Standard Poodles -
Therapy Dog

Service dogs are allowed to accompany their owners anywhere at any time. Therapy dogs and their owners have to be invited to the facilities to provide their services.

In general, most Standard Poodles are a perfect choice for this type of activity, due to their excellent temperament, personality, intelligence and the fact that they are people-pleasers.

But, having all of the above desirable attributes doesn’t automatically make it a candidate. The dog needs to be well behaved, meaning no jumping on people, running around, barking or licking people without their permission. The dog also needs to be calm around people who may be unstable or disturbed, or around children who may grab at them.

The dog should enjoy the interaction with the people it is visiting. An overly friendly or very high- energy dog is probably not the best choice, as it may cause unintentional injury.

Therapy dogs are invited to work at a variety of different facilities such as: hospitals, nursing homes, adult day care centers, prisons and mental health centers, just to name a few. A therapy dog provides physical as well as emotional benefits. Did you know that petting, touching and talking with a dog could reduce a person’s blood pressure? It also provides exercise by using the hands and arms.

Although the dog really doesn’t have to do much except be friendly and willing to be touched a lot, the benefits it provides are many, including: the ability to provide a feeling of happiness, wellbeing, affection and friendship to children, the elderly, prisoners, victims of abuse and people suffering from depression. They also help improve the quality of life of the patients and the staff.

They can also help with attention and memory problems in Alzheimer’s patients as well as associative disorders in psychiatric patients. They help the patients to become more active and responsive.

A visit from a therapy dog can provide a change from the routine and provides the patient with something to look forward to. Sometimes they can offer entertainment if they know how to perform tricks. It gives the patient something to talk about. They may have had a dog of their own at one time.

How Do I Get My Standard Poodle Certified?

There’s more to getting involved in becoming a therapy dog than just showing up at the nearest care facility. You and your Poodle need to have the appropriate testing and certification. For the testing, certification and insurance, you can check with a national organization such as Therapy Dogs International, Inc., or Therapy Dogs, Inc. For help with training and scheduling facility visits you can join one of the local organizations in your area that has a good relationship with a national organization. Joining a local group helps keep you up-to-date with the latest techniques and news about dog therapy. Before your Poodle can become a therapy dog, the national organization will want evidence that your dog is stable and has had basic training. The Canine Good Citizen test is often proof that your dog is a good candidate. Your Poodle may also be tested in crowded or stressful situations and also may be observed in a practice exercise to a health care facility.

Your Part in the Therapy Team!

Besides your Poodle, you are the other half of the therapy team. As well as interacting well with your dog, you will need to know how to interact with the various types of clients you will be visiting. Know your strengths and weaknesses. You may find that you don’t feel comfortable with Alzheimer’s or paraplegic patients, but do well with psychiatric or rehab patients.

Equipment

Check with the national and local organizations as to what type of equipment requirements they have. There are certain requirements as to what type of collars and leashes are allowed. It is a good idea, however, to have a washable collar and leash if you are going to be working in a hospital environment. Although capes are not required, you can purchase one so the facility workers know your dog is a therapy dog.

Grooming

First impressions are very important and you want to create a good impression that reflects all therapy dogs. Some people don’t like natural doggie scents, so make sure your Poodle and you are clean and odor free. Make sure your Poodle’s eyes and ears are free of any discharge and that his breath smells good. Be sure you have treated your Poodle for fleas, ticks and any other parasites before visiting the facility. Postpone any visits if you Poodle has any skin irritations, sores or is shedding excessively.

I hope the information above has peaked your interest into the possibility of having your Poodle become a therapy dog.

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