Therapy dog in BRYT program brings joy, boosts mood
If you enter the BRYT (Bridges for Resilient Youth in Transition) room on Tuesday mornings, you will likely be welcomed with a warm, cuddly greeting—by students’ now-favorite four-legged friend, Jordan.
Since last spring, Jordan and his handler Diane Houston have been visiting BRYT, a program described as offering “academic and counseling support in a dedicated space, all day,” where Jordan brings smiles to everyone he meets.
Houston and Jordan are a “therapy dog team” through Bright Spots, a therapy dog organization based in Western Massachusetts.
Bright Spots sends over 700 trained therapy dog teams to over 300 organizations throughout New England. They have been in operation since 2004 and continue to grow as the need for their services continues.
Houston started therapy dog work in 2006. She had another standard poodle Tristan, who she said “was a very friendly dog.” She thought she should share him on a more formal basis and completing the training through Bright Spots was a way to do that.
Houston has had Jordan since he was eight weeks old. Jordan came from a kennel in New Hampshire, and right away, she assumed he would be an excellent therapy dog. “His temperament is ideal,” said Houston. Jordan also gets along well with other dogs; he is friendly and likes to play.
According to an article on therapydogs.com, “Dogs are efficient at elevating mood and providing relaxation to humans, making them a perfect companion to hang around. They have proven to be helpful in treating people with anxiety.”
According to Scientific American magazine, just looking into a dog’s eyes boosts the production of dopamine and other neurochemicals in the body. “These neurochemicals are known as natural antidepressants and are effective in promoting calmness,” according to the Alliance of Therapy Dogs.
Houston explained the process of preparing a dog for Jordan’s line of work. To be a therapy dog, the dog must attend training classes, including doggie kindergarten and standard obedience classes, with their handler.
If they pass those, they must then move through therapy dog training. If they pass the extensive therapy dog training, they can go out on a team.
Every year they have to renew their membership as Bright Spots therapy team members. Houston needs to send them Jordan’s vet records, an annual fee, and must commit to “keep visiting in the community.”
Other than visiting BRYT, Jordan and Houston visit Fort River Elementary School weekly on Wednesdays. “The kids love him! They lay on him, they style his hair,” said Houston. “He loves it. He is very patient. He is always ready to go on his visits.”
She also said when she informed him “we would be coming back to BRYT this fall, he was very excited.”
Houston can see that people love when they visit and she enjoys seeing those positive reactions to Jordan. Over the years, Jordan and Houston have visited Cooley Dickinson, area nursing homes, and the NEARI school in Easthampton.
Their favorite places to go are schools, given Jordan’s happiness around young people.
“I think visiting here at the high school and BRYT is my favorite place,” said Houston.
