How To Get A Therapy Dog UK For Emotional & Mental Health Support
Over the last decade, there has been a significant increase in the use of therapy dogs in the UK. Therapy dogs can not only bring comfort but also help people with a diverse array of mental health challenges, including anxiety, isolation, and low mood. If a client is using a therapy dog for the first time, they can join a programme for support. These programmes can also help people find a suitable therapy dog. Below, explore the role of therapy dogs and assistance dogs and the ways that therapy dogs can provide emotional support to people from all walks of life.
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What are emotional support dogs?
Many people love dogs, but therapy dogs are different than pets. Therapy dogs provide emotional support and comfort to people who are experiencing stress, anxiety, loneliness, or other mental health challenges. Therapy dogs often accompany volunteers to hospitals to visit patients who are recovering from various illnesses. While some people may associate therapy dogs with cancer patients, they can visit patients in numerous hospital departments and have an impact on both patients and staff. Therapy dogs can also be taken to schools, rehabilitation centers, and nursing homes for therapy visits, where they often significantly impact people’s emotional well-being.
Is an assistance dog different from a therapy dog?
Types of assistance and therapy dogs
There are a few types of therapy and assistance dogs in the UK, and, as mentioned above, assistance and therapy dogs have slightly different functions. Assistance dogs offer people one-on-one assistance in their homes. For instance, an autism assistance dog can support autistic children. Guide dogs can support people who are vision impaired, and hearing dogs can support those who need assistance with hearing. There are also medical alert dogs, psychiatric assistance dogs, and mobility assistance dogs. Dog handlers train the dogs to the highest standards so that they can assist and bring comfort to clients and families. Therapy dogs, on the other hand, typically work in institutions such as hospitals, schools, and nursing homes, offering comfort and affection to multiple people there, although in some cases therapy dogs support individuals.
Training and certification process
All therapy dogs in the UK will go through a training programme of the highest standards. First off, the handlers will assess a dog to see if it’s suitable for the job. A suitable dog will enjoy spending time with humans and is friendly and gentle. From there, the team will begin training that will prepare the dogs to assist humans in a variety of capacities. There are various levels of training the dog needs to go through, from beginner to advanced. The final step is taking a test as part of the certification process, and ongoing support is offered throughout the dog’s service term. This type of world-class training has offered countless people the companionship and support they require.
Is dog training extensive for therapy dogs?
While training for therapy dogs is not quite as extensive as training for service or assistance dogs, therapy dogs must be well-socialized, obedient, calm, and comfortable around strangers and in new environments.
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Costs, sponsorship, and fundraising options
For both individuals and organisations, there are costs involved in training suitable therapy dogs who can effectively support clients. Not all people who desire to train or use therapy dogs have access to funds. Some organisations allow volunteers to work with the dogs at no cost, while others require a modest subscription, and others charge a hefty fee. If you are in need of therapy dog services and can’t cover the cost, there are always the options of finding a sponsor, fundraising, or getting a donation from a charity.
How to get a service dog (UK options)
Several organizations provide therapy dogs in the UK. One such organization is Therapy Dogs Nationwide. Volunteers with the national charity take their pet dogs to visit people in care centers, hospitals, and schools. Therapy Dogs Nationwide also sends pet owners and their dogs to schools to help with reading and self-confidence. Another organization that provides therapy dogs is Canine Concern. Serving England and Wales, Canine Concern sends dogs to hospitals, care homes, and businesses to help reduce stress.
Individuals in Scotland may be able to find a therapy dog throughTherapet, which is managed by the Canine Concern Scotland Trust. Therapet has a network of volunteers who take their dogs to visit patients in hospitals and residents of care facilities throughout Scotland. Therapet has also participated in literacy events to encourage children to improve their reading skills. You can go through any of these organizations or others to learn whether your dog could become a therapy dog.
A number of organisations, aside from Therapet can also help with getting you access to a suitable dog. You might have to put in a therapy dog application with a specific programme. Once the team has accepted your application, you may need to undergo training with the dog handlers.
Pets as therapy: Animal-assisted therapy dogs
Animal-assisted therapy with dogs is a type of therapy often used to enhance therapeutic techniques. Some therapists might use a therapy dog in occupational therapy to help people as they recover from an injury and begin to do everyday tasks again. Physical therapists might also use them to encourage people during their recovery from surgery or an injury.
How to get a therapy dog: UK therapy and mental health support as a primary treatment
Therapy dogs can profoundly impact a person’s mental health and well-being. However, many people living with a mental health condition still benefit from professional support through psychotherapy. Credentialed therapists in the UK can often help reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders. They can also help with various life challenges, like relationship problems or major life transitions. That said, if you work with a therapist, they may recommend a therapy dog and provide guidance for starting the process.
Life with a therapy dog: What to expect
Life with a therapy dog can bring comfort, fun, and ongoing support. While at home, your therapy dog is a lot like any other pet. However, when you enter public places, your therapy dog may be able to access places that other dogs are not allowed. When you go out into the world for the first time, you may want to prepare for how to be with your dog and engage with others ahead of time. Your dog’s handlers can give you advice for this.
Stories and news from the therapy dog community
The news is full of success stories of how dogs bring comfort to patients and their families. When handlers are able to place suitable therapy dogs out in the world, in various organisations such as hospitals and rest homes, it can make a big difference for a client. For instance, hospital staff at the Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital in East Yorkshire, UK, describe the “miraculous” effect that their eleven therapy dogs have had on patients.
Online therapy to complement pet therapy
Some people might be unable to attend traditional in-person therapy for several reasons. Other people prefer to speak with a counsellor outside their local community. In these cases, online therapy may be a more viable option. With online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp, you can speak with a credentialed mental health professional from anywhere in the UK. You can participate in therapy sessions via audio, video, live chat, or a combination of these methods. Additionally, you can contact your therapist outside of sessions through in-app messaging, and they’ll respond as soon as they can. This feature of online therapy may be useful for times when you have questions or concerns between therapy sessions.
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Online therapy has repeatedly been shown to be effective for several mental disorders. For example, in one systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers found that online therapy was as effective as in-person therapyfor reducing symptoms of depression.
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What disqualifies a dog from being a therapy dog?
A pet may not be able to be a therapy dog if they:
- Are under six months old
- Bark a lot or nip
- Do not respond to basic commands
- Are aggressive toward other dogs or people
- Frequently get into food, run away, or chew on items
- Are overly intense or anxious
How do you qualify for a therapy dog in the UK?
If you’re interested in getting an assistance dog, which is highly trained to help people with disabilities, consider contacting a charity like Assistance Dogs UK to get started.
In contrast, therapy dogs usually visit groups of people in settings like schools and hospitals, so you may not be able to find a therapy dog to own individually. However, you may be able to certify your pet as a therapy dog so they can work in such settings.
How does a dog become a trained therapy dog?
\With Therapy Dogs Nationwide, as one example, owners must submit an application for their dog to work through the program. If accepted, the dog must then pass an assessment in order to receive assignments. That said, each organisation may have different requirements.
What is the difference between a therapy dog, an emotional support animal, and an assistance dog in the UK?
Here are the differences between these types of dogs in the UK:
- Therapy dogs are calm, sociable pets who have passed an assessment certifying that they’re able to offer comfort to people in settings like schools or hospitals
- Emotional support animals provide general emotional support and comfort to owners with mental health challenges, like anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder
- Assistance dogs are highly trained to help a specific owner with a disability navigate daily life, such as by detecting seizures or fetching medication
Can therapy dogs help with anxiety, stress, or mental health conditions?
Yes, therapy dogs can be helpful for those experiencing anxiety, stress, or symptoms of a mental health condition like PTSD. Their calm presence can provide emotional comfort.
Can I register my own dog as a therapy dog, and what training is required?
You can register your dog as a therapy dog if it’s eligible. They may need to receive their Canine Good Citizen certification and also pass a separate assessment through the given therapy dog organisation. Inquire with a specific organisation for details.
Are emotional support animals recognised in UK law?
In general, no. Emotional support animals (ESAs) do not get the same legal protections as service animals in the UK, which are more highly trained and used for people with disabilities. However, in some cases, the presence of an ESA might qualify as a reasonable disability accommodation in the workplace, for example.
What organisations in the UK provide therapy dog training or certification?
PAWS and Underdog International are two UK organisations that offer therapy dog training programs or support. Keep in mind the difference between therapy dogs and assistance dogs, as assistance dogs need significantly more training.
Which dog breeds are commonly used as therapy dogs, and why?
Common therapy dog breeds include Golden Retriever, beagle, corgi, and St. Bernard, among others. Therapy dogs are usually chosen for their calm temperament and friendly nature.
What are the steps to accessing therapy dog visits or programmes in the UK?
With Therapy Dogs Nationwide, as an example, you can request a visit from a volunteer and their dog by filling out a form on their website. Each program has different steps, so check with the one you’re interested in.
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