Susan and her little dog Ace enjoy volunteering together in hospitals and as a college campus Therapy Dog team.
In this 14th episode of Therapy Dog Talk, I chat with Susan and her adorable little dog, Ace, about their amazing journey as a college campus therapy dog team. From hospitals to universities, this fantastic duo brings happiness and comfort to everyone they meet.
Susan tells me how she discovered therapy dog work while training Ace. His calm temperament made him perfect for the job. Together, they volunteer in various places like hospitals and college campuses, making a big difference in the lives of patients and students.
We talk about Ace’s journey to becoming a therapy dog, including a first failed test that taught important lessons. Susan and Ace work together to make sure their visits are just right by watching Ace’s stress levels and changing how long they spend with people.
During our conversation, we discuss the special parts of college therapy dog visits, like having special areas for students to interact with Ace. Susan also shares her personal reasons for doing therapy dog work and how her mom inspired her.
For anyone thinking about becoming a therapy dog team, Susan offers advice on considering your dog’s personality and finding the best fit for therapy work since not every dog will enjoy every place.
By the end of this episode, you’ll have a deeper appreciation for therapy dog teams like Susan and Ace, who give their time and energy to make a difference in people’s lives. Join us to learn more about the incredible impact of therapy dogs and how to get your four-legged friend ready for this rewarding work.
In this episode, we discuss …
- How she learned about Therapy Dogs while training Ace.
- How timing is everything when testing your dog for this work.
- What surprised her about becoming a Therapy Dog team.
Key moments you won’t want to miss:
- [00:29] Meet Susan and her therapy dog Ace, who work together on college campuses.
- [01:12] Susan found out about therapy dog work while training Ace, who has a calm personality.
- [01:58] Susan and Ace volunteer at hospitals and colleges, helping lots of people.
- [03:23] Ace didn’t pass his first therapy dog test, teaching Susan that timing is important.
- [05:52] Therapy dogs like Ace make patients and students feel much better.
- [06:35] Susan watches Ace’s stress and changes visit lengths to keep him comfortable.
- [07:34] At college visits, Ace has special areas to meet students and create connections.
- [09:10] Susan’s mom inspired her to start working with therapy dogs.
- [10:13] Want to be a therapy dog team? Think about your dog’s personality and what they like.
- [11:35] It’s important to find the best places for therapy work and adapt to different places.
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!
Mentioned in this episode:
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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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