I’ve decided that Zinnia is ready to be certified as a therapy dog.

I’ve scheduled a test in two weeks just outside of Albany.

The test is fairly rigorous for a therapy dog. She has to sit calmly in a room full of strange dogs for between 15 minutes and a half-hour. She has to be still while several people dressed in long robes, coats, and masks stomp their feet, wave sticks at her and try to provoke her.

She has to be in complete control of her handler, sitting, staying, lying down.

Any sign of aggression results in instant disqualification. Red passed this test, (a lot of dogs didn’t) and she’ll get a collar, tag, and ID card. A certified service dog cannot be denied entrance to any business facility in all 50 states.

Most hospitals and nursing homes now welcome certified therapy dogs.

This decision is about one to two years ahead of schedule, I thought it would take a longer time, but she’s teaching me as much as I am teaching her.

I should say there are three categories of service dogs

Emotional support dogs accompany and live with people who suffer from general anxiety problems or stressful events like airplane flights. This category has become controversial as some people are bringing “emotional support” ferrets, rabbits, birds, and snakes onto planes.

The airlines are tightening up those categories and requiring letters from mental health professionals.

Service Dogs assist people with impaired mobility, vision, or other disabilities and are trained to perform diverse and specific tasks.

Therapy Dogs usually serve patients in a hospital, nursing home, or palliative care settings by providing companionship and affection. A sound temperament is paramount, along with an ability to focus on people.

In palliative settings, the dogs need to be agile and appropriate – no jumping, clawing or running in those settings. Sometimes, they have to get quietly and softly into beds and around wheelchairs and medical equipment.

I thought Zinnia was too aroused by other dogs, but we’ve been working on that, and she has calmed down already.

I have no doubts about Zinnia as a therapy dog,  she’s already made a score of visits to schools and hospitals. She’s a loving and calm animal, and her temperament is 100 percent reliable. This is very natural work for her, and she has been doing it since she was three months old.