Sydney is our therapy dog that helps out in the classrooms. When she isn’t getting belly rubs and hanging out in the office, she helps children in many different ways.
Sydney is a Teddy Bear. This is a hybrid of Bischon Frise and Shi Tzu. In the 1990s this breed was created to be therapy dogs for children with autism. What makes Teddy Bears perfect for therapy is their strong desire to be with people, that they are hypoallergenic and their personalities are great with children.
We used Dog Door for training with Kim Brophey. Sydney has the perfect demeanor for a children’s therapy dog, as she is very tolerant, loving and smart! When a child is upset, Sydney instinctively goes to the child and either comforts them or tries to engage with them. Over time, Sydney learns how to interact with each child. She will often offer a ball to throw to a child that is angry or upset. For other that are crying, she will lay on that lap and comfort them.
The children enjoy visits from Sydney. Sometimes she comes to show off her new haircut, for belly rubs or to hang out and see who she can get the throw the ball down the hall!