Therapy Dog input

[Mwl]

Hello,
We are looking to add a ALD to our family and are involved in therapy work. Any other therapy ALD's out there? If so can you pm me the breeder you used? Thank you!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

We do have a therapy group here on DK.  Here is the link.  http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/therapy

In all honesty I'm not really sure that the breeder is really going to play a very big part in whether or not the dog can be a therapy dog.  There are mutts that are amazing at therapy work.  I had a GoldenDoodle from a hobby breeder that was an amazing therapy dog.  I now have a 3 year old English GD from the best breeder available (IMO) and she isn't therapy material, at least yet.  I'm hopeful that as she matures she might be, but may never be.  I think some dogs just have it and others don't.    I do recommend doing your homework on breeders, but I personally don't think a breeder can say "yes, she will be an amazing therapy dog" when referring to an 8 week old puppy.  My breeder would not say that.   I can tell you that my girl was socialized like crazy when she was a puppy.  She has been everywhere imaginable, but she is still just a little shy.  It takes her a minute to check you out before she relaxes ... not an attribute that will pass a therapy test.  I wish you the best of luck as I think therapy work is amazing and I hope to be back doing it someday as well.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I have a mini ALD who is TDI certified and worked with Alzheimer's patients.  He was easy to train and did a great job....unfortunately I got really busy and I haven't taken him in a few years.  My Breeder actually had a goal of producing dogs with the right temperament for therapy work, and Guinness's father was certified.  She is no longer breeding ALDs, so I can't be of help with a referral.  I do agree with Lucy and AnnaBelle's Mom that it's extremely difficult to know for sure if a puppy has the disposition for therapy work.  If you look for a Breeder who considers temperament in her breeding selections and socialize and train from the time you bring your puppy home, you are certainly increasing the odds...but there are still no guarantees.  Good luck!

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Hi there!

I agree with what others have said that you really can't know when they are that little if therapy work will be great for them or not. When I got Loki, who will be two in a couple days, I didn't even know what therapy dogs were and as a little puppy he was shy and scared of everything. Long story short, judging him as a puppy, even a four month old puppy, no one would have pegged him as therapy material. As he matured and relaxed, he has become a great therapy dog "type" and passed his test a little shy of a year and a half. On the flip side I have his brother, same parents just a year younger and while Moose would LOVE to be a therapy dog, we are still waiting for him to mature and mellow a little bit and who knows, he might never get there. I can tell you that even though they are as different as night and day, they were basically the same as little puppies. Same gene pool as well. I would check out the therapy dog group, I had started a discussion when Loki was 8months old and when we were doing lots of training for the test and got a ton of really great feed back from other therapy dog owners. Good luck to you!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

My Finn is an ALD therapy dog.  I looked for a breeder who bred for calm solid temperament.  Then lots of training and socialization. But there is no way you can know if a dog will excel as a therapy dog or in all situations.  Just like no one can guarantee a wonderful pup will make it all the way through as a guide dog or service dog.