Hi Readers,

Meet Louie!

Louie is our therapy dog in training.  For many, being around animals may be mood-lifting and stress-relieving. Louie will be joining me at our practice to help provide smiles and laughs to our clients. Therapy animals can help individuals who are lonely, experiencing stress, or working through tough situations. 

What is the difference between a service dog and a therapy dog you may ask? A service dog is specifically trained to perform a tasks for their owner, usually one with a disability. However, therapy dogs are not service dogs. Therapy dogs volunteer to visit schools, hospitals, nursing homes, or other similar settings (such as my office) to provide comfort to many people. 

Just like therapists, for Louie to officially be considered a therapy dog, he will need to amp up his studies. With lots of training, love, and practice, Louie will be on his way to providing assistance to many of our clients. Currently, Louie is taking several obedience and Canine Good Citizen courses that are designed to help him master the skills needed to provide support to members of the community. 

As many of you know, my area of expertise is working with individuals with autism and ADHD. These populations specifically may see therapeutic benefits from a furry friend in session.  Many individuals with autism and ADHD will seek companionship in a therapy dog. Likewise, a therapy dog may help decrease anxiety.  

It surely will be exciting to see the benefit Louie is able to provide to our clients!