Working as a Therapy Dog [Paperback]

Lorna Stanart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2003

This book gives numerous, vivid, heartwarming examples of "small miracles" that take place when a therapy dog visits people in a variety of venues: nursing homes, psychiatric institutions, special facilities for mentally and physically challenged young adults, etc. The book is at times deeply moving as well as frequently humorous.

Included are informative chapters on how your dog can be trained and prepared to be a therapy dog, and practical applications of how to be more effective in Animal Assisted Therapy.

Informative as well as a good "pleasure reading" book, it is written in plain language, just like a friend telling the reader a story about what happened the other day at work.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

An emotional little book filled with practical applications of how to be more effective in Animal Assisted Therapy.

A useful complement to the good literature already available on this subject. Not just a rehash of existing material.

"... His eyes had an expression of new hope. He had seen his son respond to me ..."

"... Your goal should not be to touch every person in a facility, but rather, to touch those you do, deeply ..."

"... Mixed or pure breed, if a dog has the right temperament and training he can make a fine therapy dog ..."

About the Author

Lorna Stanart has had 8 years of experience as the owner and handler of certified therapy dogs. She was a volunteer with Delta Society for 3 years of service with her first therapy dog.

She is currently serving in two capacities with Animal Samaritans, SPCA Inc. As Director of Animal Assisted Therapy Orientations, she helps screen and temperament test new dogs wanting to join the program. Her job of Hospital Coordinator requires that she place and supervise the dogs who are working in several hospital wards and psychiatric facilities. She has held both of these positions for 4 years.

Lorna has had animals all her life. She has a sensitivity to what an animal is saying through its body language. She enjoys matching each new therapy dog to the type of facility in which it will be best suited to work.

Product Details

• Paperback: 67 pages
• Publisher: Hispen Books (April 2003)
• ISBN-10: 0972806709
• ISBN-13: 978-0972806701
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,065,450 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Written by the dog?, November 30, 2004

By 

E. Ryan (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Working as a Therapy Dog (Paperback)

This book was written by the dog and as such it is difficult to determine if it was written for adults or children. I personally am looking for information that will help me train my dog for therapy work. The useful information provided in this book, in my opinion, could have been summed up in one chapter. The book is more experiences that the dog has than information about what can and cannot be done, what should and should not be done, and technical information regarding therapy work.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Working as a therapy dog, May 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Working as a Therapy Dog (Paperback)

I read the book and couldn't put it down!!!. I loved the book because it tells stories about what happens to people and the dog Breeze in different visits as a therapy dog. The book is very moving and touching and rewarding. the book made me laugh and get tears i my eyes!!!. It is not your usual typical HOW to be a therapy dog book. The book does give you information and tips about becoming a therapy dog but in a elating way!!! I think it is a PERFECT book to read to your children or have them read it. The book is written in easy, loving,funny words. It made me aware that there are all different kind of sick people out there that just needs a dog to love and to give love to brighten up their day!!! A very touching book told by Breeze the therapy dog.I give the book a thumbs up!!!! Anyone that loves animals or reading real stories about what GREAT things that happens when a sick person has a dog like Breeze visit them and makes them smile and to forget their illiness for awhile!!!A very moving, touching,funny and informative book!!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Covers Everything, May 2, 2003

By 

jcocteau "jcocteau" (La Quinta, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Working as a Therapy Dog (Paperback)

In addition to being a charming story, as told by the Therapy Dog, Breeze, this book covered all of the questions that I still had about taking my dog into all sorts of different health care situations. No matter how well behaved your dog is, it helps to know all the basic "pet therapy" commands in order to keep the process uniform and safe. It would be wonderful to further the use of animals in health care facilities. They have such a magical way of bringing peace to the people who need it most. Anyone who has seen this miracle knows how important it is to encourage wide spread use of pets as therapy. With this book, we have an outline of what to do before, during and after a pet therapy session in order to show your pet in the best possible light. Hopefully, this will win over hospital and care facility administrators and relieve their apprehensions about allowing dogs in a hospital. Dogs and patients belong together and, although it's close, the patients benefit the most. This book is a must for anyone considering the most rewarding experience one can have...sharing your pet with people who are ill and alone. Brava!