Weims as Therapy Dogs

[complexmom]

There is always a lot of confusion about the difference between therapy dogs and service dogs. Penny Lane is a service dog because she provides service to one person, although she has also become a much loved family member as well. Therapy dogs visit folks in various locations but are not assigned to provide service to one person.

A year ago Billy Ray was in the hospital on the ventilator. Because of her barking Penny Lane couldn't remain with him. However, the hospital had a therapy dog program. Everyday different volunteers would bring their therapy dogs to make the rounds. They allowed them into the ICU because Penny Lane couldn't come in for BR. She could visit later when it wasn't around the most critical patients.

The therapy dogs provide a real service too. They relax the person they are visiting and ease the fear. I am often asked about Weims as therapy dogs. I think that it would depend on the personality. I am told that some Weims are hyperactive and that would not work as well. If they are able to calmly sit or even lay on a hospital bed beside someone it works best.

I think Weims like special needs children are like snowflakes - all are different. There are many who would be great therapy dogs and some who wouldn't. Those who could would be really great help.

[tasha]

Bonnie is a therapy dog that was her original purpose when she was brought she was a suggestion by the hospital who felt that having a dog would help me get over agoraphobia and assist with my inevitable blindness so she is trained for guide dog work and a few other home help basics she also recognised asthma attacks and panic attacks and has been trained to take me home or to specific rooms on campus where I can get help.

Since she was 12 weeks old she has been on campus with me at Sussex University and Plumpton Agricultural College. She also represents her breed regularly at the kennel club discover dogs events. She has without a doubt changed my life but she is not used as a visiting dog as yet although when she is retired I intend to make this transition with her.

An ideal representation of her temperment has been the latest 'meet and greet' on campus where the parents with young families (babies included) were invited to meet her when I first moved her (am on campus for 1 year as a resident) she had not only the toddlers climbing all over her but baies just crawling one of whom fell asleep on her :-) I cannot fault her temperment or her abilities as a guide. Now if I could stop her stealing that would be great... we all have our failings! She is now due to training also very bird orientated which does at times cause a few complications.

I have taken bonnie further that her original duties as an assistance dog she is worked regularly during the season on the shoots, competes during the summer in working tests and has been shown in the gamekeepers ring at crufts (sadly not placed but a great experience) this year. Although its been hard work encouraging her hunting she really has switched on, we took some valuable advice to take her away from any training for a few months and to be honest I can say this has been a benefit to her, she'll be back at training after her season if I decide not to breed this year. Her replacement will be one of her own puppies although again as I would like to progress with my hunting I am looking for a different sire.

The benefits can be easily seen by people that know me, very few realise that I have agoraphobia, or that I spent years not leaving my home due to illness and fear. Very few realise that I am going blind or the implications of that and I can definitely say that is down to my ownership of bonnie. I would encourage anyone with a nice tempered dog to get involved with therapy duties its is of great benefit both to the dog and the recipient of their care.

[greyghost]

My first Weim actually qualified to be a PAT dog - Pets as Therapy.

www.petsastherapy.org/

There is no way she would have made it as a youngster as she was far too bouncy and I didn't have a clue what I had on the end of my lead in those days . She was 7/8 when she qualified and I was so proud of her .

Unfortunately we never managed to perform any duties as we lost her not long after .

She was great amongst kids with hands flying over her head this way and that. I put it down to the fact that she was born around the same time as two of my grandchildren and she was around them a lot and grew up with them.