My traveling therapy dog

[AnneJ68]

Had to run to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription today. I had Bentley with me tucked snuggley in my coat since it was cold. Just his cute little head was popping out. I pulled up to the drive through window to pick it up and the girl at the window who basically looked like she was on her last nerve for the day began to ask me if I was picking up. Half way through her sentence her eyes bugged out and she got a huge smile on her face. From that point on that smile continued. As I finished my transaction she said "OMG I so love him. He's so cute. Thank you so much for bringing him with you. I really needed it."

It made my day knowing that just by having my sweet Bentley with me, he brought a much needed smile to someone's face. That's my boy.

[Hrossen11]

That is the main reason I am hoping to train teddy to be a therapy dog. We have a children's hospital just around the corner and I would love to make there day

[GeorgiesMomma]

Awe so sweet!

[Deb1]

Yorkies do bring a smile to every ones day!

[yorkietalkjilly]

Dogs do sure help smooth out the sharp edges of the day!

[jadabug]

Aww how sweet..Bentley did his good deed for the day I know the girls that work the drive thru window at our bank love all the dogs that come through.

[alaskayorkie]

Love that story! That's exactly why I got my registered as therapy dogs. They have so much to offer.

[AnneJ68]

The local trainer I am taking him to in March also offers the K-9 citizenship test. If I remember correctly that is one of the requirements for therapy dog training. After we do the basic obedience I may seriously look into training him to be a therapy dog. We don't have a local children's hospital, however I am just a hair under 2 hours away from Duke Medical Center. I would not mind making a couple of trips per month down there.

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by AnneJ68

The local trainer I am taking him to in March also offers the K-9 citizenship test. If I remember correctly that is one of the requirements for therapy dog training. After we do the basic obedience I may seriously look into training him to be a therapy dog. We don't have a local children's hospital, however I am just a hair under 2 hours away from Duke Medical Center. I would not mind making a couple of trips per month down there.

That would be awesome! I'd never been much of a volunteer, but cheering people up with the dogs is so rewarding. I love it. We visit 2 or three times a week -- pediatric oncology, adolescent mental health and a senior home.

Yeah, if you register through Therapy Dogs International, they require you to take the AKC Canine Good Citizen test. I registered through Pet Partners (formerly Delta Society). They don't require Canine Good Citizen, but they have their own test.

It doesn't necessarily take a lot of training. It's more about having a mellow dog that likes people. You do have to have a sit-stay and recall and be able to walk on a loose leash. But most of the testing is just to ensure the dog can stay relaxed with people around, strange noises, etc.

Good luck! And you don't even have to visit hospitals. If there's a senior home somewhere closer, those folks love it.

[AnneJ68]

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

And you don't even have to visit hospitals. If there's a senior home somewhere closer, those folks love it.

I never through about that. Durf. We have a local nursing home and the hospital has a stand alone rehab unit.

[Teresa Ford]

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

Love that story! That's exactly why I got my registered as therapy dogs. They have so much to offer.

me too

[MishyMish]

People under estimate the power of these dogs.

[MishyMish]

well any dog for that matter. Even pittbulls, but their a topic all their own.

[CouversMom]

What a sweet story. It is true... These dogs can do so much for us humans