How Therapy Animals Are Selected and Trained
How Therapy Animals Are Selected and Trained
Therapy animals bring comfort, joy, and healing to people in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and other settings. Unlike service animals, which are trained to perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities, therapy animals provide emotional support through companionship. However, not every friendly pet is suited for this role. The selection and training process ensures that these animals have the right temperament, skills, and behavior to interact safely and effectively with diverse populations.
Selection: Finding the Right Candidates
The first step in creating a successful therapy animal is selecting the right candidate. While dogs are the most common therapy animals, cats, rabbits, horses, and even birds can also serve in this role. Key traits that make an animal suitable include:
- Calm and Gentle Temperament – The animal should remain composed in unfamiliar or stressful environments.
- Sociability – A therapy animal must enjoy interacting with strangers and tolerate being touched, sometimes unexpectedly.
- Obedience and Trainability – Basic commands and good manners are essential for controlled interactions.
- Health and Hygiene – Regular veterinary care and grooming ensure the animal is safe to be around vulnerable individuals.
Potential therapy animals are often evaluated through temperament tests to assess their reactions to loud noises, sudden movements, and unfamiliar handling.
Training: Preparing for Therapy Work
Once selected, therapy animals undergo specialized training to refine their skills. The process varies depending on the species and organization, but common training elements include:
- Basic Obedience – Commands like sit, stay, leave it, and heel help maintain control in different environments.
- Desensitization – Animals are exposed to medical equipment, wheelchairs, loud noises, and crowds to ensure they remain calm in real-world settings.
- Public Access Skills – Therapy animals must walk politely on a leash, ignore food distractions, and remain focused on their handler.
- Therapy-Specific Training – Some programs teach animals to perform gentle interactions, such as resting their head on a person’s lap or remaining still for petting.
Handlers also receive training to understand their responsibilities, including recognizing stress signals in their animals and ensuring safe interactions with clients.
Certification and Ongoing Evaluation
After training, therapy animals and their handlers must pass a certification test administered by recognized organizations like Pet Partners or Therapy Dogs International. These evaluations assess the animal’s behavior in realistic scenarios, such as visiting a hospital or school.
Even after certification, therapy animals are regularly reevaluated to ensure they maintain their skills and temperament. Handlers must also adhere to ethical guidelines, prioritizing the well-being of both the animal and the people they serve.
The Impact of Therapy Animals
Proper selection and training are crucial because therapy animals work with vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and individuals with trauma or illness. A well-trained therapy animal can reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, and provide a sense of connection.
By carefully choosing and preparing these special animals, organizations ensure that every interaction is safe, meaningful, and beneficial for everyone involved. Whether offering a paw to hold or a quiet presence to lean on, therapy animals make a profound difference—one gentle nudge at a time.
