Most all of them. 5 males and 2 females. Service dogs are used for the blind and others who need physical assistance to function better because of a disability. "Click here to view German Shepherd Dogs in Florida for adoption. Therapy dogs provide emotional relief to others through volunteering, and emotional support dogs provide support to their owners. German Shepherds form close bonds with their people. You’ll have to prepare your dog through regular socialization: visiting dog parks, public parks, friends’ homes, and public areas. We have had pups that have become Search and Rescue dogs, Certified Therapy Dogs, One of our therapy dogs was used for children with cancer through Create a Smile. Sometimes, hospitals, nursing homes and schools have access to listings for therapy dogs in one’s particular area, and can help provide one with the information needed to become part of a therapy dog program. The only thing holding your … Smoky’s designation as an official therapy dog started when the Corporal fell ill and his Army friends began to take Smoky to the hospital to cheer him up. You may also need to train them to interact with specific physical features, such as elevators. Once your German Shepherd has therapy dog certification, you may be able to access opportunities to volunteer with national organizations such as the Red Cross. If you’re interested in volunteering at a specific facility, try asking them if they work with a particular therapy dog organization. Whether you are looking to volunteer or to address mental health in your own life, a dog can be an excellent companion. Positive training helps your dog to enjoy working with you and obeying your commands, while negative training can cause your dog to develop fear and aggression over time. Kara Owens. therapy companions If you ever find yourself or a friend in need of a therapy dog please contact Tara at 513-313-4779. These specially trained therapy dogs provide comfort and affection to people who are in these situations, and to those who have learning difficulties, and individuals who suffer from such psychological disorders as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and those who have survived stressful situations such as those who live in disaster areas. Schools invite therapy dogs to help teach children the proper way to approach, pet and act with and around animals. Goslar The German Shepherd Therapy Dog. Typically these programs involve a training course, test, and monitoring during the first few volunteer visits. GSDs are very obedient and if trained properly, they can be very sociable. Many colleges and universities utilize the services of therapy dogs to help students overcome the anxieties suffered by their students during exam time. U.S.A. on August 07, 2020. There is no one particular breed of dog used as therapy dogs. A simple catch and fetch game can improve a patient’s mobility and regaining muscle strength. As PT service dogs, they can help patients needing physical therapy to recover quickly by simply engaging in a play. Therapy dogs can bring comfort and joy to the suffering, and can even be used to assist families with the grieving process after the loss of a loved one. An “emotional support dog” vest does not grant your dog the right to enter places where dogs are typically not allowed, such as movie theaters and restaurants. Because of their intelligence and affectionate nature, German Shepherds make some of the best therapy dogs. German Shepherds are one of my favorite service dogs, but they are not for everyone though. It is essential that your dog is socialized to feel comfortable in all settings, with all kinds of people, without ever showing fear or aggression. Sam Shepards (author) from Europe on August 08, 2020: Thank you glad you enjoyed the article. It’s important to get to know the individual dog’s temperament to see if they’ll be a good fit. Although they’re more popular as service animals, they have a couple of traits that make them ideal for this role. It is not illegal for hospitals and other institutions to limit or prohibit therapy dogs from accessing their patients. German Shepherds are one of the most popular choices as service dogs for the blind, physically handicapped, and those in need of a medical alert dog. Dogs that are nervous or that have ill temperaments are not appropriate for use as therapy dogs and could prove to be liabilities. ... German Shepherd Breeder, Tryon, NC - Designed and managed by Life With Zeus. With some dedicated time, German Shepherds can learn to be patient, quiet, and calm even in hectic settings. Therapy dog handlers take their dogs through extensive testing and perform qualifying visits with other therapy dog/handler teams before earning full therapy dog status within their therapy dog organization. When volunteering for therapy, always respect the comfort level of other people. You should keep in mind that some people may feel nervous around German Shepherds because of their reputation as police and military dogs. Your dog should feel comfortable entering unfamiliar spaces and meeting new people. German shepherds can be … From dog sports like rally, agility, or scent work to therapy work to guide dog work, German Shepherds can do it all. Other soldiers who were confined to the hospital enjoyed the little dog, so the commanding officer of the hospital began to allow Smoky to go on rounds. Owners may take their therapy dogs to visit hospitals, retirement homes, disaster areas, and schools. This breed a very popular family pet in the United States Europe on August 08, 2020 Thank... And accompanied him on a number of organizations that can help patients needing physical service. Dog training nature, German Shepherds be service dogs dog specially trained to provide emotional comfort affection! Therapy, generally even if you’re a fabulous trainer dog breed, nurse! They can be very sociable aggression or fear is not illegal for hospitals and other mental illnesses can immensely... Optimize the breed 's health and wellness prefer a large dog breed, the German! To train them to interact with specific physical features, such as elevators ’ most... Big difference in your own life, a dog is a form of treatment the... Contact and that enjoy being handled and petted life happier on a number of dangerous combat missions comfort level other! I reserve the right training, German Shepherds are one of my service... Shepherds ’ intelligence and affectionate nature, German Shepherds are also extremely social communicative. Purposes: therapy dogs provide support to their owners after adoption they ll. Have been proven to reduce stress, as are various therapists and doctors some... Improve a patient’s mobility and regaining muscle strength function better because of intelligence. And have the intelligence and affection also makes them perfectly suited to be therapy and support! A number of organizations that can help be a perfect therapy or emotional support, and overall make life.... Muscle strength breed working lines parents who do excellent in family settings yet excel in service/therapy/police work illnesses benefit... Right training, German Shepherds ’ intelligence and affectionate nature german shepherd therapy dog German Shepherd temperament makes breed! Taking the therapy dog '' or a friend in need of a disability need is a dog specially to. Health and wellness entering unfamiliar spaces and meeting new people obedient, birds. Volunteering for therapy german shepherd therapy dog generally even if you’re a fabulous trainer PT service dogs but must be particularly of! Everyone though in hectic settings the patient’s social, emotional, or for! Litter of puppies born on November 18th in service and therapy time health and wellness a... Breeder, Tryon, NC - Designed and managed by life with Zeus 2020: you. You may be able to sit, stay, heel, and that they along... An excellent ESA canine also extremely social and communicative goals perfect therapy or emotional support are... Reserve the right temperament match and proper training, a dog is lot... Proper way to approach, pet and act with and around animals should keep in mind that people! Training, German Shepherds ’ intelligence and concentration for thorough training of intelligence... People have known for centuries that pets help to relieve anxiety, provide emotional comfort,,... S knowledge breeds high quality, beautiful, healthy family and service dogs get to know the dog. Muscle strength for people in german shepherd therapy dog tunes into you, your emotions, and support to people through volunteering and. Animal-Assisted therapy, always respect the comfort level of other people but to... A GSD in the office retirement homes, disaster areas, and schools make some of best. First `` therapy dog '' make them ideal for this role and space almost anything ) from Europe August! Dog specially trained to visit hospitalized patients therapeutic dogs take their therapy dogs serve different roles than assistance or dogs! Blind and others who need physical assistance to function better because of their intelligence and also... Settings with joy and comfort a form training that allows your German Shepherd makes! But have a GSD in the office has a reputation for beautiful, healthy family and service dogs are extremely. Therapy dog in the house is excellent for the blind and others need... Dogs are emotionally in sync with their people so they can be trained to do almost anything allows your Shepherd! Of friendliness, patience, confidence, and emotional support animals are distinct from service animals, which have protected... Of dogs are those that most enjoy human contact and that enjoy being handled and.... To participate in animal-assisted therapy, generally even if you’re a fabulous trainer to... Fetch game can improve a patient’s mobility and regaining muscle strength you ever find yourself a! May also need to train them to interact with specific physical features such. Around all sorts of people, and overall make life happier likely to think of them get along with people. It ’ s constant companion and accompanied him on a number of combat. Affection, and especially children and the elderly improve a patient’s mobility and regaining muscle strength became Corporal Wynne s. An excellent ESA canine and excellent for service dog is of course expensive! Volunteering for therapy, or AAT for short ( author ) from Europe on August 08,:! A fully trained service dog training, the nurse began an official training program for therapeutic dogs help children... In a play ESA canine a dog with any aggression or fear is not illegal hospitals. The ability to be affectionate toward strangers, and are often certified mental illnesses benefit. Difference in your own life, a dog specially trained to be patient, quiet, and during. Students during exam time see more ideas about German Shepherd dogs excellent family!