Therapy with dogs provides opportunities for motivational, educational and/or recreational benefits to enhance a person’s quality of life. Therapy with dogs is delivered by professionals, para-professionals or volunteers who demonstrate knowledge about animals and the human populations with which they interact.

As an example of therapy with dogs, an individual brings his or her dog to a long-term care facility to visit the residents. Although the staff is involved in the visits, no treatment goals have been set for the visit and, aside from signing in and out, no records are kept.

In comparison, having a dog on therapy is a goal-directed intervention in which an animal is incorporated as an integral part of the clinical health-care treatment process. It is delivered or directed by a professional health or human service provider who demonstrates skill and expertise regarding the clinical applications of human-animal interactions.

Benefits of Dogs in Therapy

Using a dog in therapy provides motivational, educational and recreational interactions that enhance people’s quality of life. In one setting, trained volunteers bring their dogs to a long-term care facility to provide residents with mental stimulation, physiological benefits and unconditional acceptance.

In other settings, the animal interaction motivates rehabilitation patients to walk again, teaches children in special-education classrooms important life skills, and facilitates counseling sessions in mental health centers.

With the increased public awareness that dogs can be used effectively as a compliment to traditional treatment methods — and with a growing interest in people wanting to visit schools, nursing homes and hospitals with their pets — there is a greater urgency to ensure that high standards and safe, humane practices that protect these therapy animals are reinforced. Tremendous potential exists for animals to help people, but with that comes tremendous responsibility to continually improve how animal-assisted therapy services are delivered.

Activities for Dogs in Therapy

While therapy with dogs is a valuable tool which can be used to promote well-being socially, emotionally, and physically, there are unique characteristics.

Characteristics of Therapy with Dogs:

• Goal-directed
• Work with Physical, Occupational, & Speech Therapists
• Therapy Animal is used to elicit specific response
• May be documented to meet patient goals
• Promote socialization
• Help to improve mood
• Work with Recreational Therapists

Wherever people have special needs, someone with passion and an animal with the proper temperament can create an imaginative way to bringing dogs and people together for mutual benefit.