I was read an article called “What is a Therapy Dog” by Thomas C. Weiss. Here is the link if you have any desire to read it: https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/…/therapy-dogs.php . In this article, a Therapy Dog has a very lengthy definition. I am going to highlight some of the most important parts. It says a Therapy Dog is “a dog trained to provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, people with learning difficulties, and stressful situations, such as disaster areas.” “The most important characteristic of a Therapy Dog is its temperament.” “Therapy Dogs must be on-leash obedience trained and remain under control while presenting excellent behavior.””A Therapy Dog is one with a temperament that is friendly, patient, and outstanding overall…has the desire to visit with people, loves children, and interacts with other animals well, also interacts with other dogs they encounter in positive ways.”
Ya’ know what?!? I meet all of these requirements. I provide affection and comfort. I have a leash, I know all sorts of commands. I am patient and really quite outstanding. I love people, kids, dogs, cats, and if I were allowed probably squirrels. Okay, Mr or Mrs. interviewer, I will delve into my extensive resume to show you just how I check all of the Therapy Dog requirement boxes.
I am amazing at providing affection. My mom rubs my back and I do a little back arch to tell her that it feels just right. I will roll over so Mom can rub my belly, during which all my toes spread apart and I flash my toothy grin. Check!
Comfort is a particularly strong attribute of mine. Mom has what Dad likes to call “road rage”, she calls it “driving slightly aggressive”. Since I have started daycare, and a car ride is included in this venture, I get to see what happens on the road. They are probably both a little right. On daycare days, Mom will plop me into the passenger seat and run her hands through my fluff. I overheard her tell Dad how calm I made one ride home and that she wasn’t even quite sure how she got from point A to point B. She doesn’t drive any slower, but she isn’t calling people names anymore either. She is eerily quiet and that is comforting to everyone! Check!
I have a leash. I have lots of leashes, red ones, grey ones, black ones, super hero ones… you want me to match your outfit? I’ve got a leash for that. Check!
I am obedience trained. I know sit, no, paw, no, down, no, potty, no, good boy, no bark, kennel, no bite, and no. Check!
I am the master of patience. I don’t bark at Scrappy or Lola anymore when I have finished my breakfast and they are still eating. I lie next to them and respectfully wait my turn to steal what they leave in the bowl. It takes a great deal of restraint but I have become quite proficient at it. Even when Mom is chopping veggies, I just lie right under her feet and patiently wait for her to A) give me something, B) drop something, or C) break her neck trying not to fall or step on me. Check!
I am acing this interview. I possess all the qualities of a good Therapy Dog.
And for the final requirement. I love everyone! I will only slightly pull on that aforementioned leash when I encounter someone. I am an extrovert, squirrel, dog, cat, kid, baby, adult, probably even a skunk… the who, what, where, or when are unimportant details to a meet and greet. I should probably be pretty forthcoming here, bugs might present a problem. The larger ones in particular. They are just so yummy. If this interview leads to a job that requires me to work with slugs, cicadas, or praying mantis, you should probably find another candidate. I would not be your ideal fit. Check-ish!
Ah, who am I kidding? Yes, I am an overall outstanding dog. Yes, I possess all the qualities that I am supposed to, in order to be deemed a Therapy Dog, yet I am not a Therapy Dog. I might be one day, but I am not. At the moment I am more accurately the opposite. I am a little too enthusiastic about everything, especially food, and maybe a little too nosey for my own good.
Labels are made for ice cream, not living things. you can check all the boxes and still not be the sum of all the parts. We aren’t math, and we certainly aren’t ice cream. we are who we are. We can be funny, fat, obedient, malicious, noisy, kind, pleasant, but these labels aren’t WHO we are. They are only parts of us. Little minute pieces of a whole, that cannot be labeled by one specific word or phrase. We are much too much to be summed up by one word or phrase.
Continue to be those words or phrases that feel good and right to you and your true self, but be those knowing that they are NOT WHO YOU ARE, that is something much deeper and bigger.
Citation: Journal: Disabled World. Language: English. Author: Thomas C. Weiss. Electronic Publication Date: 2011/04/18. Last Revised Date: 2019/01/12. Reference Title: “What is a Therapy Dog“, Source: What is a Therapy Dog. Abstract: These Dogs come from a variety of breeds there is no perfect breed or mix of breeds that make the best Therapy Dogs. Retrieved 2019-09-14, from https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/serviceanimals/therapy-dogs.php – Reference Category Number: DW#100-7456.