Go Team Therapy Dogs are regular visitors to Mt. Lebanon schools, nursing homes and local fire departments. One “trick” that makes these dogs special might not be apparent to the casual observer. According to Linda Bates, a therapy dog handler, “You’d be surprised how convenient it is to have a dog who can walk backwards!” It’s a superpower that McQueen, her sidekick and registered therapy dog, possesses.
Bates wanted to give McQueen a job that played to his strengths and leveraged his extensive obedience training. “He has always been a performer, working for smiles (and treats) and he just loves everyone,” Bates said.
These dogs have more than just the ability to interact with new people; they are also specially trained to provide crisis support in addition to their visits with anyone in the community who needs their support.
Go Team isn’t just about its existing roster of therapy dogs, they are actively involved in training new teammates. LuLu is one of the newer members of Go Team, and she is already out and about and ready to meet people.
“We started training LuLu in puppy class when she was 11 weeks old,” Anthony Ciotti, his owner explained. “After a year of training, LuLu had earned multiple AKC titles from ‘STAR Puppy’ to ‘Canine Good Citizen’ and passed a therapy dog test.”
Although Lulu is award-winning, what really counts for her family is what she brings to them, and, in return, what they can give back to the community.
“Several years ago, my wife and I both went through serious medical issues,” Ciotti said. “We felt a therapy dog visit would have been meaningful to us during our hospital stays. When we retired, we were fortunate to find a puppy and to pursue our desire to bring comfort to and lift the spirits of others.”
You can see therapy dogs almost anywhere in the community. For example, LuLu is a regular visitor at four senior living facilities, two adult care centers and at Mt. Lebanon Library’s Paws to Relax.
For any dog interested in becoming a therapy dog, Go Team Therapy Dogs has a process to prepare them and their handlers for this rewarding journey. According to Bates, dogs and handlers are assessed together and coached to make sure that visits are safe and fun for everyone.
“One of the things I love about the Go Team is the level of support for our members,” Bates said. “We have members-only socials that connect our nationwide therapy dog handler network, local team support via the team coordinator and connections with other local members. Even our executive director, board and home office make themselves available to answer questions. We even have a vendor community that makes all sorts of cool Go Team dog merchandise.”
You can reach them on Facebook [1], Instagram [2] or their website [3].