Therapy animals are asked to be in small spaces, close to people and often other animals and within reach of the client. This is not always as easy as it sounds. Medical equipment can be in the way, furniture should not be moved, the beds are in varying positions and heights, larger dogs are not permitted on the beds, and small dogs need to be cradled carefully.
Often we have several dogs visiting together so finding just the right position to allow each dog enough space yet close proximity to the client is a challenge.
In our therapy prep class we learn how to properly position every size dog in every situation. The large dogs should always have their paws cupped and they should be held in a stable position when placed on a bed or near a wheelchair. The dog is never permitted to jump on a client even if they encourage the dog to do so. The dog’s paws and nails are never allowed to be in direct contact with the client, whose skin is often fragile.
Small dogs often are the best for snuggling into small spaces beside a client or up near their face. If a client only has feeling above the shoulders, for instance, only a very small, steady, calm dog can be raised so the client can feel the touch of their fur and actually feel a cuddle.
Larger dogs are taught targeting so we can perfectly position their head and neck to the height whereby they can be reached by someone, sitting, lying down or staying unsteadily.
Blocking is a technique our therapy teams learn to allow their dog safe access to all situations. If wheelchairs are racing past them, people in groups are walking unsteadily, staff are rushing to get by… all this requires the handler to know exactly the right place to position their own body to block their dog for safety. A child or older person may be a “grabber” and hold on to their dog too tightly or too roughly. Blocking and positioning allow the dog to be near enough to the client so they feel they have control of the visit, but the handler is actually always in total control of their animal’s safety.
All of these techniques are learned during the Delta Pet Partners Workshop with over 150 role playing scenarios acted out by each team. When they start “working” there will be no surprises and they will have confidence they and their animal can handle any and all situations.
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