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The Labradoodle is a friendly and people-oriented breed. These dogs bond closely with family and they are quick to make friends with everyone they meet. While many Labradoodles are content to be family pets, some do well with a role to fill. If you are thinking about training your dog for a higher purpose, consider training him as a therapy dog. Keep reading to learn more about how to get your Labradoodle certified as a therapy dog.
What Does a Therapy Dog Do?
A therapy dog undergoes training to go with their owners to volunteer in various facilities which may include schools, hospitals, and nursing homes. Therapy dogs can be trained to work independently, but they typically work as a team with their own to improve the lives of the people they serve. A therapy dog is not a service dog - he is not trained to assist people with disabilities but he can provide comfort and company. There are a number of different programs out there that train and certify therapy dogs, so you should do some research to determine which is the best option for you and your Labradoodle.
How Does a Therapy Dog Get Certified?
There are many different programs out there for therapy dogs, but most of them follow the same general requirements. Here are the requirements for certification set forth by Therapy Dogs International (TDI):
- The dog must be at least one year old.
- The dog must be in good physical health.
- The handler must be of good character (there is no age requirement)
In addition to these general requirements, there are some requirements for taking certain classes depending on what type of certification you want your Labradoodle to have or what kind of environment you plan to use him in. In general, however, your Labradoodle will need to have mastery of basic obedience (sit, stay, down) and he must be able to walk calmly on a loose lead. A therapy dog must be relaxed, especially around new people and in unfamiliar environments, and his handler must have good control. These are the basic skills a therapy dog must have prior to actual training - training for therapy dog certification may include other things such as the following:
- Meeting and greeting new people
- Becoming familiar with hospital equipment
- Interacting with people with disabilities
- Being socialized around other dogs and people
If you are thinking about training your Labradoodle to become a therapy dog, there are many different programs and organizations you can go through. Before you do, however, you need to make sure that your Labradoodle is a good fit for such training. Labradoodles are generally very smart, friendly, and patient dogs which means that they have a lot of potential to be a good therapy dog. Becoming a therapy dog requires time and training, however, so make sure that both you and your dog are up to the task before you get started and choose a reputable program as well.
Photo credit: Michelle Hovet/Shutterstock.com
~Petguide.com
