Practitioners Talk About Canine Coworkers

Larry 

Christopher Patterson, MD, CMD, a South Carolina-based medical director and attending physician, said he can't imagine work without his dog, a lab mix named after one of the Three Stooges. “Being around Larry has a calming effect on me. It makes my day go easier when people are smiling and happy to see the dog. It not only makes my day nicer, but it slows me down a bit and gives me a way to interact with patients in a nonclinical way.”

Larry isn't Dr. Patterson's first canine coworker and won't be his last. Dr. Patterson's also breaking in his newest dog, Curly, for long-term care work. “Larry tells me when he wants to come to work. If I go out to the car and Larry follows me, that means he wants to come to work with me. But he doesn't want to go every day. Curly, on the other hand, wants to come to work every day.”

Larry's presence benefits residents and staff alike, said Dr. Patterson. He noted that he usually sends an e-mail to a facility before a dog visit, with the pet's vaccination record attached and information about when his pet will be in the facility. “I've never had a facility say, ‘No, you can't do this,’” said Dr. Patterson.

Sophie and Tessa 

“There are selfish reasons for bringing your dogs to work,” said Karl Steinberg, MD, CMD, editor in chief of Caring for the Ages. “Nursing facilities aren't always the happiest places in the world. For me, having the hounds with me keeps my attitude positive, and it makes me happy when I see residents' faces light up when they see the dogs.”

His dogs, Sophie, a 10-year-old standard poodle, and Tessa, a 4-year-old “behemoth” cockapoo, offer residents something that few humans can: unconditional love. “I have patients who may not have family and don't get a lot of love and affection. The dogs snuggle with them. They can pet and hug the dogs, …and the dogs love it as much as the people do. Dogs and other pets connect with people on a deep level. The connection goes way back to early childhood for many people. Even patients with advanced dementia who interact with or respond little to people will smile and light up when the dogs are around,” Dr. Steinberg said.

One of his most powerful stories about how his dogs have touched his patients' lives is about a dalmatian he had before Tessa and Sophie. “I had a guy who was over 100. He was very hard of hearing and hardly talked or engaged people. When I brought my dalmatian with me, he would light up and say, ‘Hey, spotty.’ He would become really animated. It was something to see.”

While Dr. Steinberg said he sees few risks of bringing a healthy and well-behaved dog to a nursing facility, he suggested precautions. “I have an umbrella [insurance] policy that would cover something like someone tripping on the dog. I certainly would recommend this for anyone who brings their dog to a facility.” He also suggested training for therapy dogs, having vaccination papers handy, and making sure “the dog is under your control at all times.”

People aren't the only ones who benefit. “For the dogs, their days are spent in a more interesting way,” said Dr. Steinberg. “They're high stepping and happy as can be.”

Cole 

Soon after she got her cardigan Welsh corgi Cole, New York social worker Elisabeth Grace, LSW, decided to train him as a therapy dog. After months of basic obedience and “good-citizen” training and testing, Cole was ready for prime time.

While Cole doesn't go to nursing facilities, he visits a large regional medical center where they see many elderly patients who are “very lonely and don't have a lot of visitors,” said Ms. Grace. “They are particularly happy to see the dog. I ask them if they've ever had a dog, and it gets them talking.” She recalls one encounter in particular: “An older cancer patient was very depressed. When I brought Cole in, he just put his head on the man's knee, and the man just reached out and put his hand on the dog's head. They just stayed like that for several minutes. The man's wife was almost in tears. She said that this was just the best medicine he could get.”

Work can be exhausting for dogs. “I never stay in the hospital for more than 2 hours because I think [Cole] gets quite tired. The facility is very large, and there is lots of walking,” said Ms. Grace.

While few people react negatively to the dog, Ms. Grace stressed that she watches people's body language and expressions. “You have to watch for people who stiffen up, move away, start sniffling, or look frightened or annoyed when you bring the dog around,” she said.

Buster 

“When our family was ready to get a dog, I wanted one I could take to work,” said Rona Pasternak, MD, a geriatric psychiatrist who practices in numerous Pennsylvania long-term care facilities. Tibetan terrier Buster was a perfect match for the doctor's family and patients alike.

Buster is a great assistant, said Dr. Pasternak. “If a patient is reluctant to see me for some reason, Buster acts as a diversion initially, and the person's defenses are put to rest. It gives us something to talk about and establishes a positive rapport.”

Buster does such a good job that Dr. Pasternak often loans him out. “Some facilities have recreational therapists, and I will leave Buster with them for a while…. I also will loan him out to family members so they can take [Buster] to a loved one's room.”

Dr. Pasternak said that Buster touches her life as well. “He makes me calm and happy, and that emotion is infectious to staff and patients. It slows me down, but that's okay.”