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:
- Accept and enjoy meeting new people.
- Sit politely and stay seated (on lead).
- Walk beside you on a loose lead (not in front of you or behind you).
- Not bark or whine at people or other dogs.
- Be around people who use canes, walkers, wheelchairs and other assistive or medical equipment.
- Listen and respond to your commands.
- React well to other dogs.
- React well to distractions, like loud noises.
- Not jump up or nip at people
- And more!
To be a therapy dog handler you need to:
- Know your dog and have a good human-animal bond with your dog
- Understand when your dog is stressed and know how to calm him/her.
- Enjoy meeting and talking with new people.
- Be able to commit to visiting.
- Be willing to share your dog with the people you visit.
- And more!
