I attened The Miami Dade Fire Services hosted a Crisis Response Canine Workshop in Doral.
Therapy dogs and crisis response canines are both trained to provide emotional support and comfort to people in need, but they serve different purposes and work in different environments.
Therapy dogs are trained to interact with people in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and libraries. Their primary role is to provide emotional support and companionship to people who may be experiencing stress, anxiety, or loneliness. Therapy dogs are typically calm, well-behaved, and enjoy being around people. They are trained to respond to basic commands and to tolerate a variety of physical interactions from people, such as petting, hugging, and sitting on laps.
Crisis response canines, on the other hand, are trained to provide emotional support and comfort to people in the aftermath of a traumatic event or crisis. They are often called in to assist first responders, emergency personnel, and other professionals in the immediate aftermath of a disaster or crisis, such as a natural disaster, mass shooting, or terrorist attack. Crisis response canines are highly trained to work in stressful and chaotic environments, and they are often accompanied by handlers who are trained to provide psychological first aid to people in distress. They may also be trained to detect and respond to signs of distress in people, such as anxiety, panic, or hyperventilation.
In summary, therapy dogs and crisis response canines both provide emotional support and comfort to people in need, but they serve different roles and work in different environments. Therapy dogs work in a variety of settings and are trained to provide ongoing emotional support, while crisis response canines are trained to provide immediate support in the aftermath of a crisis or traumatic event.