What to look for in a therapy dog

Therapy dogs are amazing creatures- not only are they adorable animals, they also help people who might otherwise be able to do things such as walk on their own, providing comfort to those hospitalized, and much more! To be a therapy dog, it takes a lot of skill and specific characteristics that not every dog possesses.

Here&rsquo-s what you should look for in a therapy dog:

1. Friendly

One of their main purposes is to give comfort to their patients, and in order for someone to be completely comfortable around them, they need to be seen as friendly.

2. Enjoys human contact

A recluse and super shy dog isn&rsquo-t going to be a very good fit to be a therapy dog, as therapy dogs have to see people day in and day out. They will often be bombarded with patients and visitors.

3. Patient

Working with various people with certain needs can take a toll on a dog, especially with all their different personalities as well as their various different manners. Even if the patient is not calm, the canine has to be.

4. Gentle

One big difference between a dog who is fit to be a therapy dog and one who isn&rsquo-t is their gentle demeanor – rather, one who is fit to be a service dog will be extremely gentle. Therapy dogs work with a range of ages as well as the different types of people. If working with younger kids and elderly folks, it&rsquo-s a good reminder to be gentle creatures.

5. Doesn&rsquo-t mind to be touched (handled or pet) by patients

This is a very important one, as it is a major part of the job. The dog cannot be touchy about anyone who wants to, er, touch it. Even if most of the patients are unfamiliar, the canine needs to remain calm and overall in a positive manner at all times.

(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)