Anyone train a therpy dog before?

[ninny]

I am wanting to train my two larger dogs as therpy dogs. Could i get some tips? I am going to go through TDI. I am also going to get a cgc on each of them before we go for testing.

Thanks!

 

[NancyDz]

socialize, socialize, socialize. They need to be exposed to every type of situation possible .

 

[CoyoteMagic]

I have a Service Dog that helps me with medical issues.

Like Nancy said. Solialize as much as you can. Expose your dogs to anything you think you may come across in a therapy situation. Smells, sounds, different sights, sudden movements. Take them to parks, to walks in the city, outside busy shopping areas.

Research your state and local laws regarding training and access. Some states require training by a certified trainer, others do not. Find out specificly what type of therapy you want to do. Not all dogs are situated for all situations.

Good Luck

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

I too have a Service Dog, a retired lab and a little guy in training currently.

Cannot stress the socialization enough. People are unpredictable and you need to know that your dog will be unflappable in the face of anything, same for a Service Dog. I have been out in public with my retried SD and dropped several packages of maxi pads on his head, ran over his foot with the cart, had little kids hurl themselves at him and stick their fingers in his nose, pull his ears, etc.

They need to be fine with EVERYTHING. Loud sidden noises. Being touched anywhere by anyone at anytime.
Other animals. ALL types of people, white, black, asian, everything in between. Babies, and the very elderly. Mentally challeneged people with slured speach who may be prone to outbursts, Parkinson suffers who may have very shaky unsteady movements while trying to pet the dog, etc.
Walkers, wheelchairs, scooters, crutches, canes, you name it.

They say that only 1 in every 500 dogs is suitable for Service Dog work, but I suspect the same number apply for Therapy Dogs, maybe a little more like 2 in 500.

You should have the dog that you are interested in using temperment tested to be certain that he/she is stable. Then I would proceed with normal obedience training and obtaining a CGC from the AKC. Then move on to thinking about the TDI.

 

[brandywine]

I agree about the importance of TEMPERAMENT.

Training can get the dog under control, socialization can show him how to behave in new situations and help him fulfill his potential, but only great genetics can allow him to become bombproof. This is inborn temperament.

Great genetics doesn't mean parents who were show champions. A completely random mutt can happen to have the right genetics. The most likely source, though, is a pup from parents who were bred for demanding work -- service work -- or police work, retrieving, herding work. The latter dogs are likely to be more energetic and difficult to handle, especially as youngsters.

Get a really hard-nosed evaluation of the dog's temperament. Don't find someone who will tell you what you want to hear, but someone who will tell it like it is.

We require service dog-level stability of temperament for our search and rescue dogs. They go everywhere with us. Have the privilege of flying in-cabin on airplanes on many airlines. (Easier to lose than the right of access under ADA.) They have to be impeccable. 80% of getting a dog with that kind of stability is what happens before the pup is ever born. 15% happens at the breeder's before the pup goes home. The rest is our socialization and training. Every bit of it is mandatory, you can't skimp on any part to get that 100% dog.

And if YOU aren't sure your dog is ready to do the work, don't believe someone who "passed" her on a test. I've seen too many evaluators fudge a test to make the handler happy and not be "mean." Does no favors to the dog, the handler, the organization's reputation, or especially the people the dog is supposed to be helping.

Best of luck.

 

[Emzyyy]

Our school actually has a Therapy Dog club and kids at school bring their dogs in afterschool and they train them and some dogs pass and some don't. I wanted to do it but Im so busy with Track and Cross Country.

 

[ninny]

Id love to do both my big dogs but the one im not sure on right now so we'll see. She was a pound dog so just doing socialization with right now. My lab on the other hand is just plan awesome! At 4 months old he shocked me by laying down and letting my year old nephew poke his eye till i could rescue him. This dog also has a nose like no other and will stick his entire head with eyes open under water to find the toy we threw in his pool. I have no doubt with the right training he will be great. I have also toyed with the idea of training for SAR with him. But i don't do well traveling. I would like to use him as a service dog for me when my hip flars up. He picks things up and brings them to me and helps with the laundry. He is only 13 months old but is up to 40 different commands on cue. His down fall is the dust buster. It scares the fur off him.

I have permission to bring him to church and all church events to train. Could i take him in to stores? In our area a lot of people bring dogs in stores saying there service dogs in training with no vests on or anything to prove it. If he started to seemed stressed or even thought of misbehaving we would leave.


I would like to work with kids and people doing physical therapy. What types of therapy are there?

 

[CoyoteMagic]

You will need to look up your state law regarding service dogs. I swear each one is different! NC allows you to train with your dog as long as you have a vest saying it's a service dog in training. Federal Law does not cover dogs in training.

(please remember I have chemo-brain and may not be remember everything correctly)

Full fledged Service Dogs are not required to wear vests as per federal law, however in my opinion, it makes it a whole lot easier. Especially when you have a dog that doesn't exactly look like everyones idea of what a service dog should look like, i.e., Golden, Lab or GShepard. Spook is a Cattle Dog. I have a friend who has a standard Poodle and another who has a Chi for PTS.

If you are considering your dog for use for weightbearing and support, PLEASE have him check by a vet to make sure his hips are sound enough for such a job. Not all dogs are sound enough for this but he could still be great for helping around the house and in public.

Certification is NOT required by federal law. Know your rights as a disabled person

 

[lurky]

A good book to read before training is " The Loved Dog" by Tamar Geller.
She is AMAZING. I am learning to train dogs and a friend who trains Therapy Dogs gave me this book to read before i started. Its a must read for anyone who loves their dog. It teaches common mistakes people make with their pets. IMO, its very powerful. I have 4 dogs, and began with one of them. 2 were watching and learned commands i was teaching to the one working because they too wanted the rewards

It was so funny to see them doing the tricks too. Positive reward training is the best. Good Luck to you, its alot of fun and everyone benefits

 

[ninny]

Quote:
Im not disabled. The hip is from a old riding injury that flairs up once and a whille and knocks me on my butt. He will be weightbearing and picking things up for me. Can i still use him in public? What is PTS?