Lauren Swist is in the process of training her dog to be a therapy dog. Together, the pair will visit hospitals and nursing homes spreading comfort and plenty of tail-wags!
Lauren Swist has trained many puppies how to respond to general obedience commands. She’s even trained her own family dog how to perform therapy dog services for issues like anxiety. In the future, Lauren hopes to start her own dog training business. But for now, she and her compassionate canine plan to visit hospitals, nursing homes and senior centers.
Obedience Dog Training
Like many dog lovers, Lauren Swist’s pup is her life! She has always loved animals, for as long as she can remember (especially dogs). In the past, she has watched and walked neighborhood dogs of all sizes, ages and breeds. Lauren’s calm demeanor and fun-loving nature is eagerly accepted and embraced by the dogs she meets. And of course, she’s grateful for that because she loves each and every one!
When Lauren Swist’s family dog was a puppy, she took on the responsibility of obedience training. Now, she helps train puppies in her neighborhood whenever she gets the chance. She has even considered starting up a part-time, freelance dog obedience training service. Lauren’s checklist for a well-behaved dog includes teaching basic commands like “Come,” “Leave It,” “Wait/Stay,” and the ability to walk without a leash.
Therapy Dog Training
After noticing how intuitive and perceptive her family dog is, Lauren Swist became curious about therapy dog training. She already naturally received so much comfort and anxiety-relief from her pup. Her dog embodies the perfect temperament for a therapy dog: a calm demeanor, willingness to learn new things and a sociable attitude. These qualities are key for the job — and it certainly helps that Lauren had already taught her dog all of the obedience commands! After taking her dog to a therapy training class, Lauren became fascinated by the whole process. Now, she is working towards being able to train therapy animals herself, with help and guidance from the American Kennel Club.