ever bring your dog to work?

AmericanRN · Mar 5, 2008

Hey Everyone,
I'm almost half way through nursing school and i have a 6 month old labrador retriever. I've taken her to dog obedience school and now i'm having a private trainer work with us because i want her to be well behaved. Anyone have info on what i need to do so i could bring her to work with me one day to visit my patients? I've seen service dogs come into the hospital before, but I'm not sure on the requirements. I'm going to ask my dog's trainer next week, but i thought maybe someone on here would know? Does she have to be a licensed service dog? Any info appreciated!

I would definatley check into seeing if the dog must be a therapy dog with the proper training. I love labs dearly myself but they are big, a little clumsy when they are young and some people are afraid of large dogs espcially energetic large dogs.

I have had a Basset Hound, a few "sooners, a Bull Mastiff and an Akita and while they were wonderful animals if handled properly, I noticed that some people were equally as scared of the Akita and Mastiff as they were of Labadors because of the sheer size of certain breeds. Also test your Lab to see how he acts around other dogs. My Akita didn't do well with other animals even leashed, just going to the vet was like this cloak and dagger operation with us being herded to a private room immediatly. Although this dog loved people it just couldn't stand anything else with fur besides herself.

With all that being said I would also clear it through the hospital since so many people have allergies to animals.

I once saw a monkey who was a therapy animal which surprised me since even though they are cute I have always been told they are "dirty" so I guess anything is possible if you ask permission through the right channels.

melisgood · Mar 5, 2008

Just so everyone knows....I wasn't talking about brining my dog into work with me on a regular basis...that's kinda weird....I meant as a therapy dog when i wasn't on the clock. I'm not some psycho dog person that wants my dog with me 24/7....I just want to share her with those want her company and are not scared of her or allergic to her.

AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN · Mar 5, 2008

Just as an aside, when I used to work LTC, we had a very unreasonable old woman there for a time who made everyone miserable. Yelled nonstop. She had o be monitored in the hall in a Geri-chair and a lap buddy and constantly tried to get out. NO amount of coaxing, distraction, meds or anything helped. Her family finally quit coming, they just said, "Y'all will have to deal with her." (Nice, huh?). Well, one day I was off, and I had my new Chow puppy, Bruiser, with me. I had to run by work for something and I cold not leave him in the car, so in he went with me.

Mrs. X was in the hall, raising sand as usual, and I walked up and said as loud as I could to get her attention, "MRS. X!"

She turned around and said, "WHAT?"

I held up Bruiser, "Look what I've got."

She just melted, "Oh, how precious." She played with him and petted him for an hour before the DON would let me leave, said it was the first peace they had had all day!

Animals can be a good thing.

vashtee, RN · Mar 6, 2008

Years ago, I knew an elderly woman who ended up in a long term care facility, and since she had no living relatives, I would go visit her.. At some point, they brought in cats and birds for the residents to enjoy.

I always wondered what would happen with the residents who were allergic, like me. I am guessing they would have to find a new facility.

RNGrammie · Apr 3, 2008

i work in ltc and every wednesday we are allowed to bring in our dogs/cats for the shift. we must show proof of shots and license in order to do this. i can't even begin to tell you how positively the residents react to these animals. if someone has an allergy or fear, we make the appropriate accomodations.

my sons' pediatrician has his golden retriever and his office assistants retriever always in the office. no one has ever complained....even those w/ allergies. the animals are there for those that want to make contact w/ them.

i personally think for the very old or very young, animals are a great assest therapeutically.

pebbles, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2008

Our infection control department has strict policies about pet visitation, and how it must be done.

(Having a secluded room where it happens, housekeeping to clean the room afterward, that type of thing).

But it has been done at my hospital with some really good results. I'd say check with your manager about the policy at your hospital to see if it can be done and how easy it would be or if they will make you jump through hoops.

woody62, RN · Apr 4, 2008

Back in 1970, I had a patient's family bring in his King Charles. He was not going to leave ICU except for one way. And the dog was his best friend. I cleared it with the Head Nurse, the house staff and his attending. This was long before the concept of therapy dogs. I have always felt that if the patient had a family pet they were very close to, and were hospitalized for a prolonged period, that the family should be allowed to bring it in. It should be freshly bath, on a lease and freshly having done it's 'duty'.

Woody:twocents:

10MG-IV · May 5, 2008

Ahhh yes, I have a fab photo of a maw maw with a pet therapy Doberman, I know she was a dobbienurse too cause she calmed this little maw maw down like 5 of Valium. :paw: :paw: :paw: :paw:

We would have Pet therapy day on a regular basis and I loved it. My brothers dog "Ressu" somehow got in my back pack when I went to visit him in the hospital. How that dog got in that pack I'll never know It's beter to ask forgiveness than permission sometimes.... Yes, I know better I'm a nurse for heavens sake. BTW we didn't get caught.

I had a little ol lady in a MVC or MVA depending where you are, and all she wanted was her toy poodle that was in the car with her, for an HOUR she cried and moaned for that dog, (no family just the dog) She was flipping out. So,as the prudent nurse realizing rules are just suggestions, I had the police bring me the poodle in a box, We put her and puppup in a room with a CLOSED DOOR!!! Thank God I worked nights back then. PupPup was a bit bloody but we gave it a bath, let her hold it in a towel while she got stitches,her V/S stabilized and all went well with out me being in the office Monday morning explaining.....

I remember this... in the Adult Trauma ER the fire-department brought in a golden retriever to the ER doing CPR on it. WE DID CPR ON A GOLDEN RETRIEVER IN THE ER :paw: YES YES YES we did. I called one of the girls to verify and she remembers too.

aeauooo · May 5, 2008

Bring my dog to work?

Heck no - he might get sick!

(if I had a dog, that is)

S.T.A.C.E.Y, LPN · May 6, 2008

I knew a guy who was having his dog trained to do therapy work for a hospital or nursing home. He said one of the tests or training exercises the dog had to pass was for him to tell the dog to sit, the dog had to sit and not move while someone walked past it and dropped a metal tray with some stuff on the floor next to the dog. The test was supposed to startle the dog, but make sure it just stayed right where it was sitting. I was pretty impressed when he said his dog passed every time. Not a chance my dog could ever pass THAT test.