Sometimes a therapy dog just sits or lies quietly while being pet – listening to story after story about a nursing home resident’s former dog.  Sometimes a therapy dog will visit an elementary school to help teach children about the humane care of animals, or join in during story time to help relax the group.  But, did you know that a therapy dog can help a child to learn?  A child who has difficulty reading is the perfect candidate to curl up alongside a therapy dog to enjoy a good book.  Our independent studies prove that children find the non-judgmental ears of a therapy dog the perfect choice to hone and improve their reading skills. 

A therapy dog may also work with disabled or autistic children.

In a hospital setting, a therapy dog might visit patients in pediatrics, oncology, or even hospice centers.  Many therapy dogs certified by Therapy Dogs United have been invited to visit a hospital’s emergency room because of the calming effect our dogs can have on patients, doctors, nurses and staff members working in the high-stress environment.