The University of Rhode Island therapy dog team just gained a new member: Betty, a seven-and-a-half-month old English labrador.
Betty is about to start training and will soon be a familiar face on campus. The URI campus has been aiming to make the canine support network grow, according to Lindsey Anderson, who is Betty’s handler, on Rhody Today. Students and staff can meet her as part of the campus’s growing canine support network to help reduce stress and create well-being.
Anderson brought her from New Hampshire and is responsible for Betty’s future training, which requires consistent work and patience for a young dog, according to Anderson.
“We do a lot of basic obedience work – the sit, the stay, and the ‘leave it,'” Anderson said. “Because she’s constantly around people, training never really stops.”
Adding on to the sessions, Betty and Anderson spend time outdoors. In the yard, Betty gets to exercise, reinforce her obedience skills, and navigate possible distractions.
One of the biggest challenges Anderson faces is helping others understand how to interact with a dog in training.
“Not letting her jump on them when she wants to, that’s the hardest part,” Anderson said. “People want to rub her ears, play with her, and let her lick their face.”
Betty must maintain her skills and discipline to be “effective” in her therapy dog role, according to Anderson.
Betty’s journey to certification includes meeting milestones set by the American Kennel Club, a not-for-profit organization that emphasizes dog training and health, according to the AKC website. Such milestones include earning the Star Puppy certification and the Canine Good Citizen certification.
The AKC certifications ensure dogs are well-behaved and can handle different public environments according to Anderson. Betty still has a few months before training is complete.
Lisa Rodier, another experienced dog handler, frequently visits the library with her 13-year-old bouvier, Atle. Trained through Pet Partners, Atle is another therapy dog who has been present on campus since fall 2020.
Rodier often works alongside Anderson and Betty.
“Therapy dogs are trained to withstand a lot of stresses and bounce back from unusual situations,” Rodier said.
Precise certification is key to a therapy dog’s success, according to Rodier
“If you’re a therapy dog handler, having your dog tested and jumping through all these hoops is sort of a guarantee of what the product will be,” Rodier said.
The therapy dogs at URI are a frequent part of multiple campus events and activities according to the URI events website. In addition to their regular appearances at the library, they visit the Women’s Center, dormitories and sports games. Their presence offers comfort to students who are facing challenges in their academic life.
As Betty continues her journey to becoming a fully certified therapy dog, URI students can look forward to seeing her and the rest of the therapy dog team across campus.
Anderson is enthusiastic about the positive impact Betty and her friends have on the community.
“It’s all about connection and creating moments of peace for people, even if it’s just for a little while,” Anderson said.
This Valentine’s Day, URI Health Services is hosting a kissing booth located in the Memorial Union Lobby from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. where students can meet one of the therapy dogs with Anderson.
