When you don't have a therapy pet...yet.

This is another commonly asked question I get from Clinicians' who want to incorporate an animal into their practice but currently do not have an animal or at least one that is appropriate. I can't help you decide on what breed but I can give you some things to consider.

Type of Animal
It's pretty obvious that the most common therapy pet is the dog. Generally, their temperament is the best suited for the job (other than the horse). However, many animals have been shown to be great therapy animals; from birds, to bunnies, cats, goats... Really, you will have to decide what animal fits for you and also your type of work. However, every question I've received was based on the canine family.

Puppy or adult? 
There are advantages to both, so it depends on your preferences. Remember, they are your pet first, secondary to their work as a therapy dog.

With a puppy, you can start from scratch and train them the way you want them to be trained. You can start them off young to get them used to social situations and different environments. Bringing  them to parks with kids, busy streets, socializing with other dogs. The disadvantage is that you might find your puppy simply doesn't have the temperament for being a therapy dog. This is something you simply can't train into them and it sometimes take a while for you to see the real personality of your dog. The other disadvantage is you may have wait a year at least before they start working with you. Bringing a puppy to session might be cute but having them nip or pee on your clients is not.

Normally, if you are purchasing an adult dog, you have adopted them. I always advocate for this, not only because you have saved a dog but because they make great therapy dogs. Clients gravitate to dogs with "stories" and I find they connect quicker with the animal. Additionally, as they are adults, you can have a better idea of their temperament. You can train obedience but you cannot train temperament. The disadvantage is that you may get a dog hoping they will be a therapy dog only to find out they are just not suited for the job.

Be prepared that you may want this to work but some dogs just don't fit this type of work. You can't make them be good at it. So you need to ask yourself that if you get a dog for this purpose, will it be okay if they are not a good fit?

I waited 4 years before Monty was ready to be a therapy dog. I could tell he had the temperament for it but it wasn't his time yet. We rescued another dog with an amazing temperament (very sensitive to the emotions of others). However, due to her abuse history, it will take time before she is ready to go to work. Just like a therapist shouldn't provide therapy if that therapist hasn't worked through their own trauma). 

Breed
I can't deny that there are breeds that seem to have more of a temperament for therapy work than others. Though it does not mean it's a rule. You will have to check the breeds temperament to see if it fits for you and then as a therapy dog. There are small, medium and large breed dogs that are great therapy dogs but you will find the medium to large breeds are the most commonly found in this line of work.

Monty is one of the smallest dogs in the visiting program. 

Many small breed dogs do have the tendency to be owner specific and territorial. However, the same can be said for some larger breeds. I do wonder if other variables impact smaller breed dogs chances of becoming a therapy dog including less training, less socialization with other dogs, less likely to walk in the community, older or single dog owners, etc.

Common breeds have been Golden Retrievers, Shepherd breeds, Greyhounds, Labrador Retriever, Poodles and Beagles. These breeds are also known to be good family dogs. Mutts make wonderful therapy dogs also. There are many great rescues out there, even if you want a pure bred or a mix. Please do not buy a dog from a pet store or puppy mills.

As you can see, there are a few things to consider but the two main points I would like you to remember:

Your pet before therapy pet. 

Temperament makes a Therapy Dog, not obedience. 

Consider this: Show dogs or any dog that has undergone a considerable amount of training may be exceptionally obedient but have been specifically trained not to engage unless prompted. They are not allowed to show spontaneity. These dogs typically flunk an evaluation. You want a therapy dog to have the basic skills (sit, stay, come, don't jump up etc). but you also want them to engage those around them, show their affection and be able to show their personality. Additionally, when a therapy dog has room to be themselves, you are also better able to read their cues as to whether they are nervous or stressed.  

Happy Learning!

Rhiannon Jones

Rhiannon Jones M.S.W. R.S.W. offers counselling and AAT to the Hamilton, Ontario area. She specializes in children, youth, young adults and their families that are being impacted by certain difficulties in their life. She strives to enhance the field of animal assisted therapy and the natural connection of the human animal bond. If you are interested in receiving her Clinical Services or would like to network or obtain consulting services, please contact her: 

email: rhiannonjonesmsw@gmail.com, web: www.rhiannonjones.ca

© 2015 Rhiannon Jones M.S.W., R.S.W. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce for educational or clinical uses, as long as copyright and author contact information appears on the reprint. Please contact the author for further questions. 

Why Do I need Training In Animal Assisted Therapy?

Employing AAT in Clinical Practice

I have had many Clinicians contact me to ask how they can also employ AAT in their work and whether or not they need training to do so. It can sound very attractive to be able to have your furry (or feathery) best friend working along side you. Many are not aware of challenges one can face incorporating animals into your practice. So the very short answer is "Yes!" Get as much training as possible, which is beyond your self-teaching. There are more and more programs that are developing that focus on Animal Assisted Therapy and the human-animal bond, some of which will be discussed below. Previously, Canadian Clinicians really did not have a choice, as there were limited to no programs available to those that were interested. Now with the help of distance education, we can start growing our Canadian AAT Field that includes properly educated individuals. 

But can't I just bring my dog into session with me? You could but why would you take the risk. That would be like saying you want to try a certain therapy out on a client that you heard was beneficial without the training. This is by far unethical for most Colleges and Associations. Therefore, not only are you putting yourself at risk but do not forget you are incorporating a living thing that can also be placed at risk. 

Just bringing my dog to my work place can't really hurt though can it? You may have a wonderful flexible workplace environment that may allow your pet to come to work with you. However, does your work place have the policies to ensure you, your pet, your colleagues and the public are protected? There is a lot more to think about than just spending some extra quality of time with your pet. 

My dog passed an obedience test so I know he is ready to be an AAT animal! That is great as you are well on your way to incorporating AAT into your practice. However, did you know that passing an "obedience test" doesn't necessarily mean your dog (or other animal) is ready to be involved in AAT? Check out local evaluations that test for other aspects of your animal. Don't forget, even though you would love to have your pet partner involved, they might not necessarily want to or be the best fit for the service or environment you have in mind. Finally, having your animal pass an evaluation is only half the work. Now its your turn!

Incorporating animals into practice isn't as straight forward as one may think but it most definitely rewarding once your build your knowledge and expertise, so don't let further education scare you away. Not convinced yet that you need further training? Here are some other reasons;

Welfare of the Animal

Sometimes we can be so focused on what interests us that we tend to forget we have partners that cannot speak for themselves. Through training and further education, you will develop skills on animal welfare, animal behaviour and how to develop policies and procedures to help protect your pet partner. Those that get involved in AAT normally adore their pet partner. This can make working with them biased. Whether you are working in public services or private practice, an animal cannot work the same hours that we do. One needs to consider the demand of work, number of clients and your pet partners enjoyment/welfare. Additionally, some people can be unpredictable in their behaviours, so what will that mean if you have a vulnerable animal in the room with you?

Welfare of your Clients

We are incorporating a live animal in our session with clients. This poses additional risk as animals (even though you know them inside and out) can be unpredictable. In fact, their (safe) unpredictable nature increasing the positive benefits in therapy. However, you need to know how to develop the tools and policies to properly protect your clients and this may be different for public or private organizations. You also have to maintain your Colleges/Associations Code of Ethics when treating clients. It is unethical to work out of the 'scope of your practice'. Having some training/education under your belt ensures that your clients are being properly treated. 

Animal Assisted Therapy can greatly enhance your work with your clients and help them reach their goals faster than without AAT. However, many Clinicians are not even aware of all the ways animals can be incorporated into AAT, how they can fit with certain modalities, and what goals could look like. 

Welfare for YOU the Clinician

Even though working in this field we can easily forget to focus on ourselves, this is something we need to constantly be aware of, especially if you are working in Private Practice. Do you have the right forms? The insurance? The right procedures for before, during and after treatment ends? Do you know what you need to keep on file? Do you have a network of professionals to consult?

The Advancement of AAT in Clinical Practice

If you haven't noticed yet, AAT in Canada is sparse but those that are involved in the field are committed to its advancement. More and more Clinicians are receiving education abroad and coming back to add to the growing field. One of the movements in other Countries including Canada, is for the field of AAT to gain more recognition and create opportunities for those trained in the field to be "registered" or at the very least "become a member to an association." When that does eventually happen, normally one has to prove in some way that they can practice AAT in their clinical work. Finally, one critical way to advance AAT in clinical work is to develop the expertise/credentials of those that deliver the service. Though there are disagreements as to what these credentials would look like, we can all agree that connecting with like minded individuals that are knowledgeable and skilled in the area of AAT in Clinical Practice is a very important aspect of the growth of the AAT field. 

Alright, you have me convinced, so where do I go now?

There are increasing opportunities for those that want to practice/expand their knowledge in the human-animal interactions field. However, there are several resources I would like to highlight. 

www.thenaturalconnection.ca - This is a great resource for anyone interested in human-animal interactions. It also offers a list of training possibilities. And the best part, it is Canadian!

 http://www.du.edu/socialwork/programs/ce/animalsandhumanhe.html - This University of Denver program is distance education and offers a more intensive training. I found this program particularly helpful when you are thinking about starting up your own program or even being the leader of starting one up in your organization. 

http://www.animalassistedtherapyprograms.com/training-for-professionals.html - If you are not able to make the time and money commitment just yet, it may be worth checking out the Intro training here. It is my understanding that they offer Skype therefore allowing those not in the area to access their training. The Clinician's at this program are absolutely wonderful and are attempting to strive for excellence in the AAT field. 

http://www.canisius.edu/masters-degree-in-anthrozoology/ - I have recently learned about this program, which is getting rave reviews from its first students. 

Happy Learning!

Rhiannon Jones

Rhiannon Jones M.S.W. R.S.W. offers counselling and AAT to the Hamilton, Ontario area. She specializes in children, youth, young adults and their families that are being impacted by certain difficulties in their life. She strives to enhance the field of animal assisted therapy and the natural connection of the human animal bond. If you are interested in receiving her Clinical Services or would like to network or obtain consulting services, please contact her: 

email: rhiannonjonesmsw@gmail.com, phone: 905-741-5848, web: www.rhiannonjones.ca

© 2012 Rhiannon Jones M.S.W., R.S.W. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce for educational or clinical uses, as long as copyright and author contact information appears on the reprint. Please contact the author for further questions.