Getting started with a therapy dog?

[gritsar]

This is for further reference y'all.
We will be getting a female GSD once Jax is about 8 months old. My DH doesn't want or think it's a good idea to use Jax for this, mainly because we are working with him on being very protective; especially of me (I'm disabled).
Having a therapy dog to take to the group home where I used to work and possibly to the nursing home is something I'd really like to do with the female.
Know any good links to get me started?

 

[Redyre Rotties]

Your dog needs to have a Canine Good Citizen certificate.

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

And then your dog needs also to be well socialized around people in wheel chairs, on crutches, etc. Dogs also need to be able to tolerate unexpected loud noises, head hugging, waving arms, minor poking and prodding, etc.

Next you will have to find a TDI or Delta Society tester to get your dog certified.

Therapy Dogs International

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

Delta Society

http://www.deltasociety.org/Page.aspx?pid=183

More Therapy Dog information

http://www.doglogic.com/therapy.htm

 

[gritsar]

Thanks so much for those links!

My Charlie Girl would have been the best of therapy dogs. I frequently took her to work with me at the group home and there was nothing the residents could do that bothered her. She gave lots of love and got it in return. Unfortunately, her health kept her from reaching her full potential.

Thanks again!

 

[Redyre Rotties]

You are so welcome. This sort of work is very rewarding for all the participants. Good luck!

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Good links Redyre!

Biggest thing I can say about this is to SOCIALIZE SOCIALIZE SOCIALIZE.

There are several of us on here that have Service Dogs. My Aussie, Spook is a Medical Alert/Responce Dog. I have acute allergies that send me into anaplylatic shock. She alerts me to this before I know it's beginning and to things I am allergic to.

I don't know where you are but each state has different rules/laws on where you have access to train your dog. Take them to flea markets and swap meets. All sorts of scents and smells. Parks with kids running and playing. Ballfields with chearing fans.


We were in Cracker Barrel once. Someone dropped a tray of empty dishes. One of the broken coffee cups slide across the floor and stopped not 6 inches from Spooks' nose. She never moved.


One other thing. You don't have to train for protectiveness. A dog that loves and respects you will be fiercely loyal and protective to the end.

 

[Redyre Rotties]

I WOULD NEVER ENCOURAGE ANY PUPPY TO BE PROTECTIVE. What you are reinforcing is an insecure fear based reaction on the part of the puppy.

A puppy must grow up secure and confident in himself, and learn to be upstanding and friendly with all people before he can have the confidence he would need to protect anyone.

This is a seriously VERY WRONG thing to do with a puppy, and I expect if you continue you will strongly regret it later.

Coyote Magic is right. Take the puppy EVERYWHERE YOU CAN. Encourage him to be friendly and outgoing with ALL people. When a puppy is socialized in this way, when he is older, he will immediately recognize the difference in a threatening person.

 

[gritsar]

Yes, I understand what y'all are saying about him being overprotective. Maybe what I should say is that we are not discouraging him in any way from being protective of me.
He's already figured out that someone in the yard, that I am greeting in a friendly manner, is cool. If they are outside the fence, he lets them know they need to stay there until I tell him otherwise.
My Charlie Girl was the same way. If I was cool with someone, so was she. If someone made me nervous, she was extra vigilant.
I am disabled, we live on an isolated farm and my DH works nights. We like having a dog as our first line of defense.

 

[Redyre Rotties]

I understand, but a puppy the age of yours IS NOT CAPABLE OF DEFENSIVE BEHAVIOR.

He will be operating off of feeling fearful and due to his lack of confidence.

This is why puppies should be encouraged to be friendly to all people at younger ages. The building of the friendly response, and the confident greeting of all people will eventually translate into a confident upstanding dog who if properly trained and of the correct pedigree will have the ability to be a real protector.

If you reward fearful or nervy/aggressive type behavior towards visitors at this age, I think you will end up having issues later.

I don't like to see my puppies displaying any kind of territorial stuff until they are near a year old, and I don't encourage it.

 

[ninny]

Not going to get involved with the protection issue expect to say if you really want a trained dog hire a professional trainer if that's what you going for.

I am working with two dogs for therapy. We take them everywhere we can. And train the snot out of them. Any questions let me know.

Edited to add. If your pup is displaying fearful and aggressive behavior at 8 months you have a problem on your hands. You need to nip it in the bud now! Oops i got into it anyway.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Jax is not 8 months old. He's about a week and a half shy of 4 months old. He is neither fearful nor aggressive. He is a normal, happy healthy pup that has already learned the difference between inside the yard and out.