There is no greater joy than seeing the benefit that your beloved, well-mannered, friendly pet can bring to others who need the affection, comfort and love a therapy dog can offer. Does your dog have what it takes? Join us and find out!
Who We Are
High Country Caring Canines is an unincorporated association based out of Boone, North Carolina. We were founded in 2014 with the goal of forming new therapy dog teams and supporting currently registered therapy dog teams in the High Country of North Carolina.
Our mission is to prepare prospective therapy dog teams for successful careers as a volunteer team visiting medical facilities, nursing homes, schools, and out reach events. We will do so through positive and force-free training methods. We will also serve to help currently registered teams network together and to provide on-going education opportunities as requested by members. Our goal is to send out well trained teams of caring canines and their handlers to any facility that requests them or has need, as well as to provide support and continued training to all teams interested in joining our organization.
What is a Therapy Dog?
A therapy dog is a pet dog that has been specially trained to offer companionship, affection, and comfort. Therapy dogs are NOT assistance or service dogs and do not have the sames rights of access as these important dogs. These special canines are brought into hospitals, nursing homes, mental facilities, prisons, schools, and disaster areas, among other places, to provide their unique services to people who might be in need of a friendly face and a connection with an animal.
There is no “ideal” breed for therapy work. Any dog of the correct age and temperament can be a therapy dog! Potential therapy dogs must be well-behaved, calm in a variety of situations, comfortable with being touched all over their body, and eager to visit with people. Every therapy dog is different, and so is every therapy visit. Some therapy dogs and their handlers participate in reading programs at schools or libraries helping children improve reading skills, while others make visits to the residents and patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and other similar facilities. Therapy dogs can also play a key role in rehabilitation clinics by helping patients improve their fine motor skills or learn to walk again. The comforting presence of a therapy dog and their kind and friendly handler goes a long way to improving the well-being of everyone they visit – including the staff of the facility! Each team has different abilities -and each team is a big asset to our community!