Skip to main content

Work in Progress


Therapy dogs must be even-tempered and good natured around both human and animal contacts.  Socialization and exposure to different environments helps to accomplish this task.  People always ask, "How long did it take to train her as a Therapy Dog?"  Truth be known, the training never stops.  Being on the other end of the leash means first and foremost protecting your dog from situations where it might encounter a possible problem.  Your dog needs to be controllable all the time and cope with potential stressful situations.  Being well mannered around other animals that may be encountered is also essential.  This is only a brief summary of a therapy dog's training.  The journey is a continuous work in progress, one that both the handler and dog must enjoy!  Cora and I  thoroughly enjoy our visits at Mayo Clinic Hospital.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Origin of Therapy Dogs

Cora the Therapy Dog I have been wondering for a while now just "who" the person was that initiated the concept of therapy dogs.  Found this article to be quite informative from "Wikipedia" and wanted to share with all of our readers. "During World War II, under combat operations against Japanese forces on the island of New Guinea, Corporal William Wynne came into possession of a young adult Yorkshire Terrier abandoned on the battlefield. He named the female dog Smoky . Smoky accompanied Wynne on numerous combat missions, provided comfort and entertainment for troops, and even assisted the Signal Corps in running a telegraph cable through an underground pipe, completing in minutes what might have been a dangerous, three-day construction job which would have exposed men and equipment to enemy bombers. Smoky's service as a therapy dog began when Corporal Wynne was hospitalized for a jungle disease. As Wynne recovered, Wynne's Army pals br...
Post a Comment
Read more

Happy Valentine's Day

http://smilebox.com/playBlog/4d7a41774d7a6b344d6a593d0d0a&blogview=true The link above is a short slideshow with one of my favorite songs, my favorite dog and my heart's work as a Therapy Dog handler. Happy Valentine's Day to Everyone, may the heart of an animal touch you today!
Post a Comment
Read more

Therapy Dog Journey

Question is always the same.  How did you get your dog to become a Therapy Dog.  Answer is never short. I begin telling them that Cora was a rescue, 1 yr of age and a victim of neglect and abuse.  Started out with some home loving, good food and socialization skills.  Then off to the local PetSmart where I met with the trainer.  Julie Eskoff introduced me to the world of dogs like I'd never known.  Several classes under our belts and we applied  to be tested for the AKC Canine Good Citizen test.  After passing that Cora and I were elvaluated for "divine canines" a therapy dog group out of Austin, TX that we hold near to our hearts.  We passed our evaluation after 6 weeks of training at the Austin State Hospital. For the next 2 years Cora and I visited Life Skill classrooms and worked with the most wonderful special needs children.  We were also welcomed at a local Alzhiemers unit weekly. There the residents became young men and women, t...
Post a Comment
Read more