New AKC Therapy certification!

    • Gold Top Dog

    New AKC Therapy certification!

    The AKC has a new therapy dog certification.  The dog must past a test administered by another acceptable organization and have a minimum of 50 visits.  Personally I think it's a neat thing to do.  Any dog that passes the TDI, TDinc, Delta, etc and registers with the org can carry the certification but the new AKC certification recognizes dogs that have not only trained and passed the test but have actually put in a substantial amount of work.  To me 50 visits sounds like WAY more work than what it takes to earn something like a Rally Novice title.

    • Gold Top Dog

    I'm a T/O for Therapy Dogs, Inc. and I corresponded with them this morning, because previously our rules said that we could not display any logo but TDInc. while visiting.  But, TDInc.'s board has been working with AKC on this title (it is officially a title - finally!!!!!) and members of Therapy Dogs, Inc. will be able to do that once they've earned the title.  Mixed breed dogs are welcome, too, but must join the mixed breed program or ILP first.