Therapy for Whom?

[Jenny and Chester]

My almost 2 year old Labradoodle, Chester,is TDI registered and visits at a large hospital for several hours a week.  My concern is that he is doing the TDI work to please me and not because he enjoys it.  He would follow me loyally to hell and back. HIs primary concern is staying as close to me as caninely possible.  He accompanies me to the hospital and visits with all types of patients, but the whole time he watches my face and doesn't really connect with most patients.  They fortunately don't realize this and adore his visits.  He loves visiting the staff and has many favorites that he seeks out to greet.  I also work several hours at a print shop and he greets customers at the counter.  He loves his role as greeter.

He had a visit with a woman in the hospital who had just received a terminal diagnosis.  He stayed with his head in her lap for 20 minutes while she stroked him and cried. I saw how wonderful a therapy dog can be, but he was exhausted when he came home and slept for hours.  Is it fair to ask him to absorb so much angst?

What do I do?

 

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I feel for you. To know that the humans love Chester's visits; to know that Chester reacts physically to them must be so hard. But, IMHO, Chester is the one that you have to worry about. Maybe not going so often and keeping the visits short may help him. I am sure he is feeding off their 'sorrow' which is what made him so exhausted.

Difficult decision....

 

I have 2 doodles - 2 totally different personalities. Samantha did 1 visit at a senior residential facility and absolutely hated it. We never went back.

I think that Charli would love to do therapy visits - she just loves to bury her head to be rubbed by anyone. I will have her certified and will report back if I am correct or not.

 

[Jenny and Chester]

Chester is always eager to go to the hospital, so perhaps he does enjoy it.  I'll watch his behavior.

Thanks

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Jenny -- you say "several" hours a week!  How long is your visit.  Personally, I think that any visit over about 1.5 to 2 hours is too long.  Or at least that has been my experience.  We also visit a hospital and some days are longer than others.  It obviously depends on how many people you run into that want to talk.  On Tuesday of this week for the first time Sophie gave me a whine ..... fortunately we were at our last stop and I made an excuse and said we needed to go.  That is her potty signal, but I also think she was just tired.  When I went to sign out we had been there longer than normal and it was very close to 2 hours.

 

I know that I posted a while back about the way Sophie looks at me when we are visiting.  People actually catch on to it.  I think it is because I am the keeper of the treats.  However, the first command they were taught in training is "look at me".  Just about anytime the two of us are out, she will be looking at me (unless there is a guinnea pig around).  Every now and then though she will come across a patient that she just takes to.  We had one this week as well.  I don't let her get on the bed unless they ask, but she will put her front 2 paws up.  I normally give her my hand on which to place her paws and then I put her paws where I want them.  I always worry about patients who just had surgery and stitches and her getting a little too excited or misjudging where her paws land.  Anyway, she will usually only stay with her paws up for maybe 10 seconds and then she just wants to sit at the side of the bed (which because of her size works ok, they can still pet her).  Anyway, the guy this week, she put her paws up and just laid her head on his chest and she just stayed there.  He was a real dog lover and I guess she sensed that.  I finally had to tell her to get down so we could leave.  Very ususual for her!

 

I've wondered if her looking at me was a sign that she does not enjoy the visits.  However, she is such an attention freak, that I do truly believe she enjoys the visits.  No problem getting her in the car or out of the car.  She knows when we are going because Lucy gets special treats and goes to her room and Sophie knows thats her  Q to go to the back door to go to work!  She just walks right up, sits, and puts her paw up for them to hold her hand!  If they let loose, she gives it right back to them.  It is funny though as it is almost like "Hi, I'm Sophie, nice to meat you".  However, after a visit she is always very tired as well.  Of course, so am I.  I think it is a little emotionally exhausting.

 

Our original goal was for both of the girls to do therapy work, but it is very obvious with Lucy that she is not completely comfortable.  She is somewhat shy and more easily spooked by the many noises.  We do take her with us to the Veterans Home on occasion, but not on a regular basis.  It is still my hope that as she matures more that she will come around and be able to visit.  Right now though she isn't as gentle as Sophie is either.  She is sort of a big ole lug!

 

The only other thought I might have would be to maybe try a different type therapy.  Maybe a smaller venue or maybe something with children like a library. 

 

So, I don't really have any educated advice, other than maybe look at the length of your visits.  Other than that, you know your dog better than anyone.  If you truly believe that he isn't enjoying it, if it were me personally, I would not continue.  And trust me, I know that is a difficult decision because it breaks my heart that I can't take Lucy on a regular basis.  One other thought (I just went to your page and looked at your info) it is possible that he is still a little young.  I know that both Delta and TDI allow the test at a year old, but I waited until Sophie was 2 before I took her for the test.  I just didn't feel that she was mature enough before that.  My original goal was to test at one year, but there was no way she was ready then.  Possibly if you just layed off for several months and then just tried again you might see a difference.  Bottom line, only you truly know your dog.  Good Luck with whatever you decide.

[Jenny and Chester]

Chester is always happy to leap into the car with his TDI kerchief on, which he only wears to go to the hospital, so perhaps I am reading more into the situation than it merits.  My visits are supposed to be an hour, but we always run into friends, or patients come into the hallway for a quick doggy visit. You may be right about his age.  Only time will tell.  We originally started with Tail Wagging tutors, but the autistic children don't meet eye contact and he never connected with them.  I could have him lie down next to them, but when they waved their arms or made loud noises, he jumped out of the way. 

Thank you for your comments.

[Adina P]

Rosco has been a registered therapy dog for 3 years...but I also wondered at times if this was the right gig for him.  The hospital wasn't right for him because he just wasn't good at his job.  He was more interested in the smells of the room than the patients.  He just acted like he couldn't care less about the people.   Visiting the Juvenile Detention Center was better but *I* got bored and tired of it after a while.  Having kids read to him at the library as a decent fit.  He did worst when he entered a new room and best if a new person entered 'his' room.  For example when I was doing nutrition counseling for college students in their health center, I eventually started bringing Rosco.  After sniffing out the room, he would be very settled and happy to meet the students as they came in.  But if I were to take him into a dorm room or hospital room he would be more into the 'room' than the person.

 

Just my thoughts...only guesses as I don't know what Chester is thinking.  I think as long as a dog isn't showing excessive signs of stress then it's okay if he does a job to please you--if it isn't hurting him or he's not acting uncomfortable the whole time, then he's probably pleased to please you.  Pleasing you MIGHT be exactly what he likes about it...maybe he doesn't always fully understand 'his job' and that it's not about you until he meets that right person who he connects with and is able to help--like the woman who cried while petting him for 20 minutes.  It sounds like he has a positive association to going on these visits by what you've said above.  Overall he seems like he's fine with it and looks forward to going. 

[Jenny and Chester]

Thanks Adina.  I do know that he is excited to go, so it probably isn't harmful to him.  I may try to change the time of day of the visit as it coincides with the trays still being on the floor.  Chester has enough lab in him to want to check out all the food smells. It is odd how Chester has an indifferent attitude to some people.  It isn't related to how well he is received.  He just is leery of some people.  My first concern is for my dog...always and if I sense that he is not enjoying his therapy work, we'll take a break.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I volunteer at an Assisted Living facility and they LOVE when any dog visits. The dogs that visit there just walk around and "meet and greet" the residents. I am hoping to start taking Fudge because she loves to sit by someone and get petted. I think Chester might very well want to please you, but at the same time is brightening so many people's lives and I think that is a very good thing. Maybe a shorter visit would be better, but I hope you don't stop.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

If Chester is able to do this kindness for others and you are able to be the handler for it, why would you even think of depriving these sad people their moment of joy with Chester? Perhaps you could modify the time?  I think it is a wonderful, wonderful thing to be able to bring respite from worry, to bring sunshine into despair. Maybe I don't get the question correctly, but does he need to enjoy these little visits as long as they don't truly stress him? Is the purpose to focus on helping others, or is it to enjoy an outing with your dog? If it is to enjoy the outing, then perhaps there is an entirely different situation that you both would enjoy, if it is to help others - I know there are things I do to help others that I do not enjoy,

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing that Chester gets tired after his therapy visits, but that said I agree with others that you may want to think about shorter "work hours".  He's working hard during these sessions...he's coping with new people, smells, situations.  He's using his mind and controlling impulses constantly during a "working session".  I think that's a great thing for a dog.  He also gets to see how much this is pleasing you and the others that he meets at the hospital, and that's also a great thing for a dog.  I think what you two are doing is absolutely wonderful.  I haven't been doing my Therapy visits with Guinness since I got so involved with Murphy's training.  We go to an Alzheimer facility which is a great fit for Guinness.  He loves the "older people" because they are giving him attention and constantly telling him he's a "good boy"....he could listen to that all day.

[Jenny and Chester]

Thank you one and all for your insights.  I think the general consensus is that I should keep doing it, but perhaps shorten the time and watch for increased stress.