Jennie has big plans to partner with her Labradoodle Harvey in her professional work as an Occupational Therapy Dog team.
In this 11th episode of Therapy Dog Talk, I chat with Jennie, an occupational therapist, and her Labradoodle Harvey, who volunteer together as a therapy dog team through Love on a Leash. We explore how Jennie discovered therapy dogs and their recent accomplishment with the #52HikeChallenge.
Jennie tells me how she first learned about therapy dogs and why she wanted to have one for her occupational therapy work. She explains why she chose a Labradoodle, and how Harvey became a certified therapy dog at just two years old.
During our conversation, we discuss Harvey’s favorite activities as a therapy dog, such as socializing and visiting the VA and the Paws to Read program. Jennie also shares her surprise when Harvey showed discomfort in a hospital setting and emphasizes the importance of reading a therapy dog’s body language.
We dive into valuable advice for those interested in becoming a therapy dog team, such as researching and finding the right fit. Jennie generously offers help and guidance for those interested in therapy dog work.
By the end of this episode, you’ll have a better understanding of what it takes to be a successful therapy dog team, and how this rewarding work positively impacts both the handler and the dog.
In this episode, we discuss …
- How Jennie discovered Therapy Dogs and why she chose Love on a Leash.
- Why she decided to get a Labradoodle as her future partner in Animal-Assisted Therapy.
- What Harvey enjoys about being a Therapy Dog.
Key moments you won’t want to miss:
- [00:57] Jennie and Harvey finish the 52 Hike Challenge together.
- [02:34] Meet Jennie and her Labradoodle therapy dog, Harvey.
- [05:35] At just two years old, Harvey becomes a certified therapy dog.
- [06:17] They choose Love on a Leash as their therapy dog organization.
- [07:17] Harvey loves socializing and visiting the VA and the Paws to Read program.
- [08:25] Jennie is surprised when Harvey feels uncomfortable in a hospital setting.
- [10:06] The importance of understanding your therapy dog’s body language.
- [10:43] Jennie’s advice for aspiring therapy dog teams: do your research and find the right fit.
- [11:37] Jennie offers support and guidance for people interested in therapy dog work.
- [14:12] Therapy dog work benefits both the handler and the dog in amazing ways.
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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