or play biting
- Stand for grooming and be comfortable with all methods of handling and care
- Use stairs and enter doors appropriately
- Go to nursing homes, hospitals, and even approving restaurants and be knowledgeable of proper behavior
- Wearing a vest while working for distinction between work and free time
Optional Therapeutic Dog Skills Include:
- Cuddle or Hug - for deep pressure therapy purposes
- Rolling over for a belly rub
- "Up" for getting up onto beds, couches and vehicles
- Paw
- Pillow - where humans can lay back and recline on to the dog while laying down to decompress
- The ability to lay in a specific spot for a reading buddy until free'd
- We are also willing to work with you to tailor skills that best aide you.
Disclaimer:
It is very important for the future handler to be as educated as possible about handling their future Therapeutic Service Dog. A dog is only as successful as their handler is in understanding how to use them. There will be a minimal 14 day acclimation period for you and your dog prior to being prepared for public interactions with individuals outside of their main handler., Therapy dogs are not protected by the ADA.
