The In’s and Out’s of Being a Therapy Dog

By: Faith Bartram

One of the teachers at Culver Community Middle/High school has a helpful
way of helping students relieve the stress of school, college plans, friends, and
other emotionally impacting stressors.
Mrs. Fobert, a speech and English teacher, helps students with their day-
to-day stress by bringing her therapy dog Odin. Odin is a certified therapy dog
who, “…took several obedience classes in order to be a successful therapy dog,”
Fobert wrote. “I exposed him to all sorts of environments with challenging
distractions, surfaces, crowds, and animals.”
Odin has a Canine Good Citizen title through AKC.“In order to attain this
title, Odin had to complete a number of commands. The C.G.C test has the
preliminary requirements of the extensive Therapy Dogs International, requires
all dogs to be up-to-date on their vaccines as well as basic testing…this test
encompasses twelve individual tests…if the dog fails one component, they will
have to redo the entire testing on another day,” stated Fobert.
Culver’s guidance counselor, Mrs.Trent, sees the impact Odin has made
saying he is a ten out of ten.
“Odin has affected me in a positive way by keeping me calm during school,
plus he’s also very fluffy and nice to pet!” Rachel Pietsch, a sophomore, stated.
Contrary to Rachel’s statement, some students don’t need a therapy dog
and just see him day-to-day in the halls or in class.
For some, Odin is just a dog walking around the school with his owner, but
for others he’s a support system, and a key essential in balancing the stressors
of life.