Therapy dogs are specially trained companions who provide comfort and affection to people in a variety of situations such as  hospitals, retirement homes, mental health facilities, schools, libraries, and even disaster areas.

The most important aspect of a therapy dog is temperament. A good therapy dog must be friendly, patient, confident, at ease in all situations, and gentle. Therapy dogs must enjoy human contact and be content to be petted and handled, sometimes clumsily.

A therapy dog's primary job is to allow unfamiliar people to make physical contact with him and to enjoy that contact. Children in particular enjoy hugging dogs. Therapy dogs might need to climb onto an individuals lap or bed and sit or lie comfortably there. They also might be called on to add to the visiting experience by performing small tricks for their audiences or by playing carefully structured games.

Given the nature of the job, poodles make wonderful therapy dogs.  They are non-shedding, naturally patient and they enjoy working for and with people.