| Compassionate Canines, Incorporated |
What is a Therapy Dog?
Therapy dogs are often mistaken for service, guide, or hearing dogs. It is important to
understand the difference between the types of assistance each dog offers.
Therapy Dogs
The benefits of therapy dog visits are documented in many scientific studies. These
include:
Guide Dogs
Service Dogs
Hearing Dogs
Click here to be directed to articles and documented studies about therapy dogs.
Think you and your dog have what it takes to become a great volunteer therapy dog
team? Click here to learn more about therapy dog training and registration.
Therapy dogs are often mistaken for service, guide, or hearing dogs. It is important to
understand the difference between the types of assistance each dog offers.
Therapy Dogs
- Bring comfort and companionship
- Make visits to skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, group homes, hospice, schools,
libraries, funeral homes, grief groups, health fairs, etc. - Some dogs simply visit, others reside in skilled nursing facilities (the dog has a care
plan, too!) - Basic obedience and therapy dog registration necessary
- Dog must love people and be well-socialized, even-tempered, calm, tolerant, and
polite.
The benefits of therapy dog visits are documented in many scientific studies. These
include:
- Decreased levels of cortisol
- Reduced incidence of depression
- Increased levels of prolactic, seratonin, and
oxytocin ("feel good hormones") - Reduced blood pressure
- Reduced loneliness
- Welcome change from routine
- Entertainment!
- Distraction from infirmity
- Opportunity for life review
- Fill animal companionship needs
Guide Dogs
- Assist blind or visually impaired
- Trained to insure safety of handler
- Raised and socialized by volunteers from puppy to 18 months
- Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, and Bernese Mountain
Dogs are the most popular breeds - Breeds chosen have correct temperament, intelligence, and work ethic
Service Dogs
- Assist mobility impaired
- Pull wheelchairs, turn lights on/off, retrieve medications, open doors, etc.
- Trained by professionals for one year
- Dog is trained to suit new owner
- Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers are the most popular
- Any dog with correct disposition can be trained to work as a service dog
Hearing Dogs
- Assist deaf and hearing impaired
- Alert owner to sounds such as doorbell, smoke alarm, and traffic
- Dogs are trained professionally for three months
- Dogs are trained in basic obedience
- Mixed breeds are most popular
Click here to be directed to articles and documented studies about therapy dogs.
Think you and your dog have what it takes to become a great volunteer therapy dog
team? Click here to learn more about therapy dog training and registration.
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| a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization |