I would like to get my dog certified for therapy. What does this involve?

The top three therapy dog programs in the U.S. are:

http://deltasociety.org/

http://tdi-dog.org/

http://therapydogs.com/

Each of the above websites includes information on local affiliate clubs, testing requirements, and information on finding testing locations or evaluators near you. Taking a class can be very helpful, but may not be necessary for everyone. Delta offers a home study course if you would like to take a class and cannot find one near you. CGC (Canine Good Citizen) classes tend to be easier to find and they cover about 80% of the training skills a dog needs to become a therapy dog.

Contrary to what one answerer said, a dog isn't just born a therapy dog. Yes, you need to start out with a dog with the right temperament and that is born into them, but they also need training to behave correctly in settings like hospitals and nursing homes. To pass the registration tests, they need to walk politely on a loose leash, sit/down/stay/come on command, tolerate being petted/brushed/examined by a stranger, be calm when left with a stranger while the owner leaves the room for several minutes, be polite when meeting another dog/handler team (not sniffing at the other dog, nor growling/lunging/barking). Therapy dogs also need to be able to ignore food and toys dropped on the floor, and be comfortable with strange looking people and people using assistive equipment like walkers, canes, and wheel chairs.

The therapy dog group I used to participate with went to the local rehab center once a week on a regular schedule. It is still a volunteer activity since no one gets paid, but that's not why people do it anyway.

Once he passes the therapy dog test, you register with the organization that tested you. Registration averages $25-$30 per year and includes a newsletter and liability insurance as well as credentials and education materials to help you introduce yourself to whatever facility you'd like to be invited to visit. Local clubs may already have standing arrangements with various facilities so it's a good idea to join if you do have a local club.

In our area, there is a dog kennel that breeds and also they host the therapy dog classes, and they also are a contact so that when people are looking for therapy dogs for special events and occassions, they contact the kennel, who has a list of the handlers that have been trained. I know that particular kennel trains handlers and dogs seperately, so if anyone is interested but doesn't have a dog that is suited, they can learn and can bring one of the kennel's dogs which has been trained and has an aptitude as a therapy dog; also, if someone has a dog with an aptitude for being a therapy dog, but who doesn't have the time or the inclination to use the dog for therapy, the dog can be trained and matched with a handler who has more time. I'm certain there are other similar programs across the country.

Go to the Therapy Dogs International internet site for checking out requisites. Yes. You will must be licensed and resister each yr. Your puppy's well being documents will must be up to date every yr and you are going to want a Tetanus shot each yr (relying on in which you volunteer). The largest side of the approach is having a relatively well, social puppy that loves being round persons and is well with different puppies. The relaxation is solely elementary coaching that you'll get performed at Petsmart. Ask them which magnificence will quilt the requisites. It's ordinarily an Intermediate magnificence . Once you're able to be proven, you are going to must uncover a regional tester. The scan is quite often performed as a discipline scan in a park. Often, with a institution of different testers. My Chihuahua and I had been doing this for the final three.five years. There are not plenty of Chihuahuas doing this paintings and it provides to the allure.

I don't know a lot about the process myself, but I am very interested in possibly training my puppy to one day be a therapy dog. I think it would be such a rewarding volunteer opportunity for myself and the dog. I Googled and found this site: http://www.therapydogclass.com/ that is from the Ohio area.

I would check out this site:

http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/training_testing.cfm

That's going to give you the best info on how to train for the tests, where they are located and where to go from there.

I think therapy dogs are born that way, not trained that way...read a book called Izzy and Lenore by Jon Katz, its about his therepy dogs, and how they dot that way..be prepared to cry .