What it takes to become a Therapy Dog!

Delta Therapy Dogs are no ordinary dogs! The assessment they must pass is designed to test even the most obedient of dogs, and there are many dogs who just don't make the cut! However, the reason this test is so tricky, is because it's not just about obedience, and having a well trained dog. A large majority of the test is actually designed to assess your dog's temperament.

So what kind of temperament are they looking for? Here are the key qualities your dog will need to pass and become a certified Delta Therapy Dog:

1. Calm - a therapy dog must not be boisterous as they will be working with all sorts of people including elderly patients, and small children. A boisterous or over exuberant dog could wreak all sorts of havoc for these more fragile humans! During the assessment, your dog will be required to walk calmly passed a range of different people, and must also greet another person without jumping up!

2. Loves People - as part of their job, your dog will be required to interact with all sorts of people, including men and women of all ages, and young children as well. Your dog should not only tolerate all types of people, but also be willing and wanting to interact with them. Your dog shouldn't be fearful of any people! Their willingness to interact with a range of people will be assessed.

3. Independent - your dog should comfortably be able to be away from you for short periods in order to do their job effectively. If your dog frets or panics when you leave them with a stranger, being a therapy dog isn't for them. During the assessment, your dog will be asked to wait with a stranger while you walk out of sight. Your dog shouldn't show any signs of distress during this exercise.

4. Bomb Proof - As part of their job, your dog will be confronted with a horde of situations that would cause distress for your average dog! During the assessment, your dog will be exposed to people in wheelchairs and crutches, being mildly yelled at by a stranger, being roughly handled all over the body by a stranger, being crowded by a group of people, and exposed to loud and sudden noises. Your dog should not become overly distressed in any of these situations and should recover quickly.

Sounds tough right? That's because it is! The reason the assessment is so tough, is because when your dog is working as a therapy dog, they will potentially have to cope with all of these scenarios. If they can't cope with them during the assessment, it is unlikely that they would be able to cope with them in real life! The good news is that if ever you are visited by a Delta Therapy Dog, you know for certain that they are the best of the best :)