Therapy Dog Retirement: Is It Time?

Four Signs Your Therapy Dog Might Be Approaching Retirement 

It’s special to have a dog who helps others as a therapy animal! But sometimes, our animal friends need a break from this important job. Just like us, animals can get tired or hurt. They might need time to rest and feel better. Sometimes, they might not enjoy being a therapy animal anymore. This article discusses therapy dog retirement and the signs that handlers should look for in their dog.

It can be hard to think about our pets retiring from this work. We love seeing them help people! But it’s important to make sure our pets are happy and healthy. At Pet Partners, we believe that your pet comes first. Animals have feelings and can make choices, just like us. We want to listen to those choices. Sometimes, that means they need to stop doing therapy visits.

In this article, we’ll talk about signs that your pet might be ready to retire. It’s not always about age. Even young animals can feel stressed or tired. We’ll help you see when it’s time for your amazing helper to take a break and enjoy a relaxing life!

1. Reluctance to Leave the House

Therapy animals often know the routine. Whether it’s seeing you grab the special leash or helping them to don their therapy vest, many animals show excitement as you prepare for a visit. However, when this enthusiasm starts to fade, it can be a sign that your dog isn’t as eager as they once were. 

If, on a visit day, your therapy dog heads to their bed rather than the door, they’re sending you a signal. If this reluctance happens once or twice, it may be because they’re tired or feeling under the weather. But when it becomes a regular pattern—when your dog avoids getting ready for visits multiple times—you might need to rethink your animal’s involvement in therapy work. Their well-being should always come first and should be a factor when considering therapy dog retirement.

2. Behavioral Changes During Visits

The most impactful therapy animal visits happen when the animal is engaged and willingly participating. While dogs, especially, may push through less than ideal interactions to please their handler, robotic compliance doesn’t make for meaningful interactions. 

As a handler, you should be aware of any avoidant behaviors your pet shows during visits. This might include refusing to enter a room, dodging or ducking away from physical touch, or avoiding certain clients or environments.  

Avoidant behaviors can happen for lots of good reasons that don’t indicate therapy dog retirement is imminent. For example, your dog may find the noise of the ventilator in a hospital room unsettling and not want to enter. Some therapy animals prefer certain populations, such as adults, and may be avoidant towards others, like kids who are louder and move more erratically. That’s ok. As a handler, you can choose where you visit to ensure a positive experience for your animal. 

Avoidant behaviors that don’t follow a pattern or have reasons you can identify or predict, might be an indicator of overall loss of interest in visits. Aside from the fact that we should respect our animal’s preferences, it’s important to realize, as the handler, that forcing animals to participate in visits they’d rather avoid creates risk – realizing these behaviors are being displayed might mean that your therapy dog’s retirement should be considered.

A dog who has tried to tell you multiple times they don’t wish to be there may act out when they’ve finally had enough. That could look like a growl, bark or even a snap, which would be a very negative experience for your client. But I also want you to consider the damage you may be doing to your relationship with your animal. 

Therapy animal handlers regularly site a strengthened bond with their pet as a benefit to volunteering. But disregarding your animal’s physical or emotional comfort does the exact opposite. It erodes that beautiful trusting bond you’ve built because ignoring your animal says you aren’t willing to honor their choices. Respecting your animal’s needs is crucial for maintaining a safe interactions and a healthy and positive relationship with your pet.

3. Fatigue

Therapy work can be exhausting, even for the most energetic dogs. It’s normal for your pet to need a nap after a visit, but if they start taking longer to recover, it could be a you’re your current visiting schedule is too much. 

Keep an eye out for changes in your animal’s energy levels. While needing an extended nap after a visit isn’t a reason to retire, if your dog needs significantly more recovery time between visits, it may be time to reduce the frequency of visits or shorten their duration.  

If fatigue combines with reluctance to visit or behavior changes during visits, it could be an indicator that your animal’s physical or emotional energy is no longer suited for therapy work.

4. Health Considerations

Health plays a crucial role in your animal’s ability to participate in therapy work. We always want to make sure that we don’t spread any zoonotic illnesses to any of the clients we interact with. Zoonotic illness is simply anything that can be transmitted between animals and humans. This is one of the reasons we have grooming requirements before visits as well as hand hygiene for anyone before and after they touch your animal. 

Health is also a component of animal welfare. Animals who are not healthy may experience discomfort during visits, making them a negative experience. Additionally, the stress of visits could further impact an unhealthy animal’s immune system, leading them to become sicker.  

It’s also important to keep in mind that as animals age, their physical abilities may change. Conditions like arthritis or other age-related ailments can make it difficult for your animal to maintain the same schedule of visits.  

Always stay vigilant for signs of physical discomfort. If your dog is limping, seems stiff, or experiences other health challenges after visits, these could be signals that you need to consider therapy dog retirement. 

Planning a Retirement Journey 

When you notice changes in any of these areas, it’s time to start thinking about what your therapy dog’s retirement journey will look like. Therapy dog retirement doesn’t have to be abrupt—it can be a gradual transition. You might begin by shortening visits or reducing their frequency. Alternatively, you can choose less demanding environments, like a quiet reading program, instead of high-energy hospital visits. 

Be sure to communicate your plan with the facilities you visit. Your work with them has likely made a positive impact, and they will proudly support you in ensuring your animal enjoys a happy, healthy retirement. 

Retirement Transitions 

Just as people sometimes struggle with the transition into retirement, animals can feel the same way. Even if you plan a gradual therapy dog retirement over months or even years, therapy animals are accustomed to the mental stimulation of visits and may miss the work at first. 

To help your therapy animal retire and and just, establish new routines that focus on physical and mental well-being without the demands of therapy visits. Here are a few ideas to keep them engaged and happy: 

• Nature Walks: Explore new parks or trails at a relaxed pace. 

• Playdates: Arrange playdates with dogs of similar energy levels to keep social connections alive. 

• Learning New Tricks: Keep their mind sharp with new, less intense training. 

• Socialization: Keep them socially engaged by visiting familiar places or inviting friends and family over. 

Celebrating Your Therapy Dog’s Legacy in Retirement

You and your therapy animal have touched the lives of so many people! As they enter retirement, take the time to celebrate all they’ve accomplished and honor their well-being. Every dog transitions differently, so be patient and responsive to their needs. By paying attention to their behavior, adjusting their routine, and offering them a fulfilling post-therapy life, you’ll ensure they enjoy a well-deserved, happy therapy dog retirement.