If you are looking for a way to give back to your community and spend more time with your pet, you should consider pursuing therapy training. Therapy dogs are used to provide comfort and activity to patients in hospitals and nursing homes, as well as prisons and homeless shelters. Besides offering some affection and love, interaction with dogs encourages rudimentary physical therapy in seriously injured or ill patients.

In many cases of canine therapy, patients are depressed and disheartened, leading to a lack of motivation to perform their physical therapy. Petting or speaking to a dog, or even playing short games of fetch, help patients to exercise muscles, nerves, and brainpower when the encouragement of nurses or doctors is not enough.

Therapy dogs are also used with Alzheimer's patients and patients struggling with senility to help jog memory function and provide comfort and socialization. Another use is aiding rehabilitation in prisons, where inmates have the opportunity to interact and care for these dogs.

Shetland Sheepdogs are on the top of the list as far as therapy dogs go. They are very intelligent animals that are eager to please and get along well with strangers and children. It is easy to train them up to therapy certification, and their sweet faces and loving dispositions can brighten the gloomiest day for a chronically ill or rehabilitating patient. Shelties are a sensitive, empathetic breed that is well suited for a career in therapy.

If you decide to pursue therapy training and visits with your Sheltie, it is best to start very young, as with any dog. Proper socialization is requisite for working in hospitals, prisons, nursing homes, or shelters. From puppyhood, your dog must be exposed to strangers and children as often as possible, and be encouraged to interact with them. Reward your pet for positive interactions with a treat or more affection. Your Sheltie will quickly learn that he will be rewarded by the attention he or she gets alone! Basic obedience and a quick response to commands is also required of any therapy dog.

There are many training and certifications programs for therapy dogs across the United States. If you plan to make therapy visits with your dog for the first time, it is best to enroll him in one of these special training courses. Some states require certification and some do not, but a little extra training can never hurt. Canine therapy visits are a great way to do something charitable and spend time with your pet. The patients and your dog will thank you!