Greyhound Therapy Dogs?

[HoundHeavenAZ]

Lima was a Delta certified dog and we used to visit our local hospital and nursing homes. She was so very intuitive about people and could sense who needed her attention, and boy, could she work a crowd

We used to make up little calling cards with goofy photos of her for different holidays and the visitors and staff loved collecting them. She was also the neutral dog for several certification test sessions and she enjoyed working in all capacities. She's been gone a year and I still bump into people that tell me how much they miss seeing her there

 

[carronstar]

Morgaine was a certified therapy dog and she was remarkable at it. We went to a nursing home and she would get off the elevator at the floor we visited and always went straight for the rooms with "her" patients. One gentleman would just bend over and hug her around the neck and hold on for dear life and she would stand there at let him do so for as long as he needed. The week prior to her sudden death we were approved as a visiting team for the homebound ill and elderly and the woman who interviewed us was very impressed with her and very positive about dog therapy.

 

I would do it again in a heartbeat. I can't do it with Aquitaine as she is a happy snapper and I would hate to see her hurt anyone. She also tends to nibble on those she loves and that is not a good trait for a therapy dog.

[silverfish]

 

I would do it again in a heartbeat. I can't do it with Aquitaine as she is a happy snapper and I would hate to see her hurt anyone. She also tends to nibble on those she loves and that is not a good trait for a therapy dog.

 

You might be surprised. Renie was both a happy snapper and a nibbler, and yet she never, ever (not even once) so much as looked as if she might do either of those things while out visiting. She knew she was doing a job and didn't mistake her clients for her family. When visiting, she was unfailingly gentle and polite.

 

I think happy snappers and love nibblers mostly do so with their own family, but know the difference between family and friends. Of course, some young dogs (and not-so-young dogs) aren't so good about boundaries, and if you have any doubts at all about Aquitaine's suitability, that's the end of the story. I'm just saying that just because a dog is a happy snapper doesn't necessarily mean they will do so when out and about.

[Guest mowreyAZ]

Greyhounds do make wonderful therapy dogs, I would take Amber to the VA Hospital in Phoenix after going to psycho therapy with her. She loved all the visits and seeing all her boyfriends and galpals. Lady too also liked going especially greeting the guys at the rehab facility. One gentlemen we met in Arizona adopted a grey took her through her TDI certification and then took her to a special olympics summer camp where she was an absolute star. he now has two other sight hounds- an Afghan and a foster greyhound that go on visits also.

[Guest ProfoundLove]

Another odd question.... (To go with the phlebotomy) do you think the right employer would hire us (the team, i mean) I live in Austin so practically anything is possible, but I'd like to hear what you all think.

 

I would be surprised if an employer would allow it because of OSHA and other regulations.

[Guest ProfoundLove]

Sylvie has been a therapy dog for one year, and it has been a very rewarding experience. We visit a residential facility for at-risk youth. We visit boys ages 8-11 years old. The boys dearly love her, and she has really helped some of the boys with their behavioral issues. The staff is always glad to see her as well.

 

I registered Sylvie through TDInc (Therapy Dogs Incorporated) because they don't require sit on command (Sylvie just WILL NOT SIT). Plus, they're way less expensive.

 

Just keep in mind to visit places where your dog will be happy and not stressed. Sylvie doesn't care for nursing homes, but she tolerated it during the testing/observation process for registration. However, she enjoys visiting kids.

[Guest avadogner]

Hi GT Friends,

My Ava tested for Delta Society years ago but couldn't pass the section where I had to leave her. She was a traumatized mess when we adopted her at 18 months. It took tons of patience, training and love to see her blossom. She loved visiting with my Down's Syndrome Uncle who loved stroking her head. She also was a favorite visitor to te Senior Care home affiliated with our Church and a favorite at the Blessing of the Pets Event our Parish has each year.

 

When Ava was about 5, I started sliding into kidney failure due to Polycystic Kidney Disease. My life sped out of control from surgery to surgery.I went through 5 surgeries in 3 yrs and suffered from debilitating pain from the pounds of cystuic tumors that devoured my kidneys and liver. Ava became incredibly protective of me and was always in bed giving me her care and diversion from pain. There were many days thatmy DH couldn't even lure her away to tend to her own needs. She at this point was my personal therapy dog and my pain specialist was amazed by her.

 

I became disabled at 32. My blood pressure became extremely brittle and I would frequently pass out from it. Ava started guarding me when I would pass out and I would wake to her gentle paw over my chest and her laying her head on my chest. She even learned to predict episodes and would block my path when she sensed something was off. She also predicted kidney stones and cyst ruptures which were extremely painful.

 

As most of y'all know, Ava was diagnosed with Lumbar Stenosis and doesn't have much time left. She has lost most of the function in her back end and has to be carried on stairs and has become incontinent. We are keeping her happy and comfortable for now but will have to make the decision in the nxt couple weeks. She has been there for me for 9 years now. I had hoped to be with her until.she was 12 or 13 but that is not God's plan for her. She has taught me so much about love, life, dealing with illness and helped me accept that God's plan wasn't for us to have children but to adopt and love greyhounds instead. It isn't the life I imagined but it is no less sweet.

 

I hope to train Augie who is about to have his 1st Gotcha day next month. He is finally healed from his rebroken hock and has learned sit, shake and stay. He is a favorite of all the neighborhood kids and I think will be a natural.

Ava and Augie's Mum aka Alicia