Violet
In addition to her other clinical certifications and skills, Bonnie is also Certified Animal Assisted Professional.
Violet (and Bonnie) together have achieved the Pet Partners therapy team certification, which makes Violet a certified therapy animal.
Violet (and Bonnie) together have achieved the Pet Partners therapy team certification, which makes Violet a certified therapy animal.
What to expect?
Violet is there to help with emotional support as you work through your treatment in the therapy session.
You will have choice of whether or not you would like to have a dog in session as part of your therapy experience.
Just as you have choice about your therapy process and experience, Violet too will have choice in how and when she participates. Therapy can be hard work sometimes, and she may decide to take a break or a nap, for example.
Currently Violet is coming to the office on particular days, not every day.
Please feel free to ask lots of questions if you are interested in requesting a session with Violet.
More Information
Violet and her brother Clydesdale (pictured above) are litter mates (yes, full siblings) born in the summer of 2022. Mom is a full St. Bernard and Dad is a Bernadoodle (Bernese Mountain Dog/ Poodle), and that is why they look so different. Violet is very much like her Bernese Mt. dog heritage, and Clyde is more like a St. Bernard with poodle hair. Just like siblings, each have their own personality too. Clyde is more stoic and Violet is more curious for example. Both are large/giant breed dogs, and currently Violet is 90lbs and Clyde is about 130lbs.
Violet is the only one coming to the practice at this time.
Clyde is still working towards his certifications and is still in training. When or if he becomes ready, he might join the practice too.
Both have taken the CARAT assessment, which is a tool that helps to assess the suitability for a dog to do a particular job. Clyde and Violet both scored well for traits that are consistent with dogs who do therapy work.
Violet has completed and passed the Pet Partners evaluation and certification to become a certified therapy dog.
Both will have more training opportunities in the future and will continue to work towards different certifications.
Useful information/ Research/ Organizations and Definitions:
There is much confusion out there about the difference between:
Service Dogs/ Animals - Are dogs/ animals that have received specialized training to provide a service for one person who has a disability. For example there are hearing, seeing eye/ guide dogs, mobile assist, medical alert and some psychiatric service dogs. These dogs are allowed in all public places (places that have and serve food too, airlines, etc.) because of their necessary functional support for the individual and is protected by federal laws. For more information from the AKC: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/service-dog-training-101/
Emotional Support Dogs/ Animals - Are animals that provide emotional support for one person. ESAs are not required to have received specialized training and are not allowed in all public places. This is a registration/designation of an animal, and must be prescribed or recommended for an individual with mental health challenges. More information can be found here at the AKC: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/everything-about-emotional-support-animals/
Certified Therapy Dogs/ Animals - Are dogs/ animals that have received specialized training, evaluations and certifications to work with all people in all many different of situations. They are not allowed in all public spaces like service dogs, but can be invited into special places such as hospitals, schools, assisted living and medical/ mental health provider offices.
For more information- https://www.therapydogs.com/what-do-therapy-dogs-actually-do/
Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals is the professional organization that supports professionals in the animal assisted therapeutic interventions and research of the human-animal bond.
Pet Partners is a volunteer organization for people and animals interested in giving of their time and talents to others with structured visits from a therapy animal team. This organization is nationally recognized and provides training, assessment, certification and volunteer opportunities for therapy teams.
Research:
Did you know that there is evidence and research to support this type of therapy work? - Empirical Evidence and Research
There is much confusion out there about the difference between:
Service Dogs/ Animals - Are dogs/ animals that have received specialized training to provide a service for one person who has a disability. For example there are hearing, seeing eye/ guide dogs, mobile assist, medical alert and some psychiatric service dogs. These dogs are allowed in all public places (places that have and serve food too, airlines, etc.) because of their necessary functional support for the individual and is protected by federal laws. For more information from the AKC: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/service-dog-training-101/
Emotional Support Dogs/ Animals - Are animals that provide emotional support for one person. ESAs are not required to have received specialized training and are not allowed in all public places. This is a registration/designation of an animal, and must be prescribed or recommended for an individual with mental health challenges. More information can be found here at the AKC: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/everything-about-emotional-support-animals/
Certified Therapy Dogs/ Animals - Are dogs/ animals that have received specialized training, evaluations and certifications to work with all people in all many different of situations. They are not allowed in all public spaces like service dogs, but can be invited into special places such as hospitals, schools, assisted living and medical/ mental health provider offices.
For more information- https://www.therapydogs.com/what-do-therapy-dogs-actually-do/
Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals is the professional organization that supports professionals in the animal assisted therapeutic interventions and research of the human-animal bond.
Pet Partners is a volunteer organization for people and animals interested in giving of their time and talents to others with structured visits from a therapy animal team. This organization is nationally recognized and provides training, assessment, certification and volunteer opportunities for therapy teams.
Research:
Did you know that there is evidence and research to support this type of therapy work? - Empirical Evidence and Research
Clydesdale & Violet
