| Therapy dogs are not trained with the same goals in | | | | International requirements. |
| mind as assistance dogs. Assistance dogs are trained | | | | It is simply amazing what a therapy dog can |
| to perform certain duties in order to help disabled | | | | accomplish by simply being a loving and well-behaved |
| people. For example, a guide dog is trained to lead blind | | | | dog. Old people who haven't responded to a human |
| people, and a hearing dog is trained to listen for sound | | | | voice in years or even spoken will whisper their |
| and alert their owners. A therapy dog, however, is | | | | secrets into the willing ears of a therapy dog. |
| trained to offer comfort to hospital patients and those | | | | Troubled children can begin to work their way through |
| in nursing homes and mental facilities. Therapy dogs | | | | an often violent past with the help of a good therapy |
| are trained to "listen" while a child learns to read aloud. | | | | dog. Dogs can go where humans cannot go, and dogs |
| Therapy dogs always go through basic obedience | | | | can give what no human is capable of giving - and that |
| training, of course, but it is the personality traits of a | | | | is unconditional love and total acceptance of people |
| dog that makes him or her a good candidate to | | | | exactly as they are. |
| become a therapy dog. | | | | Therapy dogs can make broken people whole again, |
| Therapy dogs do not have to be purebred dogs. Mutts | | | | and that is no small feat. Therapy dogs change tears |
| can qualify as therapy dogs if they can complete the | | | | to smiles. A dog can always turn a frown upside down |
| training and pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen | | | | no matter the age of the face. |
| Certificate Test (CGC) and meet the Therapy Dog | | | | |