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Many people are familiar with seeing-eye dogs or assistance dogs, those that directly help persons with disabilities. Seeing-eye dogs are assigned to those that are blind whereas assistance dogs may help those that are deaf, in wheelchairs, or who have any number of other disabilities. Beyond a seeing-eye or assistance dog, healthcare professionals are now appreciating the assistance of therapy dog training, which is something different than assistance dogs. Therapy dogs do not necessarily provide any specific help the way seeing-eye dogs or assistance dogs do, but rather are meant to provide comfort and companionship to those in wheelchairs, assisted living facilities, hospice care, and so on. Therapy dog training doesn’t include the training of dogs to guide their owner through traffic and crowds or to respond to doorbells and other sounds the way it would be for assistance dogs. However, therapy dogs are not just any old dog and there is some specialized classes needed for therapy dog training.

Many dogs are very uncomfortable around strangers, children, and those who are in wheelchairs or who have canes, crutches, and the like. Part of therapy dog training involves socializing the dogs with those who need such assistance or who have such medical equipment. They also need to be comfortable with those that pet them rather clumsily and must be able to hold their composure when this happens, as those that are disabled or the elderly do not always have the best mobility.

Another part of therapy dog training is teaching the dog to crawl up on laps or onto beds so that they can be in close contact with their owners who may be bedridden or unable to sit on the floor with them. This is something new to most dogs, which are often taught to get off their owners and to stay off the furniture! Having a dog unlearn some things it’s learned before can be a difficult part of therapy dog training but it can be done.

Not every breed of dog is a candidate for being a therapy dog. Only those that are very friendly, calm, gentle, and open to strangers can even begin to approach therapy dog training. Typically golden retrievers are very good candidates as they have great temperaments that make them perfect for being companions to some.

Dogs aren’t the only animals that are good for therapy companions. Some have also found that rabbits, cats, ponies, and animals such as this work well also. Of course it’s important to realize that not everyone can have a therapy pony! But if they’re gentle and open to human companionship then these animals too can go through the same type of socialization that therapy dog training includes.

If you’re looking for a way to really make a difference in someone’s life you may want to consider if you have a dog that would be successful at therapy dog training. They can be very comforting to those who need them most.

Many people are interested in volunteering a dog they own for service dog training and this is very commendable. Service dogs are those that assist the disabled in many different ways. Seeing-eye dogs for the blind, assistance dogs for the deaf or those confined to wheelchairs, and dogs with jobs such as this are considered service dogs and they do provide something invaluable to those that need this assistance the most. But if you review the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) you may notice that it doesn’t really specify who may perform service dog training in order for a dog to be considered an assistance dog. This is important to consider because while service dogs must be allowed in certain areas when in the presence of their owners such as restaurants, on buses, and other such public places, dogs or animals that are not technically service or assistance animals do not have this same legal protection. So how do you know if the service dog training you’re investigating for your own animal is legitimate?

Keep in mind that while the ADA does not specify legal requirements for a trainer or instructor when it comes to service dog training they do specify what certifies an animal as a service dog. Specifically the disability has to affect a major life function and that the dog has to be individually trained to assist the disabled person. This is important because everyone’s disability is different and affects him or her in different ways. Service dog training must be individualized for that person.

The reason that this is important is because any establishment that suspects that someone is bringing their animal into their place of business when it has not completed any type of service dog training can be challenged as to what their disability is and how the dog assists them. If it’s found that the dog is just a pet and the person is not truly disabled they can be facing big fines!

Since there are not really any legal requirements for someone to perform so-called service dog training then it will be up to you as the dog’s owner to check their credentials and to make a decision about whether or not they’re qualified. Of course some institutions are just an automatic yes; for instance, Leader Dogs for the Blind, located in Rochester, Michigan, USA, has been in business for over 50 years and trains and supplies dogs to blind and disabled persons all over the world. Guide Dogs for the Blind, with locations in California and Oregon, also has a long history of training and providing dogs for the blind and disabled. But when it comes to a private trainer or smaller company offering to provide service dog training, be sure to get recommendations and referrals to past clients and from those who have had one of their trained dogs placed with them. Ask for details about their training program, and if it doesn’t seem right then find another location.