Henderson Heussner, Army. Henderson Heussner received the 2017 Army Military Child of the Year Award as an 18yearold senior at Estero High School in Estero, Fla. Dogs are pros at making you feel better when youve had a bad day or youre couchbound while sick, and they can help other people feel the same expansive dog. Military 1 Screensaver' title='Military 1 Screensaver' />How to Train Your Dog for Therapy Service. Dogs are pros at making you feel better when youve had a bad day or youre couch bound while sick, and they can help other people feel the same expansive dog love with a little training. RyIAzE8Y/a314a9b0bcbdde798b4b32061bef23fa.jpg' alt='Military 1 Screensaver' title='Military 1 Screensaver' />Screensavergift. Your 1 source for original free and fresh screensavers. Free 3D animated screensavers for your computer. The X37bs big brother gets the go ahead Boeing to build XS1 Phantom Express hypersonic space plane that will allow short notice military satellite launches. Russia unveils its new Arctic military base housing nuclearready warplanes and REINDEERpowered special forces as it seeks to claim the regions huge oil and gas. Publications and reports of the American Red Cross. Find annual reports of the American Red Cross dating back to 2010. The Treasures Of Montezuma 4 Torrent. Training your dog to be a therapy dog means theyll be able bring joy to children who are stuck in the hospital, provide companionship for older folks, and comfort those with disabilities. What Types of Dogs Are Good for Therapy Training. The first step when thinking about certifying your pup as a therapy dog is to find out if theyre the right type. Military 1 Screensaver' title='Military 1 Screensaver' />Jennifer Henley, Ph. D., the manager of the Animal Assisted Therapy program at the San Francisco SPCA, says that personality matters much more than breed when it comes to dogs that are great at therapy. Your dog should Enjoy meeting new people. Have no negative history like nipping or bitingFollow commands, like sit, leave it, stay and down. Be okay with new noises, smells, and environments. Be able to be calm and sit still during visits. Training and being a therapy dog is a lot of work for both of you, so your dog should not only like working, but should like this type of work. For example, if your dog likes work such as fetching, herding, or tracking, they may not be as suitable for therapy since it involves ignoring distractions and following commands promptly. Dogs that are known for their intelligence and are easy to train, like guard dogs or terriers, may take faster to therapy training and be better suited. Henley recommends knowing dogs boundaries so that if it turns out they dont really like therapy work, you can find another way to help your community, like joining a volunteer search and rescue group. Whom Your Dog Will Help. Most people know that therapy dogs and their owners do good by visiting those in need of companionship, but you might not realize how big of an impact you can have. Henley describes the main benefit of becoming an animal therapy volunteer It is an honor to help someone in such times of need and being a part of that, and knowing your dog brought joy, comfort, peace, the motivation to do physical therapy, etc, is incredibly rewarding. You have a ton of options when it comes to who you and your dog volunteer to help with therapy visits. Here are some common opportunities you likely have nearby Hospitals Children, as well as other patients, need a friendly face to brighten their day. Nursing homes and senior centers Bring comfort to older people. Especially great for lap sized dogs. Libraries and schools Help kids practice reading by providing a non judgemental fluffy audience. Check with your local libraries, community centers, and shelters to see if there are other programs you and your dog can join. How to Get Your Dog Trained and Certified. Youll likely need to invest quite a bit of time and effort into getting your dog trained and certified for therapy work, but the happiness you bring to those in need can be well worth it. The exact evaluation exam and certification standards vary depending on what organization youre being certified by, but the training typically involves. Training classes usually 4 hours over several weeksYour dog demonstrating the ability to follow a series of commands sit, stay, off, leave it, say hiMonitored visits to observe how your dog does. Proof of health from a vet you may have to re submit this annuallyYou may also have the option to go through several levels of certification as your dog adds more therapy visitation experience under their collar. The American Kennel Club has a therapy training and certification program, Canine Good Citizen. Your local SPCA may also have a program, the SF SPCA has Assisted Animal Therapy. Besides performing a valuable service to your community, going through therapy dog certification, training, and actual volunteering can strengthen the bond between you and your dog.