CARING CANINE COMPANIONS

Making a Difference

 

 

            

         

 

EVALUATE YOUR DOG’S SUITABILITY FOR VISITING A NURSING HOME

Visiting in a Residential Aged Care Home with your dog can be a rewarding experience for both you and the dog.  However, there are a number of matters that you need to consider, and most importantly the first is the suitability of your dog for this activity.

The residents of Nursing Homes and Hostels where a high level of care is provided have special needs for visiting dogs.  These people can be very frail, suffer from mobility problems such as crippling arthritis or a stroke, have frail skin, can be hearing and visually impaired and have communication problems.

This evaluation sheet should help you to decide if your dog has the necessary virtues to visit and make a difference to the lives of residents of aged care nursing homes and hostels.


Question

Response

1. Is your dog well socialised?  1. Never leaves the house
2. Goes to the shops but stays in the car
3. Happily greets people on regular walks
2. Is your dog housetrained? 1. No
2. Most of the time
3. Very clean – always goes outside
3. Does your dog jump on people?  1. Only sometimes
2. Always when he greets them
3. Never

4. Does your dog react to shopping carts, bicycles,  skateboards or the clothes trolley? 
1. Chases them
2. Runs from them
3. Ignores them

5. Does your dog pull on the lead?
1. Never use a lead
2. Only when we go for a walk
3. Always under control

6. Does your dog need a choker chain for control?
1. Always
2. When we are out walking
3. Never
7. Does your dog sit still when you ask? 1. Never
2. If it suits
3. Always

8. If your dog is small will it sit still on a person’s lap?
1. Not at all
2. For a very short time
3. Loves laps.

9. Have you and your dog had any formal training?

1. Never 
2. Puppy school
3. Obedience training
10. How does your dog accept a treat? 1. Bites your fingers
2. Won’t accept food from strangers
3. Gentle as a lamb taking treats
11. Are people afraid of your dog? 1. Always
2. Sometimes
3. Never
12. What happens when your dog sees another dog? 1. Wants to attack it
2. Wants to play
3. Nothing
13. Does your dog bark 1. All the time
2. When it sees something it doesn’t like
3. Hardly ever
14. Does your dog growl at people? 1. When someone comes to the door
2. Occasionally when he is frightened
3.  Never
15. Are you able to keep your dog clean with regular grooming and washing? 1. Hates the washing so don’t do it.
2. Wash occasionally but always groom
3. Is bathed and groomed frequently
16. Is your dog healthy?  1. Has bad breath
2. Most of the time
3. Always and I go to the vet if it’s not.
17. Do you trim your dog’s toenails?  1. Never
2. Sometimes
3. Always

 

If you have scored all No. 3 responses, then your dog would be suitable for visiting.

 

If you have scored a few No. 2’s and the rest 3’s then your dog would probably be suitable for visiting, but may need some training.

 

If you have scored very few No. 3 responses, more No. 2 and any No. 1 responses, then your dog definitely needs more training before being suitable for visiting.

 


CONTACT US

Phone 1800 077 722

 

Reply Paid 83004
Woodside
 South Australia, 5244

cvs@grcsa.org.au