A facility dog is specially trained to work in various facilities to provide comfort and support to those in need. They undergo rigorous training to learn specific tasks and behaviors tailored to their environments.
Contact Us to Apply for a Facility Dog
If you are interested in having a facility dog at your location, please Contact Us
What Do Facility Dogs Do?
Facility Dogs work alongside professionals, such as therapists, hospital staff, or educators, as full-time team members of that facility. Their work enhances the effectiveness of the facilities interventions and treatments. Facility dogs are crucial in improving the emotional well-being and quality of life of the people they interact with, offering unconditional love and assistance in challenging situations.
Facility Dogs are trained to perform tasks that will help in specific work environments. For many of these facilities, the dog might need to lie with a person to make them feel more comfortable. They can also apply deep pressure therapy during medical treatment. Facility Dogs can also be trained to assist with rehabilitation or physical therapy sessions. They often do tricks as rewards for desirable behaviors. They offer unconditional love and comfort to everyone they meet and bring a sense of calmness and security to clients who might be struggling. Their work is similar to that of a therapy dog, but with extra training to suit the client/patient needs at their full-time assigned location.
Where do Facility Dogs Work?
Facility dogs partner with a handler to accompany them to work in countless different professions, such as:
- Librarians
- Phlebotomists
- Mental Health Professionals
- Occupational Therapists
- Airports
- Pediatricians
- Pediatricians
- Hospitals
- Physical Therapists
- Nursing Homes
- Schools
- Court Rooms
Meet Facility Dog Abigail!
We are thrilled and honored to have placed our beloved Exceptional Sidekick, Abigail, at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital. Abigail is a full-time Facility Dog bringing comfort and joy to the young patients, their families, and the dedicated staff that care for them.
Abigail is teamed with an employee of Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital’s Child Life department. She goes to work each day to provide support to patients in their pediatric psychiatric unit.
