Do I enjoy visiting healthcare/educational facilities?
Do I enjoy meeting strangers and making conversation with them?
Am I comfortable interacting with children and/or elderly, physically ill and mentally handicapped patients?
Do I have the time to make this type of commitment?

In deciding whether or not to take your dog on visits you need to honestly evaluate your dog's personality and social skills. How does your dog react to strangers on the street and in your home? Does your dog tend to jump up in friendly excitement? Does your dog pull back when someone extends their hand? Does your dog avoid being petted by strangers or seek it out? A good prospect for therapy work will enjoy meeting strangers, will actively approach, but will do so in a calm manner. A dog that is so happy it jumps up or pushes with feet, body or nose, will need some work before visiting can begin. A dog that is fearful or aggressive should not be considered for therapy work.

Consider whether or not your dog adapts easily to his/her environment. How does your dog react to unusual events? What happens when an alarm clock rings, the smoke alarm goes off or a book falls off a shelf? Your dog should show interest in these unexpected events, but should be calm. If the dog barks at a knock on the door, it should be quiet and under control when you open the door.

Will your dog walk on a leash without pulling and/or tripping you? Will it sit and lie down when you tell it to? Can you hand the leash over to someone else and then leave without the dog pulling or whining and crying? What happens when you walk past another person walking their dog? Your dog must be reliable around dogs and other animals as well as people. In some situations it is not unusual to encounter a pet belonging to a resident or another visitor. You cannot count on other people's animals having good manners.

The people you and your dog visit must be completely safe around your dog. The dog must be forgiving of both accidental and intentional pain that may be inflicted, such as clumsy petting or a wheelchair rolling over a foot or tail. Dog bites are not the only concern. Many of the people your dog may visit are very fragile. Frail skin tears easily. A friendly paw on an arm can cause ugly red welts and your dog will be blamed. A pushy "pet me" shove with a nose or body may topple someone who is unsteady on their feet.

If you've answered all of the questions above and still feel your dog has the perfect temperament for therapy work, remember that you still need obedience skills to be successful. Basic obedience builds a strong foundation, and when doing therapy work your dog has to always be under verbal control.