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This area of service is very rewarding for a lot of people. Not everyone wants or is inspired to compete in the obedience ring, so for those who enjoy their dogs and want to share them in a very special way, this is tailor made for them.
Therapy Dogs are used in hospitals, retirement homes, rehab centers, with the learning disabled and a whole lot of places where people and animals benefit from the indescribable human-dog connection.
The dogs must have had NOICE, and then we give them a onetime class where they are made comfortable around wheelchairs, loud, unexpected noises, crutches, canes and the things they are going to have to deal with during their testing. They then are tested by a certified Therapy International dog tester, in a hospital setting. I know when I send them off for certification that they will be capable of passing with flying colors. The wonderful accounts my students have shared with me about what joy and comfort their dogs have brought to people of all ages, brings a lump to my throat. Lots of warm fuzzies from the work these man-dog teams do.