THERAPY DOGS are everywhere now – Airports, School Reading Programs, Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Court Rooms, and even Fire and Police Stations – all provided through volunteers & their dogs.
Volunteering time in your community is a wonderful thing to do to give back but volunteering with your canine companion as a Therapy Dog can give even more joy to others who may be in need of some loving companionship, support, and even stress relief. Being a Therapy Dog & Hander though is much more than just having a dog who loves people. It’s about having a dog who not only enjoys the company of people and seeks them out but who is also a well-mannered canine. This includes having a calm and gentle disposition, being able to walk on leash without pulling, not startle with strange noises, smells and even the odd piece of medical equipment. The Therapy Dog also needs to be able to accept strangers touching them, not jump on anyone as well a be good in the presence of other dogs. In short a well-mannered pooch.
If you’ve often thought about how you could volunteer with your dog but aren’t quite sure if your dog’s manners are up to snuff, how to even train many of the useful skills and behaviours needed or what it takes to prepare you and your dog to become such a valued community member then come join us in the VOLUNTEER READY! Therapy Dog Skills class.
Many Therapy Dog programs require dogs to have passed AKC CGC (Canine Good Citizen) or CKC CGN (Canine Good Neighbour) and even the AKC URBAN CGC tests. So, with that in mind we’ll be covering and fine-tuning many of the skills in those programs as well as adding a couple of new ones for you. At the end of class with diligent practice, you should be ready to take your CGC, CGN or URBAN CGC test and then approach the organization in your area and apply to their program for a test.
NOTE: This class is NOT suitable for reactive, shy or over the top excitable dogs. This is not a certification class but rather a fine-tuning of skills and behaviours often needed to pass various certification tests.
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Syllabus
THERAPY DOG SKILLS CLASS
There will be a number of straight lectures in this class as well as loads of revisiting and spiffing up your basics. We’ll need video baselines of your basics and then once that’s done, we’ll move on to working on the skills that need some attention to prepare you and get you ready to apply to your local organization to take their Therapy Dog Test.
Don’t worry or fret about the outline. It’s adjustable and accommodating and nothing is set in stone. Looking at the outline you may think you need special equipment, you don’t. We’ll improvise where needed. Therefore, keeping this in mind the course may be adjusted based on students in the class and what is available to everyone.
Interesting things to know? Where do therapy dogs work? What exactly do they do? How do I get started? Is my dog old enough? Making sure your dog is healthy. Temperament considerations.
Starting the Journey Preparing Your Puppy - Basics for consideration
How Do I Look? Grooming Collars or Harnesses Leashes
What Have I Got So Far - Spiffing Up The Basics Sits, Downs & Stands Stays – it’s okay I know you’ll be back Loose Leash Skills Leave It – It could be harmful Recalls
Making My Rounds – Public Appearances Polite Walking Where Ever I Go Doors, Doors & More Door - Sliding doors - Swinging doors
Elevator Etiquette Stairs: Up & Down Handling Crowds Accepting A Friendly Stranger Pet Me Please – Gentle interactions - Chin Rests - Paws Up - Standing Still
What’s THAT! Ignoring people & other dogs Temptation Alley Medical Mystery Tour - Carts, Wheelchairs, Canes, Walkers, Crutches - Sounds: Buzzers & Beepers, Loud Voices Too!
Other Public Appearances Restaurants/Café Hanging out with others Off-Leash Control
Safety Measures Car Safety Whoops – I’m having a bad day Keeping your dog not only physically healthy but emotionally healthy and ready to participate Being prepared in case of disasters both to work and your own safety
Prerequisites and Equipment
Familiar with Clicker (marker) training
Clicker & Treat Pouch
6 ft. lead & either a flat buckle or martingale collar or front attachment harness
Possibility of access to objects such as: seniors walker, cane, child's trike (in place of a walker), cart or wagon, noise/sound maker, variety of walking surfaces, access to an elevator
Sample Lecture
2.5 ELEVATOR ETIQUETTE - Practicing Skills
Practicing your skills and having a plan before you set out on your travels is always a good idea. Here I took the opportunity to use an office elevator to practice close quarter enter/exit skills with Piper. This particular elevator had a small waiting area and itself was very tight so it offered a good opportunity to work in a small space. Even though Piper has been on elevators many times before I still practice when we get a chance. This helps to keep the Elevator Rules fresh.
I use my hand target to help guide Piper into position up against the wall in the corner. I use all the cues she knows to help her be successful.
RECAP Wait At Doors: Whether in your home or out in public a good solid wait at doors helps keep everyone safe. When it comes to elevators, a wait allows people to be able to exit without falling over your dog. It also keeps your dog out of harm's way should there be another less friendly dog on the elevator. It's not always possible but try to be at least 6 feet back from the elevator doorway and maintain a shorter leash as you wait to enter or exit the elevator.
Release Cues: When we taught our dogs to wait at doors for Door Dashers, we also included a release cue to allow them to proceed through the door. We need our dogs to wait for their cue to enter and exit the elevator. Just because the door opens doesn't mean it's time to move. Most elevators have a ding, signifying the door opening. Our dogs quickly associate this ding with the door opening and people/dogs entering or exiting and may take this as their cue to move. You can avoid this ding association by treating your dog in position whether inside or outside of the elevator.
> Begin treating when the door dings and is about to open.
> Treat when the door opens and closes but don't go anywhere.
> Stop treats when the door closes.
> Repeat treating inside the elevator when the door opens, stop treating when it closes.
This will keep your dog focused on you when the door opens.
Here you'll notice Piper is beginning to look at me when the door dings and opens. When the door opens I incorporate a pause before moving. I don't want the opening of the door to signal movement.
We continue to practice entering the elevator from both directions.
Full Elevators: Just because the elevator door opens doesn't mean you and your dog have to get on it. This is especially true if there happens to be another dog you may not feel comfortable with. Squishing in between a lot of people may be disconcerting and stressful for your dog so by all means let the elevator pass and take the next one. If you're already on the elevator and someone gets on the elevator with or without a dog and you're not comfortable by all means exit on the next floor.
Testimonials
A SAMPLING OF WHAT PRIOR STUDENTS HAVE SAID ABOUT THIS COURSE ...
New class for the August 2019 session.
Registration
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