Dogs Bringing Joy
Therapy Dogs Nationwide
Therapy Dogs Nationwide is a national charity where visiting volunteers take their own dogs into establishments to provide comfort, distraction, and stimulation. Our volunteers have the unique privilege of volunteering with their own temperament tested Therapy Dogs, some with over 10 years of experience and always focused on benefiting people in the community.
About Therapy Dogs Nationwide
Using animals especially Dogs as therapy is not a new idea, they have been used for over 40 years in experience in the care sector and a lot of our volunteers have roots with Lesley Scott-Ordish who was a pioneer in visiting with taking your own pet dog to nursing homes.
The benefits of Animal Assisted Therapies (AAT) have been extensively studied and results range from improvement in general health and wellbeing, increased confidence levels, improved and controlled movement to improved communication skills.
Volunteers and Therapy Dogs work with a wide group of people within the community. Our work in residential care homes had improved communication in residents and patients by evoking memories and stimulating conversation.
Our dogs have also shown to help with special needs and autistic children and adults by giving focus and providing a calming environment.
We regularly visit local hospitals and hospices where patients and staff interact with our dogs and look forward to their visits.
We are proud to be part of the Kennel Club Bark and Read Programme. We have many dogs that visit schools to help children develop their reading skills and build confidence.
Testimonials
Our testimonials reflect the heartwarming impact Therapy Dogs Nationwide has across the UK. From care home residents rediscovering their voices, to children finding confidence through reading with our dogs, the stories shared by families, professionals, and volunteers highlight the incredible difference our Therapy Dogs make every day.
Volunteer
Do you want to make people smile? Would you like to help your community? Volunteering with Therapy Dogs Nationwide (TDN) is fun, rewarding, and makes a big difference. Whether you have a dog, no dog, or are still at school – there’s a way for you to get involved.
Establishments
The concept of Therapy Dogs was originally devised by Lesley Scott-Ordish back in 1976 when she discovered the trauma experienced by the elderly if forced to give up a much-loved pet upon going into residential care. We now visit a vast range of establishments to include schools, care homes, coroners court, hospitals and dentists to name but a few.
Partners
At Therapy Dogs Nationwide, we are thrilled to announce our partnership with Bella & Duke, a leading raw pet food manufacturer. United by our shared values of dog welfare and education, this collaboration is designed to enrich the lives of therapy dogs and the communities they serve. We always welcome new opportunities to collaborate so if you have something in mind, please get in touch.