29/09/2026
Did you know that SEPTEMBER is THERAPY DOG Awareness Month πΎπΆ ?
Therapy dogs play a vital role across a wide range of areas such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools and to their individuals.
Studies show that being around a pet is scientifically proven to have both physical and mental health benefits across the board. Everything from improved sleep, to a reduction in anxiety and depression, improved motivation and mood, and bringing families and communities closer together.
As breeders, if we hope to produce dogs suitable for therapy work, temperament must be at the very core of our breeding decisions. πΎ
Therapy dogs need much more than a friendly personality. They need to be gentle, calm, confident, emotionally stable and resilient, with a natural desire to connect with people.
They may need to remain relaxed around wheelchairs, walking frames, medical equipment, unusual noises, busy environments and people of all ages and abilities. Just as importantly, they need to recover quickly when something unexpected happens.
While early socialisation, training and life experiences are incredibly important, temperament also has a genetic component. This is why we believe it is so important to carefully select not only the sire and dam, but to understand the temperaments found throughout their lines.
Next step (one of manyβ¦β¦) is selecting the most appropriate puppy or puppies from a litter to undertake the important role they have been identified for and placing the appropriate supports around the puppy and handler (trainer) to put them on the path to success.
Thanks π to Down Under Dog Trainer & Wild Heart Dogs for their on going assistance with this and also Therapy Dogs Australia for running excellent certification programs that some of our dogs and handlers have participated in.
Also thanks to Delta Therapy Dogs and Story Dogs for their programs to support the community and handlers.
As such I would love to thank the wonderful Ayaimah dogs and handlers we have working out in the field.
Thank-you for your contribution π»πΆπΎ
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