Becoming A Therapist

By Tanya C. Sousa

Therapy dog work is being part of a team, and at it's best it's a rewarding experience for both canine and counterpart. When my Border Collie "Buzz" and I get ready for work, we are both eager. He knows the signs; I bring out the 3 foot leash which enables better handling. He jumps up carefully so I may snap the collar on, and he leaps into the car in a flurry. By the time we reach the mile-long hill leading to the nursing home, he is whining in anticipation. He loves what he does. So do I. We are ready to greet people and bring them a little joy.

We make our way through the halls, carefully around trays of food and I.V.s, and Buzz reaches his head up to be stroked. He offers licks to those who want it. Some residents even call him up on their beds so they can cuddle closer as he rolls to have his belly rubbed. The smiles, laughter, and stories we hear are heartwarming--yet I can tell when it is time to go. Buzz puts so much energy into each person that he becomes exhausted after 45 minutes or so. I watch him start to flag, and I respond immediately to my hard-working partner. We leave, and he bursts eagerly back out into fresh air. Still, the next time I bring out the collar, he trembles with excitement again.

Therapy Dogs have various duties. For instance, Buzz may visit nursing homes, but he also works with me in my guidance office at a K-8 school, running alongside children who are hyperactive, playing tirelessly with children who have trouble fitting in socially, and sitting with patient attention while small children read him stories. Some dogs visit hospitals. In order to take this job, Buzz had to become a certified "therapist" and took on very specific tests.

You may wonder why you should bother going through an entire testing/certification process just to bring your loving dog into a facility. The answer? Safety. Your safety, your dog's safety, and the safety of people you visit. Certification shows your dog is manageable and safe. If something does go wrong, you are insured by the group you belong to (in my case, Therapy Dogs of Vermont).

Interested in having your dog certified? The most important thing is self knowledge and knowing your dog. You may love to give of yourself and chat with people, but is your dog as comfortable? How does he react to strange noises, cramped quarters, and people handling him roughly due to stroke, illness, dementia or youth and inexperience?

Okay, now I've probably scared you. Don't be discouraged--I just want people to be realistic and understand not every dog, regardless of how wonderful, SHOULD be a therapy dog. With that said, keep in mind there are many ways you and your dog can volunteer together to suit your interests and your dog's strengths. Your dog may do better with a few ongoing relationships (or even one) rather than traveling from room to room. Your dog may join you in your office and be a soothing presence. Perhaps your dog doesn't do well in a facility, but thrives racing through a field retrieving balls for children. Before you start the certification process, think about your strengths and the strengths of your dog. How would you best work together? Certification Evaluations are the same for everyone no matter what your purpose, at least in Vermont. However, the person testing you will keep in mind what your ultimate purpose is if you share it.

There are some basics when entering therapy dog certification. Be sure to check with the group that's evaluating you to see if there are any variations:

• A therapy dog should be at least one year old
• Dogs must be current with all vaccinations
• Dogs must be licensed. Tags must be worn
• Dogs should be healthy and clean (brushed, free of fleas, clean ears and short toenails)
• Females should not be "in season" during testing or visits
• Dogs should be comfortable handled on a 4' leash or shorter
• Dogs should not be treated with oily flea treatment within one week of testing or a visit. Residue can be transferred to people while petting
• Some places require obedience class before evaluation, but others do their own "test" for basic obedience within the evaluation
• Your dog SHOULD NOT SHOW AGGRESSION TOWARD PEOPLE OR OTHER DOGS.

When I was preparing Buzz for certification, it was a great chance to spent time together through practicing and learning. I purchased a short leash and brought him to many different locations. My husband helped. We walked down city sidewalks and had friends approach us as "strangers". We had friends with dogs walk past and greet us. We walked Buzz through obstacle courses inside and outside to see how he maneuvered in tight spots. I would walk him into a building and my husband would create a diversion or loud noise to see if Buzz had a "knee-jerk" response, showed fear or aggression, or would listen under stress. Practicing was a joy. We handled him everywhere and groomed him more frequently. We had friends handle him from head to tail and back to toe. When we felt he was a good candidate, we contacted Therapy Dogs of Vermont and scheduled our initial test. We were told there would be a first overall exam and then three follow-up visits so the tester could observe the dog in action over a period of time.

The tests took place in a nursing home. Buzz and I met the evaluator outside. Another team waited too so the evaluator could see how the dogs interacted. They sniffed. The other one lunged at Buzz--that wasn't a good sign for the other dog. Buzz was ruffled, but still maintained self control. Both dogs were handled all over, then the evaluator watched us intently as we walked our dogs on lead first this way, then that, then putting them in a sit-stay. The other dog pulled the owner a great deal. That was another bad sign. The evaluator dropped a metal chair on the floor. Both dogs simply tilted their heads curiously. That was a good sign for both.

The next tests entailed observed nursing home visits. The dogs maneuvered well through obstacles and greeted each person in room after room. On the first observed visit, I saw Buzz fading after a little over half an hour. I felt for my dog, but I didn't know if I should ask for the test to stop. Would it ruin our chances? I saw his head droop and I had to speak up for my partner who couldn't. "He's had it," I said. "I think we need to stop." The evaluator's voice chimed with pleasure. It had been a good sign that I was tuned in to my dog.

The process was a challenge, but the certification continues to bring us both rewards as well as protection. Sadly, the other team was not certified that time, but there was hope! "Go home and practice" the evaluator suggested, and she pointed out specific areas for improvement. That team didn't pass, but the tester was willing to consider them again because the dog was not going to work in a nursing home such as where certification events took place. The handler, a counselor, was going to have his dog with him at the office each day. The dog would have one-on-one contact with the same people each week in familiar surroundings. Knowing this, the tester was willing to work with the team. However, she still needed to know the dog would absolutely not be aggressive and would take direction before certifying him for any work under the Therapy Dogs of Vermont name.

If you have a people-oriented dog and a wish to make people's lives a bit brighter, Therapy Dog work is worth considering. The test preparation and actual therapy work will bring you and your dog together in a very special way.

Tanya Sousa is a Guidance Counselor who has used pet therapy with the elderly and students K-8. She lives with her husband, 2 border collies and 3 cats in the green mountains of Vermont. She and her husband also create original pet memorial sculptures that can be found at www.natures-xpressions.com. Email: naturese@together.net.

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