What does it take to make a good therapy dog?

The dog must be almost prenaturally calm. He must never jump on people, or grab or growl around food, or show any signs of aggression.

He is be sensitive to the attitudes of others, a good therapy dog will always avoid people who don’t want to see him or her. A good therapy dog does not startle easily – at loud sounds, or music, or the sight of a dog or a cat.

A good therapy dog must love to be touched, hugged, scratched. He must sense and respond to eat, and he must always – always – be under the full control of his handler.

Bud has all of these natural gifts. He’s been in the Mansion three times now, he is comfortable being approached, touched. He doesn’t jump up or bark or make sudden moves.

He loves to have his head scratched and   belly rubbed. He must understand that the food there is not his food.

Bud needs to be shown the basic work of the therapy dog, I’ve now done it successfully several times. He must grasp that the people are the work for him, he must be reinforced and encouraged to go to people and stay with them.

That’s my work. So far, so good. Earlier in the week, I brought Bud into meet Kassie, the Mansion’s Acting Director. He was great with her. If he passes these  tests, I’ll take him to the dog vetting therapy group in Vermont and ask to get a certificate for him.