Meet Frankfort!
November 17, 2025
The bond between humans and animals is powerful and special. Those of us blessed to have a golden retriever recognize that their presence brings joy, comfort, and support. On a daily basis, our lives are enriched and enhanced by our dogs.
Some exceptional dogs are trained to be therapy dogs. Therapy dogs play a crucial role: they provide emotional support and facilitate physical well-being for others besides their owners. Therapy dogs are utilized in a variety of social and community settings, including hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. These dedicated canines reduce stress/anxiety, provide companionship, increase social interaction, and encourage physical movement/activity.
Therapy dogs have significant responsibility. They must be well-behaved, adaptable, and non-reactive. All dogs must complete basic obedience training, including the AKC’s Good Citizen program. Those who excel are certified through a AKC recognized program (principally ATD-Alliance of Therapy Dogs, TDI-Therapy Dogs International, and CTD-Certified Therapy Dog, Inc.)
Not just any dog can become a qualified and competent therapy dog. Golden Retrievers excel as therapy dogs for several key reasons. First, their natural ability to connect with people opens up many social opportunities. They are unusually empathetic, possessing an incredible ability to sense and respond to human emotions. Second, Golden retrievers are quick learners and intelligent. They retain the strong work ethic necessary for the rigors of training and specialization. Finally, golden retrievers excel due to their calm temperaments. They are patient, tolerant, and remain unperturbed in a variety of situations.
A number of Windy Knoll Golden Retrievers have developed into dedicated therapy dogs. Through frequent observation and interaction, we can often identify specific puppies as potential therapy dogs. We would love to see even more of our dogs involved in therapy work. Please contact us with your particular therapy dogs needs and we can plan for a suitable match.
