St. John Ambulance Therapy Dogs

This program started in 1992, and has become a very popular program and has spread across Canada. Therapy dogs have become a familiar sight throughout hospitals, nursing homes, day care facilities, Senior Residence and schools for children with special needs all across the country. These dogs are well trained, impeccably groomed volunteers that ax~ accepted in most places where a little care and love is appreciated. People who are house bound, or in long term and palliative care or rehabilitation are typical recipients of a therapy dog visit.

These dogs are there to offer unconditional love and friendship to the sick, lonely and helpless. They are non-judgmental and accept human frailties and accept illness, handicap or disfigurement, confusion or tears. They calm the distressed, distract the pain-ridden and comfort the despondent. They work under the motto, "We Are There To Care".

At a display at our local mall, I had a chance to talk to the director of the local Therapeutic Dog Program. She explained the program to me and said that the tester would be traveling to our city within the next few week. I thought this would be a great program for Teeka, since she is a very loving and affectionate dog.

Teeka had to pass the St. John Ambulance Therapy dog Test and has to wear the Therapy Dog Uniform on every visit. The uniform consists of the owner wearing a St.John Therapy Dog golf or sweat shirt, and black or grey pants or skirt. dogs wear a St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Identification Tag. She has to be up to date on all vaccinations, she must be clean and well groomed and on a leash.

The Test

Our dog went through several aspects of testing to see if she would qualify for the Therapeutic Dog Program. There are five steps that must be taken to pass this test.

The first part of the test was to bring Teeka forward and stand facing the judge and not to coax the dog to stay there. The judge would then walk up to her to see how she responded to a stranger approaching her.

The next part was to have several numbered areas marked on the floor and then have several persons walking and crossing to each area. The judge had Teeka go to the numbered area that he called. The idea was to see if the dog would be jumpy when having to cross traffic.

The next step was to have a person in a wheel chair coming towards Teeka saying things like "look at the pretty dog" then at the same time someone would drop a steel can behind her to see if she would be spooked.

Then they had a person wearing a white doctors coat slightly leaning forward and not moving. I would have to approach the person in the doctor's coat as close as possible to see if Teeka was scared by this item of clothing.

The next and final part was to have several people with their arms extended and walking towards us from every direction talking fairly loud calling the Teeka's name and eventually petting her, to make sure that she was not jumpy or nervous.

Teeka passed every step of the program and is now a qualified Therapy Dog.

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