How can my dog become a therapy dog?
I've been thinking about this a lot recently. What are the steps I have to take to make my dog a therapy dog? Is there some kind of official procedure?
2 Answers
They have to go through lots of training and programs.
Most dogs are abundantly therapeutic for their owners, but how can that therapy be extended to others in an official capacity? A few places to begin are to know how to get started, common training techniques therapy dogs need to master, and good personality traits to have for the job.
The best place to start, as in any new endeavor, is by doing a little soul searching along with some research on the Internet. While a suggestion to surf the web in gathering information is probably not a surprise, the idea of delving into your innermost feelings may seem a bit odd. But with so many options of service areas in which a therapy dog can, well, serve, identifying the reasons you desire to share your dog with the world at large can make your experience more meaningful.