Are you ready for Compassion Canines?

How do yow know if you and your dog are ready to be a Compassion Canine team?

To be a therapy dog your dog should be able to:

  1. Accept and enjoy meeting new people.
  2. Sit politely and stay seated (on lead).
  3. Walk beside you on a loose lead (not in front of you or behind you).
  4. Not bark or whine at people or other dogs.
  5. Be around people who use canes, walkers, wheelchairs and other assistive or medical equipment.
  6. Listen and respond to your commands.
  7. React well to other dogs.
  8. React well to distractions, like loud noises.
  9. Not jump up or nip at people
  10. And more!

To be a therapy dog handler you need to:

  1. Know your dog and have a good human-animal bond with your dog
  2.  Understand when your dog is stressed and know how to calm him/her.
  3. Enjoy meeting and talking with new people.
  4. Be able to commit to visiting.
  5. Be willing to share your dog with the people you visit.
  6. And more!

 

 

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