Therapy dogs play an invaluable role in providing comfort, companionship, and emotional support to individuals in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and various other settings. With their gentle demeanor, empathy, and affectionate nature, these pups bring joy and solace to those in need. But, the truth is, some breeds are better at it than others!
Let’s explore the top 10 best therapy dog breeds.
Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retrievers are widely recognized as one of the best therapy dog breeds, thanks to their friendly disposition, intelligence, and gentle nature. Truly, is there a happier dog breed out there?! Their outgoing personality and eagerness to please make them well-suited for interacting with individuals of all ages.
Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers are beloved for their affectionate nature, patience, and calm demeanor, making them ideal therapy dogs. There’s a reason why so many families choose to have golden retrievers after all! Their gentle and intuitive nature enables them to connect with people on a deep level, offering comfort and companionship to those in hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice facilities.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are renowned for their sweet temperament, affectionate nature, and love of human companionship. Their gentle demeanor and adaptable personality make them excellent therapy dogs. They just love to sit in people’s laps and cuddle. What’s better than that?!
Poodle
Poodles are highly intelligent, trainable, and adaptable dogs, making them well-suited for therapy work. Whether it’s in hospitals, schools, or rehabilitation centers, Poodles actually excel in providing comfort and emotional support to individuals thanks to being incredibly intuitive.
Beagle
Beagles are known for their friendly disposition, gentle nature, and affectionate personality. They love to be social and spend time with people, which enables them to connect with folks of all ages. And, despite their smaller size, Beagles are highly adaptable and resilient, thriving in various therapy settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, and schools.
Greyhound
Greyhounds may be known for their speed on the racetrack, but they also possess a gentle and affectionate demeanor that makes them excellent therapy dogs. Their affectionate nature and sensitivity allow them to connect deeply with individuals in need of emotional support. Despite their large size, Greyhounds are incredibly gentle and patient, making them well-suited for interacting with people of all ages, including children and the elderly.
Bichon Frise
Bichon Frises are beloved for their cheerful disposition, playful nature, and love of human interaction. There’s a reason why so many people, especially older dog owners, are drawn to Bichon Frises. Not to mention, their outgoing personality and affectionate demeanor make them well-suited for therapy work.
Newfoundland
Newfoundlands are gentle giants who are incredibly calm and patient. There’s not much that can rile them up! Despite their size, these gentle giants are incredibly gentle and sensitive, making them great therapy dogs in very sensitive places such as hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice facilities.
Read More: 9 Low-Maintenance Dog Breeds for Busy or First-Time Owners
Shih Tzu
Shih Tzus are known for their affectionate nature, friendly disposition, and playful personality. Their small size and adaptable temperament enable them to provide comfort and emotional support to individuals in various settings, including hospitals and schools.
Read More: The 10 Most Affectionate Dog Breeds You’ll Want to Cuddle
Havanese
Havanese are renowned for their cheerful personality, affectionate nature, and love of human companionship. Their outgoing and sociable demeanor makes them excellent therapy dogs, Simply put, they just know how to bring joy to those who need it the most!
Read More: How Pets Bring Us Closer to Nature
