Therapy dog helping children with their fear of the dentist | Life With Dogs



Many people, especially children, dread going to the dentist. To help calm the nerves of some of his young, nervous patients Dr. Paul Weiss has trained his golden retriever Brooke to act as a therapy dog.

Weiss enrolled Brooke in a two-week boot camp and then had her certified by Therapy Dogs International in May. With her certification Brooke was brought on as the newest team member of Weiss’ pediatric dental practice in Williamsville, New York.

Each Thursday, the 4-year-old golden retriever is on hand to help comfort nervous patients. “If a child is afraid of getting her teeth cleaned, Brooke can sit next to them in the chair and the kid can have their hand on the dog,” said Weiss. Brooke also works the reception area to greet the patients.

Weiss takes proper precautions with Brooke. All patients are notified ahead of time that Brooke will be present. Therefore anyone with an allergy or reason to avoid dogs will know. Brooke also is bathed before each visit and the office is cleaned thoroughly after she leaves.

Many patients love having Brooke around and try to schedule their appointments for Thursdays. “If demand increases we may have to up her hours,” said Weiss.

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Lida
http://www.candlelightdreams.com/paw-tales/
http://lidaverner.smugmug.com/

That is awesome!! Heck...I'm 47 and dread the dentist...even for a cleaning!!!

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Baloo 8/24/98-3/15/11
Our once in a lifetime dog!!!

I saw this/told my dental staff at app't today, asked if I could bring my own golden - given lots of reasons why I couldn't. But I think Bridger's protective instincts would kick in when he saw mom being mauled.

even if the "dental dog" wasn't on my lap, just looking over & seeing a golden sleeping would calm me down.

Wow my daughter might actually not have to be dragged to the dentist if they had one, sadly one of their employees that just left the practice does have a TDI Golden or might have been able to talk them into this lol

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Boots, Sparkles and Tink Bridge dogs, Tuffy, Blueboy, Pudge, Maddie, Broker, Jet, Baily, and Reva

That is such a good idea!

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I think it's a great idea! When we were sitting in hospice with my mom, it was such stress reliever when the therapy dog visited. Animals just seem to calm nerves and brighten up a room.

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**Fraulein "Maggie" Louise 8/2/95 - 7/20/09**
*At Rainbow Bridge but Forever in Our Hearts*

That's so awesome!

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Birthdate: February 5th 2012

Gotcha Day: March 30th 2012

It's that unconditional love that they offer...no judgements, no expectations just a warm furry head to rest your hand on.

Pete

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Sonny, the black lab, ran ahead to make sure there were no gophers or jackrabbits in the way. If you don't give a dog a specific job, he'll improvise one for himself and it will invariably be fun. There's a lesson there.
John Gierach

Thanks everyone. That's me and my pup! She's really changes the energy in the office when she's working. She's up to 2 mornings a week and boy is she tired by 1:00, but she loves it as much as the kids.
I hope more dentists and physicians consider putting therapy dogs to work like this. Everyone wins.
Paul

Shared this the other day on my Facebook, I think it's awesome!

My dog is way to much of a spaz still and to much puppy to attempt this but my lab would curl up in my lap and pass out. Maybe I will suggest this next time I am there.

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