stuart75
Registered: 01/29/08
Posts: 30
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Posted 06/29/08
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#1
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I've been supporting individuals who are deaf and developmentally delayed for about 12 years now. I've recently become interested in the area of pet therapy. I've searched the internet for information regarding training that is specific to therapy dogs and have come up short. Besides socialization training and exposure to everything imaginable can anyone point me in the right direction. I have 5 mastiffs and have one in particular that I feel would be most suitable for this type of service. I have found a pet therapy association in my area and will be in touch with them but in the meant ime I thought I'd throw it at you guys lol. ANY info or links to relevant sites would be appreciated.... thank-you soo much in advance
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StacyinTN
Registered: 06/26/08
Posts: 52
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Posted 06/29/08
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#2
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As far as i understand it (and that is not really far), i believe they have to be canine good citizen's first, then they move on to therapy training. That is how they did it at the school my mastiff went to. We were just there for basic obedience training, but they offered classes AND testing for CGC and therapy, but the CGC came first. I wanted Brutus to do it SO badly, but he just doesnt have the temperment for it. He gets shy around loud noises and uncertain situations. ;-(
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The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated. -Ghandi
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Dixie
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Registered: 06/08/06
Posts: 5,391
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Posted 06/29/08
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#3
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The CGC and Therapy Dog Designations are two different things.
Go to Therapy Dog International and check out their website. See where/when they give the tests. Most likely the evaluator will give both tests at the same venue/same day.
Teach your dog basic obedience commands before going. Sit, Stay, Down-Stay and Leave It. I taught these commands by myself at home. (this is for CGC)
You want your dog to obey the command "Leave It" for a variety of reasons...most notably food. Also, have someone who has a walker/or crutches come up to your dog...to help him get used to that idea. Even if you have to rent a couple of crutches for a day and "set up" your dog. It helps (this is for TDI certification and tags)
There is no title in the world that can compare to the feeling you have when your dog passes these two tests!
Don't be nervous taking the test. Remember, they want you to succeed!
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Dixie
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FaerieLantern
Registered: 05/14/08
Posts: 386
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Posted 06/30/08
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#4
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http://www.tdi-dog.org/
Here is the TDI web site. If you e-mail them your location they will send you the dates and requirements for your state, through snail mail. You do have to have the CGC first or obtain it on the same day. : )
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mastiffsinmyheart
Registered: 07/05/06
Posts: 366
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Posted 06/30/08
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#5
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Hello, You need to have your CGC first before you get the TDI. When we tested our dogs we did both, CGC/TDI together. When you test you are the handler for that dog, no one else can handle him/her as a therapy dog, unless they test on the dog too. Our Lil'George took the CGC/TDI test three times that day one with my daughter who trained him, once with me, and once with my husband. All three of us are certified to handle him. We did that because when the girls are in heat they cant do visits. I don't know where you are located but check with your local kennel club, or even your local humane society. We do all of our show classes with the kennel club. Our obedience and therapy training we do with the humane society they offer a wide range of obedience classes, and they do CGC/TDI testing 3- 4 times a year. Good Luck you will find therapy work very rewarding.
CGC can be obtained at 6 months of age.
TDI can be obtained at one year of age.
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Natalie
Registered: 04/11/08
Posts: 579
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Posted 06/30/08
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#6
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I would also like to offer the Delta society. they have been involved with animal therapy and the human animal bond for many decades. They have alot of information on their website http://www.deltasociety.org
You do not need to have a CGC before training with them, but you do need to take a course, either online or as a one day workshop. They have instructors all over the country. Also, if you are a health care professional or work in a field related to the disabled, community services for those in need, there is a special designation you can go for which allows you to keep notes and write goals for the people you are involved with.
Either organization will help you and get you on your way, but your dog needs to have a basic understanding of proper behavior before you test. I suuggest an obedience course and taking the dog out to all places, parks, parking lots, home depot, lowes, shopping malls etc. You may not be able to enter some of these places, but the exposure to different sites, smells and sounds is what you are looking for.
Good luck!
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Natalie R.Y, Allouche
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Tanksmom
Registered: 08/22/07
Posts: 580
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Posted 07/01/08
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#7
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Yes the delta society has all the info you could need, you can get lost there with lots of info.
You can do lots of practicing at home and places with stuff like walkers and crutches wheelchairs and just ordinary stuff loud noises and that kind of stuff ya know so the dogs are use to these sort of things and do not react to them. Just like in CGC practicing down stays with distractions etc.
If you look around you can find trainers in your area that even have therapy classes but they usually are after they have completed the CGC class and this is the typical things loud noises introducing these sort of things the more exposed the better.
If you go to Association of Pet Dog Trainers - Dog Training Resources this is one good way to find a trainer in your area ofcourse you still need to do your research and make sure they train the right way and if you ever see bad things walk out the door ofcourse, is my thinking. Do your research because anyone can call themselves a dog trainer.
Here is an example of the trainer I met and her class she has listed.
The Dogs Spot hope that helps
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