Golden Retrievers are often used as therapy dogs due to their calm demeanor, gentle disposition, and friendliness to strangers.
A therapy dog is a dog that is trained to provide affection, comfort and support to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, libraries, hospices and/or disaster areas. In the United States, these dogs are defined but not covered or protected under the Federal Housing Act or Americans with Disabilities Act. They also do not have public access rights with exception to the specific places they are visiting and working. Typically the dog would be granted rights by individual facilities only. Therapy dogs are subjected to several tests to ensure that they are fit for the job. These tests look at their ability to block out distractions, comfort level around a variety of people with many different disabilities, and if they are comfortably able to walk through many different terrains.
The use of dogs for therapeutic reasons has been demonstrated by many people over the last few centuries, including Florence Nightingale, Sigmund Freud, and Elaine Smith.
Many organizations provide evaluation and registration for therapy dogs, sometimes with focus on a particular therapeutic practice such as reading to dogs. Therapy dogs have several benefits ranging from therapeutic and psychological benefits to academic and cognitive benefits.
Contents
- 1 Certification
- 2 History
- 3 AKC Therapy Dog Titles
- 4 Classification
- 5 Benefits
- 6 Misconceptions
- 7 See also
- 8 References
- 9 External links
Certification[edit]
In order for a dog to be a good candidate to become a therapy dog and receive certification, they should be calm and social with strangers. They should also be able to adjust to loud noises and fast movements.[1] There are certain steps that are needed for a dog to become certified by a national organization such as The Alliance of Therapy Dogs (https://www.therapydogs.com/), e.g., to socialize the dog around other animals and people. They are tested on behaviors such as not jumping on people and being able to walk on a loose leash. Exact testing/certification requirements differs based on the organization’s requirements. Once the dog becomes certified, they can begin their volunteer careers. Some organizations offer classes such as “distraction-proofing,” which strengthens the dog’s ability to focus and therapy training to help prepare the dog and the dog’s owner for therapy visits.[2].
Although therapy dogs are not limited to a certain size or breed, common breeds used in therapy dog application and research includes golden retrievers and labradors.[3][4][5]
Therapy dogs offer many benefits to people and patients. For example, therapy dogs help patients participate in physical activities. They also help encourage them to have cognitive, social, and communication goals.[6]
History[edit]
Florence Nightingale pioneered the idea of Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT). She discovered that patients of different ages living in a psychiatric institution were relieved from anxiety when they were able to spend time with small animals.[7] Freud believed that dogs could sense certain levels of tension being felt by his patients. Freud also used his dog to communicate with his patients. He felt as if his patients were more comfortable talking to his dog at first and this opened up doors for them to later feel more comfortable talking to him.[7] The use of therapy can also be attributed to Elaine Smith,[8][9] a registered nurse. While a chaplain and his dog visited, Smith noticed the comfort that this visit seemed to bring the patients. In 1976, Smith started a program for training dogs to visit institutions, and the demand for therapy dogs continued to grow.
AKC Therapy Dog Titles[edit]
Through the AKC, certified Therapy dogs can earn five titles from Novice to Distinguished Therapy Dogs based on their log of volunteer visits (numbering from 10 to 400). “The AKC does not certify therapy dogs; the certification and training is done by qualified therapy dog organizations. The certification organizations are the experts in this area and their efforts should be acknowledged and appreciated.”[10]
Classification[edit]
Therapy dogs are usually not assistance or service dogs, but can be one or both with some organizations. Therapy dogs are not trained to assist specific individuals and do not qualify as service dogs under the Americans with Disabilities Act.[11]
Many organizations provide evaluation and registration for therapy dogs. Typical tests might ensure that a dog can handle sudden loud or strange noises; can walk on assorted unfamiliar surfaces comfortably; are not frightened by people with canes, wheelchairs, or unusual styles of walking or moving; get along well with children and the elderly; and so on. Institutions may invite, limit, or prohibit access by therapy dogs. If allowed, many institutions have requirements for therapy dogs. United States-based Therapy Dogs International (TDI) bans the use of service dogs in their therapy dog program.[8][9] Service dogs perform tasks for persons with disabilities and have a legal right to accompany their owners in most areas.[12]
In Canada, St John Ambulance provides therapy dog certification. In the UK, Pets As Therapy (PAT) provides visiting dogs and cats to establishments where pets are otherwise not available.
Also in the UK Therapy Dogs Nationwide (TDN) provide visiting dogs to establishments.
Types[edit]
There are three classifications for therapy dogs. The most common type of therapy dogs are therapeutic visitation dogs. These dogs are usually household pets; the owner of these dogs will take their pets to hospitals, nursing homes or rehabilitation facilities to visit patients. These dogs are used to improve the mental health of patients through socialization and encouragement. Another type of therapy dog is animal-assisted therapy dogs (AAT). Dogs who fall under this category have the duty of providing assistance to patients to reach certain goals towards their recovery. They work to help patients gain skills such as motor skills, use of limbs and hand-eye coordination. They do this by walking patients through certain activities and games to help them practice these skills. These dogs are usually based in rehabilitation facilities. The last type of therapy dog is a facility therapy dog. These dogs usually work in nursing homes along with their handlers. They live at the facility and help patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive and mental illnesses.[13]
Benefits[edit]
Psychological[edit]
Animal Assisted Therapy has been reported to help many psychological health issues such as anxiety, depression, social skills, and simply improving the moods of the patient.[7][medical citation needed]
Therapy Fluffies at UC San Diego
Additional psychological benefits of therapy dog programs in educational settings are that they can provide comfort, companionship, a diversion to unpleasant thoughts or situations, can lessen resistance and expedite the development of a relationship in the therapy process, and can help people feel more comfortable in a new situation.[14][medical citation needed]
Psychological benefits in school setting[edit]
Greyhound therapy dogs in an elementary school in North Port, Florida
The University of Connecticut uses therapy dogs in their program Paws to Relax, available during finals week to help students deal with increased anxiety. The school uses them in other stressful situations, including suicides and deadly automobile accidents.[15] Since 2011, Yale Law School has used therapy dogs to aid students experiencing stress.[16]
Some colleges and universities in the US bring therapy dogs to campus to help students de-stress. These campus events are often referred to as “Therapy Fluffies”, a term coined by Torrey Trust, the original founder of the University of California San Diego therapy dog de-stress event.[17] In 2009, Sharon Franks shared the idea of bringing therapy dogs to campus with the UC San Diego Office of Student Wellness.[18]
Since the autumn of 2010, “Therapy Fluffies” has visited the UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, and UC Riverside campuses during the week before mid-term and final exams.[19][20] These events give students and staff the opportunity to pet and relax with therapy-certified dogs.[21] The university also works with the Inland Empire Pet Partners, a service of the Humane Society to bring therapy-certified dogs to the campus’ Mental Health Day Spa, held quarterly.[22][23]
In 2014, Concordia University, Wisconsin became the first university in the US to adopt a full-time therapy dog to its campus in Mequon, WI. The golden retriever, Zoey, is a Lutheran church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog, trained to interact with people at churches, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, events, and in disaster response situations.[24] Concordia later purchased a second comfort dog, named Sage.[25]
Stressful situations[edit]
On December 14, 2012, therapy dogs were brought to the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown America, Connecticut following the shooting and deaths of 26 people, providing comfort to children and parents. Previously therapy dogs were used to offer comfort to faculty, staff and students following the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting in Blacksburg, Virginia when 32 people were killed.[16]
In Uganda, The Comfort Dog Project pairs dogs with those traumatized by war. Participants learn how to care for and train the animals as the dogs assist with confidence, help with depression and assist with recovery from post traumatic stress disorder. [26]
Cognitive[edit]
Programs such as the Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program promote literacy and communication skills. The practice uses therapy dogs to encourage children to read aloud by giving them a nonjudgmental listener.[27] It has been proven that the academic performance and children’s enthusiasm for reading has increased by having a therapeutic dog with them, especially in children with special education.[28] Goals of canine-assisted reading programs include increasing reading fluency, increasing motivation to read, providing encouragement for reluctant readers, and making reading fun.[29]
These cognitive benefits can be seen in libraries as well as schools.[30] Internationally, there are programs that use therapy dogs in educational settings such as Germany, [31]Argentina, [32]Finland (Lukukoira Sylvi from Kuopio, Finland was the first animal nominated for Citizen of the Year),[33] and Croatia,[34] for example.
An article published by American Journal of Alzheimer’s Diseases & Other Dementias reported that during visits with dogs, residents with dementia were able to be involved in special activities and were more verbal then usual.[7] Researchers have identified further cognitive benefits of therapy dogs, which include an increase in mental stimulation and assistance in the recall of memories and the sequence of events.[14]
Physical[edit]
Interaction with therapy dogs improves cardiovascular health, and as a result patients may need less medication. Further, petting animals promotes the release of hormones that can elevate moods, specifically serotonin, prolactin and oxytocin.[14] Patients receiving occupational therapy have improved their fine motor skills by grooming therapy dogs.[35] Studies have found decreased cortisol levels in children with insecure attachment styles, children with autistic spectrum disorder, in hospital patients with heart failure, and in healthcare professionals, after physical contact with a dog.[36]
Social[edit]
Therapy dogs promote greater self-esteem in students and encourage positive interactions with peers and teachers.[16] Additionally, children with autism demonstrated increased verbal abilities and social interaction during therapy sessions when animals were present compared to traditional therapy sessions without them.[14]
Misconceptions[edit]
Concerns with therapy dogs in libraries, schools and medical facilities[edit]
There are some concerns with using therapy dogs with children and adults in various public facilities. Some include hygiene, allergies, cross cultural expectations, safety of participants, animal welfare, and lack of consistent training or certification process and liability.[37] AAI (animal assisted interventions) and AAA (animal assisted activities) are facilitated by human/dog teams with extensive therapy dog training and have obtained behavioral and health evaluations. They follow guidelines for cleanliness (bathing and brushing dogs before sessions, keeping vaccinations up to date, trimming nails, human hand washing before and after visits) to alleviate most hygiene concerns.[38] In all of these locations, patrons, students or patients are often required to take responsibility for their interactions with dogs in the form of a liability release or parental permission form. Advance considerations of the responsibilities of handlers and the institution or organization include insurance and background checks to address liability.[39] While insurance claims against trained dog teams are rare, it is advised[by whom?] to be prepared.[40] Since therapy dog interaction is an optional activity, those with allergies, those who develop anxiety when near dogs, or those with general opposition to the program need not participate.
The difference between service and therapy dogs[edit]
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, a “dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability” is a service animal.[41] These dogs are trained to assist patients with their day to day physical needs. Service dogs help those with disabilities pursue everyday life with safety and independence. Many service dogs have a “no petting” policy while they are on the job to keep them from being distracted from their task. In contrast, therapy dogs are trained to interact with all kinds of people, not just their handlers. While some states define therapy animals and emotional support animals, they are not protected by federal laws,[41] and therefore can be prohibited from businesses, restaurants and many other locations.[42]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- Sherwinski, Adam (January 30, 2018). “Joplin Public Library gets surprise visit from therapy dogs”. Four States Home Page.
- Harding, Tanner (January 28, 2018). “Famous Amos: Therapy dog a hit at Plumb library”. Sippican Week.
- Van Kirk, Celeste (February 4, 2018). “Woman rescues Spanish greyhounds, gives them new purpose in life”. Observer-Reporter.
- Endo, Judy (August 31, 2014). “Therapy animals: Healing power in furry, or feathered, packages”. The Citizens Voice.
- “Read Team Steps”. Therapy Animals.
External links[edit]
- Assistance Animal State Laws – Michigan State University
- Disabilities and Medical Conditions – TSA (Transport Security Administration)
- National Geographic News article
- Development & Validation of a Research Instrument to Assess the Effectiveness of Animal-Assisted Therapy