Leo is an 11 month old Norwich terrier / Papillion mix

Leo

Leo is 11 months old. He is a very loving, friendly, gentle little dog.
Leo is very good with everyone – both dogs and people. This makes Leo is a perfect candidate for a therapy dog.

Leo and his Parents practicing for AKC/CGC

Leo and his Parents practicing for their AKC/CGC (American Kennel Club – Canine Good Citizen)

Leo very friendly with people & dogs

Therapy dogs and their human handlers create a caring atmosphere just by showing up for visits or other therapy work.

Therapy dogs provide a variety of services which often include, but are not limited to:

• Providing unconditional affection to those who need it (e.g., people in prisons and shelters, particularly domestic abuse shelters)
• Promoting a general feeling of comfort and well-being (e.g., for the elderly, those ill in hospital and children)
• Interacting with those who have difficulty in communicating (e.g., psychiatric patients, nonverbal patients)
• Improving focus (e.g., for people diagnose with depression and Alzheimer’s patients)
• Stimulating memory functions, particularly for Alzheimer’s patients
• Motivating the physically challenged to perform basic physical functions (e.g., brushing, patting)
• Aiding and encouraging speech functions (e.g., for stroke patients)
• Providing practice for specific physical therapy functions (e.g., offering food, throwing a ball)

Therapy dogs provide these services among a multitude of settings such as homes, prisons, children’s residential facilities, domestic abuse shelters, senior citizen programs, special education settings, mental health centers, adult car e facilities, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and hospitals.

Temperament is the most important factor in locating and training a good therapy dog. A dog that is friendly is a promising candidate for the position. Therapy dogs must be well behaved (e.g. no running around, jumping, licking people) as they will be working with many people who are physically or mentally unable to deal with the stress and challenge of an unruly animal. These dogs must be adaptable to different situations and be prepared to work as seizure therapy dogs, assisted therapy dogs, or other specialized canines.

Step one to become a therapy Dog is to pass the AKC/CGC test which is designed to cover the different areas related to training therapy dogs. Sometimes additional training is also required

You can find a lot of information about therapy dogs on the internet or in the books such as:

Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others by Kathy Diamond-Davis

Murphy is a 9 month old Labrador Spaniel mix

Murphy is a 9 month old Labrador Spaniel mix

Murphy

Murphy is very nice friendly dog. He lives with a young family that includes two children.

His parents started his training when he was a puppy. He knows all of the obedience commands – but sometimes he disobeys and tries to* challenge his owners.

Owners need to establish leadership and became the Alfa -The top dog. Anyone can be the pack leader. It is on attitude of authority. Dog owners must learn to become gentle but firm: loving but tough: stand tall and use their voice and eyes to show leadership.

One of leadership exercises is to Control Meal Schedules and make your dog earn his meal:

• Food should not left out to be eaten freely. You must establish meal schedules.
• Dog must earn his food.

The following images show examples of 4 steps you can use to train your dog:

Step1 put food in the bowl

Step1 put food in the bowl

Step 2 keep bowl in your hand, make dog sit – stay

Step 2 keep bowl in your hand, make dog sit – stay

Step 3 put bowl on the floor one foot away from dog

Step 3 put bowl on the floor one foot away from dog

Step 4 after 20 second release your dog using the "release command"

Step 4 after 20 second release your dog using the “release command” and let him eat his meal.