Even a dog with the most wonderful temperament may not be cut out for therapy dog work. This month's article from Joann Turnbull in Seattle discusses the decision made by two...

Jan. 4, 2010

You work for Delta Society, so why aren't you a Pet Partner with your dog? I get asked that question a lot. The answer is simple – because my dog isn't comfortable being a therapy animal. No, she's not a mean dog and yes, she knows her basic obedience skills such as sit, down, stay and come – and even a few adorable tricks.

Believe me, there is nothing more that I would like than to be a Pet Partners team volunteering at a hospice center or hospital by sharing the love of my sweet, precious Belle (Maltese/Bichon) with others. But being a Pet Partner is not a decision for one. It's a decision that two must make – the human and the animal. Both ends of the leash must clearly want to do this work.

Belle (c) 2010 JoAnn Turnbull

You see, Belle spent the first 2 ½ years of her life with little to no socialization and while she's made tremendous progress in the 2+ years since she's been part of my family, she still isn't quite comfortable with meeting new people. She's still somewhat shy and often backs up a step or two as someone reaches out to pet her.

While my hope has always been to be a Pet Partner with Belle, I've recently decided to no longer make that my goal. If it happens, it'll be one of the most joyous days of my life, but if not that's okay as well. I've come to realize – and its been hard – that having people reach out to pet her may never be something that Belle is truly comfortable with.

I'm going to continue doing things with Belle that I know she likes – like exploring different parks, visiting our friend's house with the large fenced yard where she can run and run, going to our Bichon Buddies play group, and taking agility classes (which also happen to build her confidence).

I think responsible 'pet parenting' is knowing and appreciating what your animal is capable of and what they enjoy, and helping them to be the best they can be. It's about having a mutual, respectful relationship and not forcing your pet to do something just because you think it would be fun or rewarding for you. Sometimes that means we must change our plans so we can truly be our pets' best guardian and advocate for their happiness and well-being.

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