Training Services | Therapy Work

Therapy Work

We often get questions on what exactly therapy dogs do. That depends on how they are trained and what programs they will be involved in. What usually comes to mind for most people is the site of a therapy dog visting a nursing home lifting the spirits of those who reside there, but therapy dogs can do so much more.

Therapy dogs have been utilized around the country in reading programs as well. Often adults inadvertantly place pressure on a child who might have a reading problem. The child may feel very self-conscious about reading to an adult, afraid of being judged. However, children will often be more willing to read to a dog because they know a dog won’t judge them or criticise them for the mistakes they may make while reading. This in turn bolsters their confidence as they improve by reading aloud.

Therapy dogs, have also been utilized to bridge communication barriers that may be in place due to mental trauma, or developmental issues. A veteran with post traumatic stress may be more likely to open up to a dog than to the people around him.

Therapy dogs are simply there to aid us in our own recovery, or help us improve skills lost or never realised.

We here at Northstar Canine Consulting applaud those of you who take the time to train and volunteer for therapy work.