How old was your doodle when they took their test?

[Kelli, Fenway, & Dustin Pedroia]

I'm working really hard training Fenway and she's doing awesome and coming along really well. We still have alot of work to do, but I was wondering how old everyone's doodle was when they took their CGC test, Delta Therapy Dog test, etc. If I remember correctly we can't take the test until she's at least one. I know we won't be ready by age one because we still have a long way to go and she really needs a little time to mellow, so that's where y'all come in! Any advice would be appreciated.

[Adina P]

Rosco was 19 months--we signed up to take the delta therapy dog test first. And then scheduled the CGC about two weeks before that sort of as a test to see if he was really ready for the therapy dog evaluation. More like if I was ready :-) luckily we passed the CGC which gave me confidence to go on two weeks later.

We basically signed up five weeks ahead and spent that five weeks working our butts off practicing with as many people and dogs as we could find.

I'm gonna send you a private message more specific to the training that you are doing.

[Kathy (Ellie & Oliver)]

Hi Kelli and Fenway! I have an 19 month F1 goldendoodle named Oliver. We became a registered therapy dog team with Therapy Dogs Incorporated (TDInc) when he was 13 months old. I have been taking Oliver to obedience classes since he was 15 weeks old. He took and passed his CGC test when he was 11 months old. During the CGC test, the dog has more than one chance to pass a skill. The CGC tester is not as picky as a tester/observer from one of the national therapy dog groups. Many of the skills that are on the CGC test are also the same skills that are tested by TDInc, etc. You could use the CGC test as a measuring stick to see what skills Fenway has mastered and what skills need to be worked on.

The CGC test can be taken at any age. The dog has to be at least one year old to take the TDInc test. (Not sure about the other national groups)

I would suggest that you keep Fenway in training classes, continue to expose her to many different places, all kinds of people, and other dogs. I can tell you from personal experience- that my Oliver is quite the puppy at home but is wonderful on visits to facilities. It doesn't hurt to try the CGC test. Fenway might surprise you!!!!!!

It is hard to describe how therapy work makes you feel. After a visit, I always leave with a happy heart!!!
Kathy (Ellie & Oliver)

[Linda Hanson]

Hokie and I just took the tests yesterday, both the Therapy Dog Inc and CGC. (our 2nd time for the Therapy Dog Inc. test)Hokie just turned 2. If I had worked with him this past summer we would have been able to pass then. I just decided a few months ago to pursue the Therapy work because he has such an easygoing, mellow personality. I would take the test when you feel like you both are ready. You can take it more than once. Take it the first time and treat it like practice. That way it won't stress you out.

[Kelli, Fenway, & Dustin Pedroia]

Congratulations on passing the tests! That's awesome. We're working really hard right now, but still have a long way to go. Right now I don't know that we'll be ready by the time she's one, but we'll see. It's still over two months away and that gives us alot of time. The one thing I worry about the most is that she does have trouble when I go out of her site and she's with someone she doesn't know, although it's something we'll do alot of work on between now and then.

[Kelli, Fenway, & Dustin Pedroia]

Adina is actually helping me out with training tips. As part of Fenway's training we are going to be working on out of sight stays for increasing intervals of time. I'm hoping that during this portion of the training Fenway will get better about letting me be out of sight. Another thing I've been working on and something she does really well with is closing the door behind me when I leave a room so she can't follow me all over the house. The thing is she doesn't really get upset about that or any other time I leave her in the house. We put her in a stay in the living room while we eat and while we cook and she never whines or barks. We're going to keep working on it though.
Congratulations on Noah's accomplishments in class! I know you've worked really hard with both of your dogs and it's so nice when it pays off!

[Jaime]

Penny took her CGC when she was 7 months old. Our obedience trainer suggested we try it and we passed. While at the testing location we met some Therapy dogs and thought it would be fun to try. We then certified with Therapy Dogs Inc the day she turned one. We've been visiting ever since - almost three years. We took the Delta test when she was 17 months with predictable and just recertified in this January and now have complex!

[Kim Williams]

Hi Kelli,
Parris and I took the TDI test at 12 months. I decided to do it as "practice" to see what we needed work on. Much to my surprise she passsed!!! The one thing that I am thankful of that my obedience teacher did, was to start expecting commands without treats. Parris is VERY motivated by treats. I think we passed because of the excellent advice of my obedience teacher.

[Kathy Janes]

Mater passed his CGC at 9 months old - he was one of the best in the group! His Delta was a little harder because he was so excited about the new environment. He failed the first try (at about 12 months) because he wanted to put his paws on the tester to great her. Second try at 15 months was much better. I'm still having trouble getting him to keep "four on the floor", as we call it.

[Kelli, Fenway, & Dustin Pedroia]

Oh my gosh! I can't believe she said that. People can be so rude.

I'm glad that other than that you had a good experience and that you know exactly what to expect. I know that Lucy and Sophie will do great once the time comes to take the test.

[20xlhzzaoccks]

Well, Our journey to Steve becoming a registered therapy dog was a long one but worth it. Steve started in group obedience classes at 12 weeks and passed his CGC at 8 months. He took his Delta test at a little over a year but the evaluator felt he was not ready yet and needed more time to calm down. I was devastated because we had been working so hard his entire life and we took some time off from classes and then he went back to classes when he was two and passed the Delta test at two and a half. Come to find out that the test is pretty dependant on the individual evaluator and Steve probably really was ready the first time. The first evaluator was pretty rude to me and said that she knew the minute she saw him that he wouldn't pass so she had already made up her mind before the test even started. The second (different) evaluator said the exact opposite and said the minute she saw him she knew he would pass and that he had the temperment to be a great therapy dog. I would suggest that when you find out which organization you want to join that you try to get a sense of the evalutors. They will usually let you come watch testing even if you are not yet ready to test. Like Adina said, I did some really concentrated training with him in the weeks before the test trying to practice with people and other dogs. Steve had the most problems with other dogs because he would get so excited he couldn't contain himself. The first evaluator said that the dog could not break from your side at all when you passed the other dog and could not show any interest in the other dog. The second evaluator said the dog could show interest in the other dog as long as it was not aggressive. I would also recommend lots of excercise the day of the test when they are tired they tend to be more obedient. Good luck in the process and keep us updated.

[20xlhzzaoccks]

Yep exactly like what you are talking about, I think part of the reason he did not pass that time was because we did not do our training at the facility where the test was being given they kept telling me that he had not been properly trained and that I should be coming to them for training. Now I tell everyone that asks me about trainers not to go to that facility. They shouldn't have crossed me :) But it all worked out for the best and Steve is a great therapy dog!

[Kelli, Fenway, & Dustin Pedroia]

Hi Everyone, I wanted to thank everyone for posting their experiences and stories. It has really helped me alot. Fenway and I will continue to train until she's ready and then hopefully we'll pass the test.
I actually went to an assistive technology expo yestereday and there was a room with a bunch of vendors set up to give you information about their products. Well low and behold there was a booth for Prescription Paws, which is our local therapy dog organization. They certify through Delta and go into the local hospitals, nursing homes, and schools to do therapy. Although I'd looked at their website, I had never talked to any of the people who were members. Well anyway, I got lots of good information and tips from one of the handlers that was there. I also found out that the lady who evaluates for our area lives very close to me and does some training too. He also told me that one of our local rehab and nursing home facilities would allow you to bring a well behaved dog there to help him/her get used to the sites, sounds, and smells of a medical environment. I was so excited to hear this and can't wait to train some more. He also told me I could come out and watch anytime I wanted. I'll definitely keep everyone posted!