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• Therapy dogs are trained to provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals, nursing and retirement homes, mental institutions and schools. They are also used to help people in stressful situations after disasters.

• Fast Facts

  1. Must complete a certification program
  2. Temperament is most important for therapy dogs
  3. All sizes and breeds are eligible
  4. Must be at ease in all situations
  5. Their primary job is to allow unfamiliar people to make physical contact
  6. Therapy dogs played a part in helping at Red Cross centers after 9-11

• Becoming a Therapy Dog

  There are virtually no restrictions on the type of breeds that can become therapy dogs. The main requirement is that a dog have a very calm and soothing temperament. Organizations like Delta Society and Therapy Dogs International is responsible for testing and evaluating thousands of dogs every year. Dogs are tested to see how they behave around people in certain situations. Dogs must also be able to remain calm around people that use wheelchairs or crutches. Most therapy dogs are normal house pets that do not require any formal training.Therapy Dogs International, Inc.: An Overview

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