The holidays can be a fun and festive time, but for those who are ill or unhappy, the cheerful days surrounding Thanksgiving, Hanukah, Christmas, and New Years can be especially miserable. Your buddy Charlie makes you smile every day, so why not let him do the same for others. People spending the holidays in the hospital or a nursing home would love to have a visit from a furry friend.

Therapy dog sounds like a serious thing, but it really just means a dog who is well-behaved and can remain calm and patient while people pet him. Charlie would be perfect right? Consider him your little furry ball of rented holiday cheer. Take him around to bring a smile to the faces of kids in the hospital and the elderly in nursing homes and you will feel pretty cheerful yourself.

A Good Therapy Dog

Any kind of dog can become a therapy dog. Some are naturally suited to the job. Those that are inherently calm and even-tempered as well as readily affectionate with strangers can easily become certified. Dogs who are affectionate, but a little lacking in self-control have potential, but may need a little training. If Charlie falls in to the latter category, get him a trainer and start to work on keeping him focused while doing a job and remaining calm in the face of something he likes. If he is already calm, you may just want to go ahead and see if he can pass a certification test.

Certification

Hospitals and nursing homes are unlikely to let you and Charlie through the doors without some sort of certification. For everyone's safety, they need to know that he has been adequately prepared for treating patients gently. Your first step will be to find a therapy dog organization near you. There are some national groups and local groups. Find out what their requirements are for getting Charlie certified. They may insist that you take a training class or they may let you take the certification test without going through a course. It depends upon the organization.

Some therapy groups will require Charlie to first go through the AKC canine good citizen program. This program will verify that Charlie if friendly with people and dogs, non-aggressive, even-tempered, and has basic good manners. It is not a difficult program to pass, but if Charlie has issues with his self-control, you may need to work with a trainer first.

Where to Take Charlie

Once Charlie is certified, has his vest to prove it, and is ready to go, it's time to find a place to take him. You cannot assume that any hospital or nursing home will be happy to have you. Do some research first and call a few locations to find out where dog therapy is welcome. Find out what requirements they have beyond your certification. They may want to see vet records or they may insist that Charlie gets a bath and a nail trimming before each visit.

Giving Back to the Community at the Most Difficult Time of Year

Deciding to become a therapy pair means that you and Charlie have made a choice to bring happiness to those who desperately need it. Visiting with your furry little guy can really make someone's day. There are many people in hospitals or nursing homes who are suffering from long-term illness, many of whom are also depressed and who have few visitors. There are also those who relate better to animals than people. What Charlie can do for these people, especially around the holidays, is priceless and they will never forget the two of you.