Is there anything more adorable or huggable than a puppy? Anything that brings a bigger smile to the faces of young and old alike? If puppies can help normal people feel so good, imagine what they can do for those who are elderly or sick. Though it would seem that bringing a puppy to visit a nursing home would be a wonderful thing, in reality life is more complicated. You, your puppy, and the facility you want to visit must be prepared for things that could go wrong. That's why there are organizations that train volunteers and their dogs to prepare for visits to hospitals, nursing homes, and schools.

Only puppies and dogs who demonstrate that they can be calm and nondisruptive in the day-to-day world of strange smells, unfamiliar equipment, and human behavior typical of such facilities earn the privilege to be therapy dogs. It's not impossible for a pup to make it, but it would take a very mature pup — and owner, too.

If this kind of work is something you feel you would enjoy doing, you can expose yourself and your pup to it early so that you know what to expect and can work toward earning a therapy dog position. Volunteering and helping others might be a way to start, as is doing basic training with your pup and starting the Canine Good Citizen program.

The organizations that oversee the majority of therapy dog programs in the United States are the Delta Society and Therapy Dogs International.