Therapy Dog People...

 first of all - boy do I wish that something like this was offered here I'd sign up in a split second - and if I were you I would do it.  Let us know what you do

OK, I'm going to try.  I always thought the therapy dog test was way harder than CGC, but the requirements for the pet therapy class were more relaxed than those for my CGC/obedience class.  I guess it doesn't matter if she doesn't pass.  We are probably taking rally and I had no intention of doing rally!  Who knows, maybe by Nov she will be more motivated by interacting with her environment.  That's really her main problem.  She is so attentive to me, she just doesn't care about anyone or anything else and I thought a therapy dog should be somewhat outgoing.

Liesje

She doesn't really care either way about strangers

I believe that the more positive situations you can put her in can only help in the long run.  I don't think that it could hurt.

When my GF got her youngest, Snowy, she was very shy with strangers (even by sheltie standards), but by going with us to all the agility trials and meeting people and seeing my pups and how friendly with people and good things happening she has progressed a long way from the shy girl she was.

timsdat

but by going with us to all the agility trials and meeting people and seeing my pups and how friendly with people and good things happening she has progressed a long way from the shy girl she was.

 

Oh, you reminded me of something else (unrelated).  I'm going to a trial this weekend and am leash running for 3 heights of Ex JWW but then will watch the other runs and Standard.  Kenya's previous trainer and possibly previous owner will be there so I sort of wanted to take her.  I know for most dog shows you can't bring dogs that aren't entered.  Is that true of agility?  I was considering bringing her crate and crating her with the other dogs (she is perfectly well behaved in the crate) so if her friends want to see her they can and she can also get used to being at a trial (crated with all the noise and people).  Is that OK? 

Liesje

I'm going to a trial this weekend and am leash running for 3 heights of Ex JWW but then will watch the other runs and Standard.  Kenya's previous trainer and possibly previous owner will be there so I sort of wanted to take her.  I know for most dog shows you can't bring dogs that aren't entered.  Is that true of agility?

That really depends on the club.  I really haven't been to one down here that restricts dogs there to who are entered.  I only saw it at the nationals where the crating space was very limited and you were assigned a small spot for each entered dog.  I know that some places have real problems with crating space limitations so there are some that do.  The best thing to do is either check the premium and see if it states there is a limitation or ask someone who is going.  If it is outside I can't see why they would restrict.  I know many people that take their dogs and puppies there to acclimate and socialize them.  Timmy went to his first at 6 months old when Sprite started running and boy did he cheer her on.

A therapy dog is permitted to startle, but they can't go running off down the hall terrified.  Sioux started out as a puppy who hid under the chairs at puppy class, and she is now one of the best therapy dogs in our area and has convinced numerous administrators of facilities in our area that therapy dogs are a cool idea.  Not saying that Kenya has the aptitude for this, but it can only make her a better dog to get the training and exposure to new people and dogs.  Go for it.

My basenjis certainly aren't as friendly as goldens, but they are calm and stable.  If I ask them to "step up" they will, they are happy to let strangers pet them, happy to do an array of dog-and-pony tricks.  I actually think an overly friendly dog would be harder to train to be a therapy dog.  The patients/residents don't seem to notice and are probably happier with my basenjis as they would be with a demanding, pushy, overly friendly dog.  And my basenjis have learned their "job" on our therapy visits and look forward to them.  Most of the time I think taking the dogs is just an excuse to chat with the residents.  (Many times it is the same conversation, but that's okay too.)

agilebasenji

(Many times it is the same conversation, but that's okay too.)

 You noticed that too.  When we were doing it at a nursing home we heard the same stories every time.  Dogs loved to do it but it was really hard on me seeing people go downhill so fast.  Eventually it just burned me out.

 There are other places that you can go besides just nursing homes.  Casey has gone to two hospitals and has been to three special needs classes within the school system.  We're working now to set up a reading to dogs program in the school system, and the local library would also love to start one.  At both the schools and reading to dogs the handler and dog really determine how much touching goes on.  Casey happens to love being loved on, but his main job is to do some tricks and stand quietly while I talk about dog care, animal care in general, and answer questions.  Many of the kids have never had a dog, or have perceptions of care that most of us would disagree with.

Casey works under TDI rather than Delta Society, and their test IS harder than the CGC, although if you have an evaluator who is qualified to give the CGC you get both at the same time (as Casey did).  We didn't do any special classes, only our obedience classes, but you and your dog have to be comfortable with the elements so those classes would certainly lead you toward your goal.

 The biggies are leather or web buckle collars only.  The dog is allowed to startle, as mentioned above, but isn't allowed to cower, try to run, or turn to growl or bark at the noise.  For TDI the dog has to stay with a stranger for 3 minutes while the handler goes out of sight.  The dog is allowed to be mildly restless, but not pulling on the leash, barking or whining.

 Anyhow, it's interesting to go to all the different places that utilize therapy dogs and it never hurts to go for it for the experience!
 

Liesje -- part of the point OF the classes is that it helps you train the dog *not* to startle so easily.  TDI is a darned good qualifying agency for therapy dog stuff.

 A therapy dog can work in an incredibly diverse number of scenarios -- nursing homes are only one of them -- and honestly it's not just what the dog likes but it's where the human feels comfortable too.

My dogs go to an alzheimer's home, a home for developmentally disabled kids (both of which are pretty classically full of wheelchairs, loud noises, etc. but the types of people are very diverse).

 THEN Luna and Kee go to Give Kids the World which is almost a theme part atmosphere with kids running around, merry go rounds playing, families with people of ALL ages -- but *one* of those kids in those families is critically ill or dying -- and frankly you don't know which ... not EVER usually.

 Billy doesn't like it there (too many little blond girls who come "sliding into home in front of him with a major little girl SQUEAL and shoving their face in HIS face).  LUNA LOVES IT and, quite frankly, so does Kee Shu!!! 

The point of therapy dog training is to help you teach the dog to be at ease in nearly any situation at all.  GO FOR IT!!!!  What an incredible opportunity and while she's 'new to you' it's the perfect time!!

OK, we'll give it a go.  I've never really thought about therapy work, but we do have a large children's hospital in town.  Honestly, I've always been more interested in "humane education (our humane society calls it) where you help teach people how to interact with strange dogs.  I'm sort of scared of nursing homes b/c it reminds me of my grandma who is my hero but she gets worse every day (thankfully she's not in a home b/c my grandpa takes care of her). 

I suppose I am second guessing b/c yesterday was an "off" day for Kenya.  We unintentionally discovered that she does not like people dancing silly in front of her, lol!  She never barks, growls, or lunges (I've never seen/heard her to any of these things), but Phil was being really goofy like jumping from one foot to the other and she curled her lips and snapped the air.