Advice/tips for a newbie?

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Hi guys!

My doodle (Loki) is almost a year old and I would love nothing more than to get home started with a therapy dog program. Since we are coming up on his birthday I figured I should seriously start looking into evaluating him and getting him going. I have called some evaluators in my area and have chatted with them and he seems to be "up to par" with the exception of occasionally tugging on the leash- which we are working on.
All that being said, do you guys have any tips to pass on? Any good recommendations for which organization to go with? (Not sure if that allowed on here, so sorry if it's not!) there are a couple of doodles that play with Loki at the dog park that are therapy dogs and their handlers have nothing but great things to say about the experiences.

Thanks guys, have a great night!

Jess and Loki

[BG and Gavin]

I would look for what evaluators are available in your area and go from there.  We belong to TDI (same as Jane) but Pet Partners is another popular one.  I have also heard of Love on a Leash.  The other thing that you could do is think of where you want to visit and contact them asking what certification agency they prefer. At any rate, if you have been through basic training, you could take the Canine Good Citizen test and that will give you an idea of how your pup measures up.  You do not need to take therapy specific training (we didn't because it was not available) but it is helpful to do training in different settings.  We took a course at Petsmart because much of the training took place in the isles of the store and we had to navigate all ages of people, other dogs, toys and food.  We also took an outdoor street safety course which was great because we trained in yet another setting (outside, downtown) with even more exposure to different people and situations.  Gavin is by no means perfectly trained and you dog does not need to be either.  Basic obedience, good manners, an excellent temperament and being people oriented is what it takes.

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

That's very reassuring! Loki has his great days and his bad days. Atleast most days he is very well behaved but he loves people so much especially kids and he sometimes forgets his leash manners until I "get through to him"- for lack of a better phrase. I think he has a very laid back and easy going temperament; this dog is so selfless (i suppose they all are :) ) and will literally let anyone do whatever to him which I think could be one of his most defining traits. There was one kid who stuck his hand in Loki's mouth because he wanted to see his "really pink tongue" and did so before his mom could stop him! Thankfully! Loki justsat there looking confused and let him hold his tongue until myself and the parent got the two of them separated. Probably one of his funnier moments as a puppy!

[Rita and Fazzy]

We are certified thru Pet Partners.  Fazzy is 2.5 years old, but has always been a very people focused, calm dog - even as a puppy - but I waited until he was 2 before I took the handlers course, which can be done in a class, or online.  After that is your team evaluation - and honestly, it's all pretty basic stuff...walking on leash, wait, leave it, walking by a neutral dog without trying to get to it, not freaking out at someone with a walker or in a wheelchair, accepting a stranger and allowing them to touch him/her.  The eval is maybe 15 minutes total, but seems like forever when you're on the one being evaluated!!!  :-)  Our instructor set up practices after we went thru the class, which was very helpful.

Feel free to message me if you have any questions.  :-)

Rita

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Thank you :)

[Sue Robin F]

I have had 3 Therapy dogs. On died about 8 months ago, so now i have 2. I have been doing therapy work for about 8 years. As far as organizations, alot depends on what state you are in. I am in NJ ... where are you? I originally belonged to TDI but then switched to Bright and Beautiful Therapy dogs. You cannot belong to 2 groups at once and I preferred Bright and beautiful because they were more active in my area. There is a local chapter where I live and besides doing individual visits, we also do large presentations together. They require that the first  6 months you do visits with other experienced handlers and their dogs, but after that you can go on your own.We have had as much as 18 dogs presenting at a school at one time. They weekly send out emails tellling us about places that have requested dogs. Since i have had much experience, I also iniate new places on my own.

Over the years I have gone to nursing homes, rehabs, group homes for disabled adults, special schools for both emotionally and physically handicapped children, many libraries,  camps for special needs children and adults,worked with mentally ill adults,did special events like a town senior day, or at a church or temple on a volunteer experience day. Presently I regularly got to a k through 8 school and work with special needs kids, I  go to a library reading to dogs program that I initiated 6 years ago, I just started at an Alzheimers group home and I have gone through orientation to start at a local large hospital but I need to get a TB test, a flu shot and a medical signed. I still do special events and special programs.

TDI is in most states. You probably have this already, but I can send you the link to TDI and bright and beautiful therapy dogs right after this post

[Sue Robin F]

http://www.golden-dogs.org/    

http://www.tdi-dog.org/

The top one is Bright and Beautiful Therapy dogs and the second one is TDI. They both give training classes and testing. When you go through a class and are tested by that instructor it is easier to pass. I did it both ways. I took Moses to 2 unknown to me testers[evaluators],from TDI and B&B.... but he is so amazing he passed easily. I knew what was on the test, they tell you on the website so I practiced at home with him. My other 2 Therapy dogs i took to Therapy dog classes and then took the test. a few examples of what was on the tests my dogs took ....One tester threw over a walker a few inches from us[it shocked and scared me] and the dog was supposed to stay calm. They have also thrown a can of nails next to us. We had to walk through loud crowds, a congested group of people in wheelchairs, people on crutches and walkers and strange    acting people. [they set it up] One tester bumped my dogs leg with a cane. The dog also has to on command approach a person in a wheelchair gently. A strict tester will fail a dog if they jump up. They will also fail a dog if it growls at another dog.The dogs also have to leave a treat on the floor. etc.

 If possible take the training class. If you have any questions let me know. Good luck.

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

That's sounds cool, do they allow dogs to wear harnesses? I walk Loki in a harness because he's a big dog and between that and my bad shoulder it's easier with a harness. I've read on some websites that they can only have basic collars and leashes.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Not sure what type harness you use, but different organizations allow different things.  So, you will need to decide which organization you want to test through an then go from there.  Pet Partners allows Gentle Leaders, head or harness type.  However, whatever you test in is what you have to use when you go on visits.

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

We have an easy walk and that works perfect for us so that's good to know, I'll look into that!

[Sue Robin F]

Hadley is beautiful and adorable and sounds like she has a great personality. They go through different personality changesas they mature especially during their adolescence. They also go through changes in reactions to other dogs.This is a  pretest from Bright and Beautiful Therapy dogs to see if your dog is ready to start training for the real test. They also have to be one years old to take the test. The Therapy tests my dogs have taken seem like more is required than Pet Partners or other groups I have seen mentioned. I have taken tests 4 times since i had 3 Therapy dogs and one passed 2 different

organizations tests. [TDI and Bright and Beautiful Therapy dogs]. Unless things have gotten easier recently. Much luck. I described some things on the actual test in a previous post.  Here is the pretest.  http://www.golden-dogs.org/

[TYoung]

I'm so happy I found this group!  My girl, Hadley, is a medium mulitgen ALD.  She is currently 4 months old, but it is a dream of mine to have her be a therapy dog someday.  Her disposition is so mild and sweet.  As a puppy of course, she has a lot of learning to do, but she is doing very well so far.  She is so smart I am constantly amazed at how quickly she catches on to things.  Does anyone know of a good resource where I might find a sequential list of the specific training items that we should ideally be working on, at home, as we try to get her ready for the next step?  

Attached is a recent photo of Hadley letting me pose her paws in a "lady like" way :)  She lets me do just about anything to her...so trusting and loving!

Thanks for any input you may have!  Tanya

[BG and Gavin]

What an absolute doll! I don't have it at my finger tips, but do an on line search for puppy exposure list. It will have score of things on it such as farm animals, construction workers, a fire truck etc.. You can post it on your fridge and tick them off as you expose her to them. It's a fun exercise!