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PATIENTS & VISITORS
Caring Canines Program | Program Participation
Everyone thinks that their own dog is special, but there are several characteristics that makes a dog a good candidate to be trained as a therapy dog. These include:
- Dogs must be one year of age or older
- Handler and dog must have completed basic obedience training
- No history of animal or human aggression
- Confident and outgoing
- Likes to be petted and touched
- Easy going
- Handles stress well
- Predictable
- Well-mannered
- Loves people and other dogs
- Ability to be registered with a national therapy dog organization
- Successful completion of a temperament assessment
Due to health and safety concerns, additional training specific to the needs of SwedishAmerican Hospital patients is requested for both dogs and handlers.
- Both dogs and human must comply with health and vaccination requirements
- Volunteers are requested to work two shifts per month
- Successful completion of an intensive training program for both dogs and handlers is mandatory
- Specific guidelines for behaviors, clothing and confidentiality must be followed
To volunteer for our program,you will need to complete a program application, a SwedishAmerican Volunteer application, and you and your dog must be registered with a therapy dog organization.
If you have questions about our program, or would like additional information, please call Deb Schwarze, MS, MA, LCPC, Caring Canines Program coordinator, at (779) 696-2166
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