My Health Notes

Chows for Pet Therapy


This article was originally submitted to the Chow Board by Jocelyn. She wishes to remind us that her opinions are those of a chow owner, not an expert nor a vet.

For the last year I have been taking my chows to a local nursing home for pet therapy. It has definetely been therapeutic for both dog and people. My friends all thought I was nuts when I told them I was using my chows as therapy dogs. They worry about the vicious chow reputation.

My dogs are very gentle with people and this has made them ideal therapy dogs. Indeed the breed has many qualities that make them ideal for this kind of work. They rarely bark, never jump on people. Their aloof nature is also a bonus since they never run up to the residents and scare them. Many residents are scared of large dogs, and enthusiastic greetings seem to aggravate their fear. Many elderly people need to approach a dog slowly on their own terms.

Also their lack of strong doggy odor and excess drool entices some of the more fastidious residents. Most of all their fur is plush and soft, very comforting for arthritic hands.

The nursing home has been benefical for my second chow as well. Since he had been largely ignored for most of his life, visiting the nursing home has made him more social. The quiet atmosphere and gentle pats he receives there has made him more interested in people. The change has been slow but he is more apt to wag his tail now when he sees people as opposed to walk away or stare blankly.

Since everyone who owns a chow knows the importance of socialization for this breed, if you can trust your dog to be gentle around strangers, I would highly recommend this avenue of socialization.