Does Your Pet Have What it Takes to be a Therapy Pet?

Does Your Pet Have What it Takes?

Are you wondering if pet therapy is really for you? Wonder if your pet would make a good therapy pet? Here are some things to think about.

You and your pet should have an interest in people and enjoy visiting.

Is it Right for Your Pet?

Begin by evaluating your pet's perssonality and answering the following questions.

Is my pet friendly to strangers? Will she actively solicit interactions with people?

Does my pet enjoy being petted, touched and hugged? Can he sit politely while being petted?

Is my pet groomed and healthy looking?

Can my dog can walk nicely on a leash, not pulling when I turn left or right and stopping when I stop?

Will my dog behave and walk nicely through a crowded area?

Will my dog sit and lay down when I tell him to? Will he stay when I tell him to?

Will my dog come when I call him?

Does my dog behave nicely around other dogs?

Is my dog comfortable around distractions and noises?

Will my dog leave items alone when told to leave it?

Can my dog be away from me without getting upset and nervous?

Can my dog take treats gently from a person's hand?

Is my dog comfortable around people using wheelchairs and walkers, or in disruptive settings?

If you can't say yes to all of the statements above, you will need to work on your dog's behavior. A beginning obedience class will help you with all of these things. You may need more than one class to get your dog to a level where you feel confident about his behavior.

While you are training your dog, be sure to give him lots of socialization. It's very important that your dog be stable and comfortable with many different sights, sounds people, and places.

Also consider what type of environment your pet would enjoy. For example, your pet may enjoy being in the presence of quiet, elderly people but would be uncomfortable with the boisterous activity of a juvenile facility. Would your pet prefer snuggling with one individual or being the center of attention in a group. Thinking about these things will help you prepare for the type of facilities you would like to visit.

Prerequisites for the Pet

All animals except birds must have lived in the owner's home for at least 6 months.
Birds must have lived in the owner's home for at least 1 year.
All animals except "pocket pets" must be at least 1 year old at the time the animal is evaluated. Pocket pets (e.g., guinea pigs, rabbits, rats, etc.) must be at least 6 months old at the time the animal is evaluated.
Dogs trained to aggressively protect and/or encouraged to actively bite, even as a component of a dog sport (e.g., bite work that is part of Schutzhund) may not be Pet Partners.
If your animal is unpredictable, doesn’t like being around people, or is aggressive to people or other animals it would not be suitable for therapy work.

Animals That Can Be Pet Partners

There are a great many species that make wonderful visiting animals and can form a strong human-animal bond. Only domesticated animals may become Pet Partners. Examples of registered pets include dogs, cats, Guinea pigs, rabbits, domesticated rats, horses, goats, llamas, donkeys, potbellied pigs, cockatoos and african gray parrots.

Wild or exotic animals (e.g., snakes, ferrets, lizards) may not be Pet Partners.

Prerequisites for the Person

The person handling the animal (handler) must be at least 10 years old. We do have "Junior Handlers".
Handlers younger than 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and must have written permission to participate from a parent or guardian.
People who do not have an animal may also register as Pet Partners.

If you and your pet meet the above criteria, then you are ready to get started!