Morris’ Sam THDD owned by Suzanne Morris of Little Rock, Arkansas
AKC Therapy Dog Distinguished! That’s what THDD stands for. To earn AKC’s ultimate Therapy Dog title, Sam had to complete 400 visits. To say the least, he’s made a lot of friends.
Sam's path to a successful career as a therapy dog began when he was rescued by CARE (Central Arkansas Rescue Effort) and entered the Arkansas Paws in Prison program. There, he was socialized and trained by inmates in the dog training program.
“After reading his story and getting a personal introduction, it seemed that not only would Sam be a welcome addition to the family, but that he would also be a great therapy dog,” Suzanne said. She was clearly right.
After his graduation from the Paws in Prison program, Sam went home with Suzanne. With some additional training, he was certified by Therapy Dogs International (TDI). He now has over 400 visits under his belt.
“Sam loves being a therapy dog, and is always ready to go as soon as he sees his leash and scarf come out. He adores children and, in addition to visits to hospitals and churches, happily participates in TDI's reading program, Tail Wagging Tutors, at local schools and libraries.”
The Therapy Dog titles that can be earned are:
AKC Therapy Dog Novice (THDN); must have completed ten visits
AKC Therapy Dog (THD); must have completed 50 visits
AKC Therapy Dog Advanced (THDA); must have completed 100 visits
AKC Therapy Dog Excellent (THDX); must have completed 200 visits
AKC Therapy Dog Distinguished (THDD); must have completed 400 visits
Therapy dogs must be certified or registered by an AKC recognized therapy dog organization. Each of these has requirements of its own. For a list of the organizations along with everything else you need to know about AKC’s Therapy Dog program, visit https://www.akc.org/events/title-recognition-program/therapy/