Activities to Enjoy and Compete in With Your French Bulldog
Therapy Dog Work - Expanding the Bond Between Humans and Dogs
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Imagine you are an elderly person, living in a nursing home. You weren't allowed to bring your pets with you when you moved there, and your relatives live far away, and rarely have time to visit. Now imagine that a piece of sunshine suddenly comes into your life. It's a French Bulldog, one you can hold on your lap, cuddle, talk to, and have your picture taken with. One that makes funny snorting noises, and licks your face. You can talk to his owner about him, ask her questions about him, tell them about the dogs you owned when you were younger. Suddenly, you have something to look forward to in your life again.
Welcome to the world of Therapy Dog Visitation, a program in which animals help people just by visiting with them. Visiting with animals can help people feel less lonely, and less depressed. Visits from dogs can provide a welcome change from routine, or the renewal of old friendships. People become more active and responsive both during and after visiting with animals. Research studies, including ones done by the Delta Society, show that visit by Therapy Dogs can actually lessen or reduce some symptoms or effects of illness, and that withdrawn patients become more responsive and alert after such visits. Therapy dogs are becoming so widely recognized for their value that many homes and care facilities now have "in house" dogs which reside in the center, usually going home with a staff member at night.
French Bulldogs are, for the most part, very well suited to Therapy Work. They love the attention, the interaction, and the new laps to claim space in. It's essential, though, that your dog has been evaluated before you simply jump into therapy work. In many of the places your dog will visit, there are things which will be new and possibly confusing or frightening to him. You as his handler also need to be prepared for how to handle some of the situations which can occur, such as seriously impaired persons, or persons who might try to handle your dog less than gently.
Those interested in taking part in therapy work with their dog (kids, in particular) should try accompanying an experienced handler and dog on a few visits first, so that they can make sure the experience is something which they will be comfortable with. The best way to get started in doing Therapy Work with your Frenchie is to join a Therapy Dog Group. Diane Blackman has a list on her web site of every known Therapy Dog group in North America.
LINKS TO THERAPY DOG RESOURCES
Dog
Play's Therapy Dog Groups
A list of links to all known Therapy Dog groups and associations. The
best place to start if you are looking for a group to join.
Northeast Rehab
Hospital Animal Facilitated Program
A very complete site, which covers everything from "Choosing an Appropriate
Therapy Dog" to "How to Communicate with Sensory Impaired People".