When we talk about dogs for assisted therapy, we must keep in mind that there are a series of essential requirements that must be met to carry out their task correctly, which is conditioned by those individual characteristics of the dog that make it possible to a greater degree. There are different breeds of dogs for assisted therapy.
A therapy dog is an animal that has been carefully selected, evaluated and educated to accompany the health professional during therapeutic sessions and perform a support function therein. These types of interventions are perfectly structured and adapted to the needs of each user and, in addition, are usually long-lasting, which allows many patients to establish a strong bond with the therapist dog that accompanies them during the sessions.
What qualities should some of the dog breeds have for assisted therapy?
Assisted therapy dogs are specially selected and trained to provide emotional, physical and psychological support to people in therapeutic settings. However, it doesn’t always have to be that way; it is only enough for them to meet a series of conditions to be eligible for assisted therapies. These dogs combine the following characteristics:
- Have a positive, happy and predictable character. A dog of these characteristics with a skittish temperament can develop unwanted behavior’s and even be aggressive in certain situations.
- He must be friendly and affectionate in all environments without showing signs of poorly channelled dependency.
- Another essential quality is that he is active but never nervous or anxious.
- You must demonstrate emotional stability and a safe and balanced temperament to deal with any uncontrolled situation.
- Your physical condition is another value to take into account. Assisted therapy dogs usually undergo health checks from the moment they are selected for this work to ensure that their level of health is optimal.
It is essential to specify an aspect that can determine the choice of one race or another. There is a difference between therapy dogs and assistance or service dogs. It is true that both works to help. Still, the former usually acts in programs and areas of human-animal interaction (hospitals, schools, prisons, nursing homes…) on a specific or periodic basis in favour of previously selected objectives. Assistance dogs live with people with particular disabilities, helping them overcome their daily limitations and making their lives as comfortable as possible.