The Tallest Therapy Dog in Windsor-Essex
Story/Photography by Serafina Piasentin
At St. John Ambulance, dogs work as much as humans. For twenty years, the Therapy Dog program has brought joy and comfort to schools, libraries, hospitals, retirement homes and homeless shelters all throughout Windsor-Essex.
Just like humans, these dogs undergo a rigorous interview process that consists of simulation-based exercises. “Owners submit applications based on their dog’s personality,” says Ray Hoover, owner of Bentley, a Great Dane with a calm disposition. Bentley is seven-years-old and weighs 136 pounds. Though massive in size—being the tallest of the 70 dogs currently working at St. John Ambulance—Bentley is a gentle being. Hoover mentions that as a puppy, Bentley was very active and hyper, but once he turned a year old, he mellowed out. This is why dogs are not allowed to attempt the evaluation to become a therapy dog until they are over a year old. Bentley has now been a part of the therapy pack for two and a half years. Just last year, Bentley and Hoover clocked in over 400 hours of volunteer time.
These dogs are family pets and are “trained by the individual owners,” says Lesley Smith, Unit Chief at St. John Ambulance and owner of Angus, an adorable Aussiedoodle with a friendly personality. “Most dogs are able to obey common commands like ‘stay’ and ‘sit.’ When an owner feels their dog has ‘the right stuff,’ they come to SJA to be tested for their suitability in the program.” Smith says some dogs are not suited for, or interested in, the job. “They are beautiful dogs, but they shy away from social situations, sometimes even backing away from being pet. And that’s okay.” Sociable dogs are best suited to the program. Hoover says, “I never stopped Bentley from meeting anyone who wanted to see him.”
Once they determine which dogs are up for the challenge, the test involves a series of twelve exercises that mirror a visit. The evaluators watch how a dog reacts to different situations; for example, dropping a metal bowl on the floor simulates a fire alarm or a bell going off in school. How the dog reacts to various people is also recorded. People with canes, walkers or even sunglasses and a hat walk into a room to test the dog’s reaction. If the dog doesn’t react aggressively or excessively, and instead completes all the exercises appropriately, their owner is invited to proceed with the membership process.
Angus, being only three, is also child-certified, meaning he can work with children and people with special needs. There are different simulations to test this. For example, dogs sit in a corner of the room with their owner while kids and volunteers hold hands and run towards them with excitement. Hoover laughs, saying, “If that many people charged at me, I’d wonder what I’d done wrong!” But Angus remained calm. “They are allowed to stand and look around, but they cannot show signs of fear or aggression,” says Smith, patting Angus on the head lovingly. Other examinations include being in a room with kids tumbling on mats. The dogs can look but can’t join in. They also train for library visits where the dog sits with a child reading a book. If a dog is well-behaved and naturally comforting and calm, they will pass the evaluation and be ready to work!
Therapy dogs are not to be confused with service dogs. A therapy dog is designed to support many people with many needs at the same time whereas a service dog is dedicated to support a particular person with one particular need. The latter often becomes attached to this person since they spend every moment with them. Therapy dogs encounter many different people on their shifts. However, they do have their own families waiting for them back home when they’re done working. So, therapy dogs, like most humans, have to learn how to maintain a work-life balance. They remain fond of their owners while also providing comfort and care to dozens of strangers each day.
No matter the time, “when people hear Bentley’s coming, they put it in their schedule,” says Hoover. He recognizes that there are people who don’t know how to approach dogs or who have preconceived fears. This is why St. John Ambulance offers a meet-and-greet where they teach people how to interact with dogs. People are advised to reach out with a closed fist—thumb tucked inside their fingers—for the dog to sniff, minimizing the risk of being bit. However, Hoover adds that no one needs to worry about being bitten. Dogs like Bentley and Angus will even put cat-lovers at ease.
St. John Ambulance Therapy Dogs often frequent the Salvation Army, a 32-bed homeless shelter with an additional 28 beds for supportive housing in downtown Windsor. They have been partnered with the Salvation Army for about a year, and the work they have done in that time has been instrumental for the clients or visitors of the warming room (a place where people can escape the cold).
“It’s a perfect fit because the dogs don’t judge,” says Smith. “There’s nothing but acceptance and love which is exactly what these clients need.” She describes how the dogs just seem to know who needs attention. “The dogs help them escape the challenges they’re facing for an hour.” Dogs like Bentley and Angus provide a safe haven where people can feel loved and supported. Oftentimes, it is difficult to find a fellow human who understands what they are going through. Dogs provide that unconditional acceptance that people sometimes lack.
Since the pandemic, the need for therapy dogs has increased. People lacked human interaction, so these dogs worked overtime to bring companionship and joy to all who wanted to meet them. Hoover always gives people the option to interact with Bentley. “If Bentley doesn’t want to leave someone, he stops; I can’t get him to move. It’s not like I can pick him up like a smaller dog. He knows where he is needed,” says Hoover. “I never stopped him from meeting anyone.”
Therapy dogs will accept everyone and anyone with open paws. Smith says that everyone always asks, “Why can’t everyday be dog day?” The dogs think so too. According to Smith, “the dogs very much enjoy their time out with the community. I mean, talk about living your best life. They just get to run around, receiving love, pats and scratches. Plus, they are told that they are good boys’ and girls’ all day.” When they finish their shift and return to their homes, Bentley and Angus leave behind a room full of joyful people, and that’s all in a dog-day’s work.
Published in the May/June 2025 Edition.
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