trainer said my pup couldn't be a therapy dog

[Anna]

Buck just finished his puppy training class.  He passed!!  but its kind of like my kids at their tae kwon do classes.  it really doesn't matter how good you were - as long as you paid and came to class - you are gonna get the next colored belt..  So - this puppy classes - as long as  you didn't maul any of your classmates and know how to sit/down - you are gonna pass. 

So after class - i was just chit-chating with the trainer and I just asked a question - how does a dog become a therapy dog.   I'm not saying I want Buck to become one.  But I really do love the concept of helping people feel a little joy in nursing homes, hospitals etc...  

But the trainer told me that - those kinds of dogs are really mellow as puppies and Buck doesn't really have what it takes to become one.

Now - i gotts admit.  Buck tends to be very excited to see people.  he does still try to jump on people and love - playing with anyone.   So I can see - why she would say that Buck couldn't become a therapy dog.   But my question than is - don't all puppies - have that puppy exuberance?   And is this the only indication that they use?  

I'm curious to the - people who have dogs - who visit nursing homes and hospitals.  Did you know from when they were puppies?  How are they different from just normal puppy behavior? 

[Adina P]

I would not put too much stock into her answer just yet.  A dog doesn't have to be mellow and super docile to be a good therapy dog...and nursing homes and hospitals aren't he only places for a dog to do therapy.  The dog must enjoy people, be non-aggressive, responsive to commands, and generally well-behaved and non-licky/mouthy.  The rest can vary.  People LIKE happy wiggly dogs that look happy to greet them as long as they are under control (what TRAINING does).  So I wouldn't decide just yet.  Maybe he won't be ready till he's 2-4 years old...but that doesn't mean he won't mature into a dog that could do therapy.  This isn't a service dog we're talking about...it's a nice dog that is good at visiting others.

[Anna]

yes - you totally get me.   I wasn't talking about - a dog who assist a person on a wheelchair or something like that - but a friendly dog that visit seniors.  

 

I just thought that something like this benefits - the dog, the owner and the seniors.  I think its a win win situation.

But - of course - it all depends on training.   So I'm curious - what the owners of therapy dogs have to say about this.  if its all training - or does the pup have a little something extra that they are born with.

[Adina P]

Rosco is a registered therapy dog with Delta Society. 

I would say get your dog trained so it is RELIABLE on command in different settings--in other words you don't have to tell your dog 'sit" or 'down' or 'stay' or 'come' 5 times before he does it when around real life circumstances.  Your dog also shouldn't jump on people or paw at them and doesn't mouth or lick them--all trainable to some degree, though some licky dogs would be tough to fix.  Worry about these elements first.  Worry about training basic good obedience first, that is.

 

If at the same time your dog genuinely enjoys people and interacting with them, isn't spooky, isn't aggressive, and has a stable temperament (not unpredictable) then you can make a GREAT therapy dog team...for seniors or otherwise. 

 

Also get him exposed to all sorts of things in a way that doesn't make him feel threatened or pushed...again obedience practice around weird stuff helps.  If he can keep focused on his work while you visit real life places, people, etc...awesome.

 

My Rosco IS the mellow, lazy dood your trainer probably is thinking about.  But he's almost too mellow and when we visited a Juvenile detention center he'd end up snoozing and I'd have to do all the 'therapy' ... LOL.

 

Thule, our late labradoodle, would have been good with more training but she was insanely licky.  OCD licker.  Not acceptable.  But she was always SUPER happy to greet people and it made people like her a lot (unless they couldn't stand doggy kisses).

 

The 'extra something' that probably is good for a therapy dog is just being intuitive about people...you can't really see that yet necessarily. And they don't test for it or 'require' it.

[Becka]

Hi Anna--when I first looked at your post and saw your profile pic I thought "Of course her puppy can't be a therapy dog--he's a guinea pig! Why hasn't anyone told her that her dog is a guinea pig?"

 

I don't actually know anything about therapy dogs, but I also would like to try that with Sadie, so I'll be interested to see what people post about this. All I know is that your dog needs to be at least a year old and pass the Canine Good Citizen test, which Sadie and I are currently working toward.

 

PS You do have a very cute guinea pig.

 

[Anna]

LOL  - haha - its actually a baby rabbit.  His name is rocky.  and yes. sadly I don't think they allow therapy rabbits.  but if you think about it - i think an elderly person would love to have a rabbit on their lap.  There is nothing softer than a baby rabbit. 

I'm so glad that you were kinda thinking about having Sadie do it too - So how is Sadie's temperment?  Is it really really mellow?   is sadie enrolled in a lot of different types of classes too?

 

[Becka]

Ah, a baby bunny! I would love to have a bunny in my lap at all times--I hope I don't have to wait until I'm elderly. :)

 

Sadie will graduate from intermediate obedience class on Saturday, and then we'll start the advanced class, which is the class that has the specific goal of passing the CGC test at the end. After the advanced class I'm going to find some kind of obedience club/group to join--she is a remarkably laid-back puppy (she usually falls asleep in class) but she is also very smart and very stubborn, and my number one  priority every day is wearing her out, physically and mentally. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I think it's very premature to make this kind of assessment of your puppy. My Guinness was also a very excited and playful puppy who loved people and attention. He's two and has been working in the TDI program for months visiting an Alzheimer's facility. Just keep training and you'll be amazed at what a difference it can make.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I don't think the trainer has any say or too much knowledge of it-don't let her deter you from training him the best you can and going from there! My Dh was told by out trainer that Chloe doesn't respect him-(he never did like the trainer) he's like so what? She has fun unlike your dog who only does the "Bang" trick and then has to go lay still forever! She's a dog not a statue!

[Carol and Banjo]

Banjo passed his Therapy Class at just a year old last January.   But I knew he was NOT ready for going into a "therapy situation" at that point.   We have done only basic obedience at home since then, randomly, mostly when I think of it.  The difference between Banjo at one year and now Banjo at 20months is remarkable!   If we were to get serious and back into training I think he'd be wonderful.      That said,  it's too early to make that sort of determination.   I'd stick with your basic obedience until you think you may want to do something like therapy.

[Jane Smith]

Wow, if we used Lucy's puppy behavior to gage ability to be a therapy dog, she never will be.

Aside from being timid, Lucy passed all her training classes.  However, she lunged at every other dog or person to a point they started calling her Tigger.  She looked like a huge kangaroo.  There were times I had to straddle her to keep her down.  She is now 2 and is on her way to be a therapy dog.  I waited a bit longer than most, due to her puppy behavior, but hope to be certified early next year. 

 

So give it time.  Buck may make a wonderful therapy dog.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I agree with everyone else. He's a puppy. Good thing no one told us all what we couldn't be when we were very young. Training more will be a big asset.

[Susan Maurer]

Our Ruby the Gem was a very exuberant puppy! The instructor gave up on trying to dominate her! She is now a full fledged Service dog for hub, who has MS. She is with us 24/7..planes, restaurants, stores etc etc. She braces when hub falls so he can get up. Picks up anything for him, credit card, pen, dime etc. She opens doors for him, tugs off his pants, socks, gloves, as his left side if gone. Sooooo never say never! It took 2 1/2 years of training, but she's the SMARTEST dog we've ever had! The state of Minnesota said 99 % rate that we'd fail at a self trained service dog! We also had the vet say at her first check up. Why would you go get a Goldendoodle after having Golden retrievers? She's not our vet anymore! Good luck! It's very rewarding!