Therapy Dogs

Therapy dogs are special. They visit nursing homes and hospitals. They bring smiles to folks who may need a reason to smile. These visits have come to be known as Animal-Assisted Activities (AAA).

Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is even more. AAT is a goal-directed intervention in which an animal becomes an integral part of the treatment process. AAT is designed to promote improvement in physical, social, emotional, and/or thinking and intellectual skills. AAT is provided in a variety of settings and may be group or individual in nature. The process is documented and evaluated. AAT is directed by a health/human service professional with specialized expertise and within the scope of practice of his or her profession. In AAT:

• there are specified goals and objectives for each individual
• progress is measured

Dogs (and other species) can be incorporated into a variety of programs. Following are typical AAT goals:

Physical

• improve fine motor skills
• improve wheelchair skills
• improve standing balance

Mental Health

• increase verbal interactions
• increase attention skills like focusing and staying on task
• develop leisure/recreation skills
• increase self-esteem
• reduce anxiety
• reduce loneliness

Educational

• increase vocabulary
• aid in long- or short-term memory
• improve knowledge of concepts such as size and color

Motivational

• improve willingness to be involved in a group activity
• improve interactions others
  
• increase exercise

Interested in therapy dog work? Join Murphy and me and the other members of Life's Journey Therapy Dogs. It's the best volunteer job ever! Contact me at deethedogtrainer@gmail.com for more information.