Therapy Dogs In Schools

Therapy dogs are used to improve the lives of other people. They are meant to interact with their owners and surrounding people. The point of therapy dogs is to provide comfort to people in need.

Therapy dogs can visit many different places. This includes schools, daycares, group homes, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, and nursing homes. (What is the Difference Between a Therapy Dog vs. a Service Dog) Therapy dogs are often called “miracle workers” in the classroom. Recently, some therapy dogs were used to comfort witnesses of school shootings. Also, some colleges keep therapy dogs for their students. The idea of therapy dogs on a college campus is to help students slow down and cope with anxiety. They can also help to be a break from the pressure of school. Yale Law School uses therapy dogs because law school can be very stressful. (The Benefits of Therapy Dogs in Classrooms and on College Campuses)

These dogs can help people struggling with mental illness. They can help with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and many more. Some therapy dogs are used to comfort people with Autism. Studies show that people with Autism that have therapy dogs talk to people and introduce themselves more often. Unlike service dogs, therapy dogs can be approached and pet by

surrounding people. (5 Unbelievable Facts About Therapy Dogs) Unfortunately, most places, where pets are not permitted, do not allow therapy dogs. (What is the Difference Between a Therapy Dog vs. a Service Dog)
Therapy dogs have many great affects on people.

For example, it has been proven that therapy dogs stimulate memory and problem solving skills in a classroom environment. Also, interaction with a therapy dog has been shown to reduce blood pressure. In hospitals, therapy dogs can comfort someone during a surgery, recovery, or if they are just experiencing pain. A study showed that hospital patients with a therapy dog had less pain and recovered quicker and better. Therapy dogs have also been proven to promote self esteem. About ten percent of teens have an anxiety disorder. Therapy dogs can help these students by creating laughter to lift moods. (The Benefits of Therapy Dogs in Classrooms and on College

Campuses)
If someone needed a therapy dog, these would be some things to consider. Small dogs can easily be picked up and they take up less space. These small dogs could not reach the counter to get food. However, larger dogs are calmer, and they can jump onto beds easier. If someone wants a therapy dog and already has a dog, they could put their dog into training and turn it into one. (5 Unbelievable Facts About Therapy Dogs) If someone did not already have a dog, there are a few dog breeds that make the best therapy dogs. For example, Labrador Retrievers, French Bulldogs, Greyhound, and Pomeranians are great choices, just to name a few. (16, Kind, Gentle Breeds that Make for Excellent Therapy Dogs)
For a dog to become a therapy dog, there are many things to think about. A therapy dog needs to be friendly, calm, gentle, and at least one year old. They should begin their training as soon as possible to learn the best. If someone is training their own dog, someone from their area has to observe how your dog acts in a variety of locations. Therapy dogs can not be too overwhelmed when training, or they may become scared of certain things. Training has to focus on pleasant encounters with unfamiliar people. Therapy dogs should be shown to people wearing things unfamiliar to them such as hats, glasses, or scarves, so they get used to it. (What is the Difference Between a Therapy Dog vs. a Service Dog)
There are a few ways someone can test a therapy dog. They could tell the dog to get something and see if it retrieves it. This is a great skill to have for a therapy dog. Someone can also try looking their dog in the eyes. If the dog stares back, it has confidence and if it looks away, it does not. The dog should not be easily startled by loud noises, storms or other people. However, if the dog does not react to any noises, it may need to be tested for deafness. This can be tested by clapping, and if the dog does not turn its head it may have hearing problems. (What is the Difference Between a Therapy Dog vs. a Service Dog)
Therapy dogs are versatile and have an astonishing effect on people. The point of a therapy dog is to bring comfort to a person in need. They are simple to train and easy to maintain. If a person is seeking help, a therapy dog is a great thing to have.