Certified dog trainer Michelle knows how important it is to understand what her Therapy Dog, Pippin, needs on their visits.
In this 33rd episode of Therapy Dog Talk,I talk with certified dog trainer Michelle Stern of Pooch Parenting and her therapy dog, Pippin. We discuss their volunteer work with First Responder Therapy Dogs and the importance of knowing what your dog likes when doing therapy work.
Michelle has lots of experience in dog training, which helps her understand what Pippin enjoys most. She highlights the need to support your dog and teach others the right way to greet dogs and avoid dog bites.
Throughout our chat, Michelle shares helpful tips for those interested in therapy dog teams. She emphasizes the need to care for your dog’s well-being and make sure they are comfortable in different situations. We also talk about what to do when a therapy animal doesn’t want to say hi to someone and how handlers play a big role in a successful therapy dog visit.
By the end of this episode, you’ll learn more about the fun and challenges of volunteering with a therapy dog and how to get your furry friend ready for therapy work. Tune in to hear Michelle’s expert advice and her experiences with the amazing therapy dog, Pippin.
In this episode, we discuss …
- How Michelle knows that Pippin enjoys volunteering as a Therapy Dog.
- What she is looking for in adding a second Therapy Dog to the family.
- How important it is to listen to your dog and put their needs first.
Key moments you won’t want to miss:
- [00:35] Michelle talks about her job as a dog and child expert at Pooch Parenting, where she helps families with dogs and kids.
- [01:22] She tells us how she started volunteering with First Responder Therapy Dogs and how Pippin joined the team.
- [02:22] Michelle shares why hospitals are great for Pippin because he can choose who he wants to spend time with during therapy.
- [03:08] We discuss the challenge of putting your dog’s needs first, even if it’s not what you want.
- [04:13] Michelle shares her experience as a dog trainer and raising a service puppy, which taught her how to get dogs ready for real life situations.
- [06:13] She explains her approach to therapy work, being hopeful and watching Pippin’s behavior to find out what he likes and where he’s happiest.
- [07:41] We learn about Pippin’s changing role at the hospital and the people he enjoys visiting most.
- [09:08] Michelle gives advice on what to do when your therapy animal doesn’t want to say hi to someone.
- [10:53] She talks about the joy and happiness Pippin brings to the people they visit.
- [12:18] Michelle tells us what she’ll look for in a future therapy dog when talking to breeders.
I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I do. Give it a watch or a listen and then let me know in the community which part you found the most helpful!
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Therapy Dog Talk is a podcast where I interview a different team each week via Instagram Live. If you enjoyed this episode please find us over at Apple, Google, or Spotify and give us a follow after you leave a review.
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