TIRR Memorial Hermann Facility Dog

What is a Facility Dog?

A facility dog is a specially trained dog who partners with a facilitator working in a professional setting, such as a hospital. The facilitator brings the dog to work Monday – Friday, and takes the dog home at the end of each work day.

Facility Dog or Therapy Dog? What's the Difference?

Therapy dogs are any pet dogs that have passed a basic obedience test. They have permission to enter a public facility as a volunteer to provide comfort or joy to patients or clients.

Facility dogs undergo two years of training of more than 40 tasks. Facility dogs are bred, raised and trained to be calm, reliable and affectionate animals. These working dogs work beside their handlers to meet specific, individualized goals.

Research supports that facility dogs:

• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Enhance calm and security
• Ease perception of pain
• Decrease feelings of fear
• Increase oxytocin, decrease cortisol
• Lower heart rate and blood pressure
• Improve mood and morale
• Build trust and communication

Role of a Facility Dog

• Motivate patients
• Be a safe and nonjudgmental visitor
• Normalize a hospital stay
• Celebrate reaching medical goals
• Distract during procedures or episodes of pain
• Be present during difficult conversations
• Facilitate and/or enhance patient interactions
• Create a calm and soothing sensory stimulation
• Offer a sense of unconditional love and acceptance
• Allow opportunities for staff to feel supported

Facility Dog Etiquette 101

• ASK before interacting with the dog.
• SPEAK directly to the handler, not the facility dog.
• ALWAYS assume the facility dog is working and focusing — not off duty.
• DON’T offer treats or food to the facility dog.

Fun Facts

• Each facility dog has been specifically selected for its role/job because of its comfort and competence in a public setting and in interacting with an array of people and experiences daily.
• Facility dogs are expected to maintain the same standards as service dogs.
• Facility dogs are born and bred for this work and spend over two years getting ready for their jobs!
• Facility dog s are expertly trained to partner with their handler.
• The handler is a working professional who has gone through a full-time, two-week intensive training program (requiring written and practical tests) to certify them to utilize the specialty skills of the facility dog in the workplace.

In Collaboration with Canine Companions

Founded in 1975, Canine Companions is a 503(c) non-profit that breeds, raises and expertly trains dogs to reliably perform over 40 tasks designed to motivate and inspire clients. Canine Companions depends on the support of tens of thousands of donors and volunteers to match facility dogs to facilities like TIRR Memorial Hermann—FREE of charge—including ongoing support.

We are grateful to the Wilford Endowment for their generous support of our facility dog program.