Therapy Dog & CGC

Good luck!


  I didn#%92t know you had to be licensed for that? Heidi is a licensed Hearing dog and I have taken her places and asked if we could allow folks to sit with her and stuff. She really enjoyed it and so did the old folks, I should take her back there soon.

Lots of luck to you! Just relax and enjoy it -- if you get all stressed, your dog will pick up on it. Treat it like a practice run through and you'll both do great!

And you're going to love having a therapy dog! Not only because of the good you can do, but because you get to see your dog at his best, having fun and making people happy just by being himself. Just remember that it's not enough to pass the test -- to keep your dog in good standing, you have to go on regular therapy visits. But there are tons of options -- nursing homes, veterans' hospitals, children's hospitals, even door to door visits if you team up with a meals on wheels place.

Jessie goes to the nursing home once or twice a week, and I don't know who enjoys it more, her or the people she visits. When we get there, we're m met by a line of wheelchairs with people waiting to greet and be greeted. The first time that happened, I was sort of awed. Sad, because how terrible must it be to have dogs your whole life, and suddenly not have one and have to rely on the visits of strangers' dogs to get your dog fix? (The people at the nurisng home we visit are constantly trying to get me to "leave Jessie overnight" -- in fact, they once lied bout closing time in hopes of getting us locked in for the night!) And awe-inspiring because you realize the power of your dog's love, not just for you and your family, but for changing the lives of complete strangers. It's a great reminder of how incredible dogs are, how much they do, how much they have to give. Very cool, that!

My only problem with Jessie is that lately she's conned a few of her favorite residents into taking her into the courtyard out back to play ball with her on our visits, and now she thinks we go there to play ball! I say nursing home, she goes and gets her ball and puts it in her bag. For a while, I was worried that she was missing the whole point of this...then I realized that if the residents like playing ball with her, that IS the point.

The only down side is Jessie keeps making more friends, and her Christmas gift list gets longer and longer. Considering she's a mix of two working breeds, I don't understand why she can't go and get a paying job!

Knock 'em dead on the test, and let us know how it goes!

Best,

Jan & Jessie

You and Cooper will do great! 
The job I use to work in as a Recreation Therapist brought me in contact with Pet Assisted Therapy for my patients several times a week. You are doing a really wonderful service for folks and you should pat yourself (and Cooper on the back!).

My first greyhound I got about 8+ years ago I thought would make the perfect Therapy dog. I specifally chose her so that we could do pet assited therapy together. Unfortunately she didn't seem to enjoy  being pet and loved by strangers (at least not nearly as much as she enjoys love and pets from mommy and daddy  []) . I never took her for training and certification because I felt that the dog needs to enjoy it as much as the patients!

Best of luck to the two of you and please post how it went! 

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I agree -- but remember, a therapy dog can do all different kinds of things. Jessie was never big on being hugged and kissed by strangers. She tolerated it, but could definitely live without it. I got her certified intiially more to have done it, still unsure if we'd actually go very far with it.

So I took Jessie out initially, and she quickly created her own version of pet therapy. She played ball with people (her favorite all-time thing) and did tricks (which she also loves). She "performed," carrying books to people and showing off, which she loves.

And the people were so thrilled, they didn't seem to care that she didn't want to sit and get petted endlessly. Many were afraid of such a big dog, but liked seeing her walking by, or doing tricks.

Then, a funny thing happened. She started to feel comfortable at the nursing home, so much so that she started seeking out the petting. Now she likes being hugged by her "friends" there...even though she's generally a bit aloof with strangers.

So I always say, don't assume your dog isn't right for therapy just because she's not a happy Golden. Some dogs are great one on one, but not in crowds...but they can visit a person who's home bound or bed ridden, and forge a friendship with that person, which might be a better "fit" than being petted by endless strangers.

Others love to retrieve a ball or a toy over and over, and might be great for a kid's hospital. Still others might love to perform tricks. Get a few of these dogs together and you can put on a talent show at a nursing home or hospital!

I agree that every dog isn't cut out for therapy work, and you don't want the dog doing something he/she doesn't enjoy. But like people, different dogs have different skills and favorite activities, and sometimes if you can match the right favorite activity to the right person or place, you can end up with an unlikely therapy dog having a blast doing great work!

Jan

Therapy dogs do not need to be "licensed".  They simply get "registered" with an organization - passing the organization's test shows they have the temperament and skills to perform as a therapy dog, and it gets the important thing that facility administrators want to see - an insurance certificate. The three major org's in the US are Therapy Dogs, Inc., Therapy Dogs International, and Delta Society Pet Partners.

Good luck Cooper!!!!!!!!!!  Our paws are crossed for you - and you will love being a therapy dog like us.
Love,
Sioux, CGC, TDInc.
Maska, CGC, TDInc.
Dancer, CGC, TDInc. (I may be 17 years and 4 months old, but I haven't retired yet!)

It is the Therapy Dogs International, Inc. test that we're taking.
 
 

Oh you're going to have so much fun!!! Both my boyz are therapy dogs with TDI, Inc.

Awesome, Awesome, we are keeping our paws crossed for Cooper.

So??? How did Cooper do? Is your baby a new Therapy Dog?

My boy did GREAT yesterday!!!!!  He passed both the CGC and the TDI test!!!!!!!  I'm so proud of him, and proud of me. 
 
I can't believe though how many people do not have good manners when it comes to their dog in situations like that.  Why would you let your dog right up on another dog in an elevator? hallway of a hotel? or a room full of strange dogs????  I was so annoyed with 4 out of the 9 handlers that were testing.  My dog is here with a job to do, not make friends.   You'd think people would ask you if they could allow their dog to say hello.  I can't even tell you how many times I had Cooper "leave it" when another dog was coming too close for my liking.  When we were leaving, there was a woman being dragged down the hallway by her GSD on a choker and I body blocked him and told him "leave it" and she said "leave it - what a great idea"
 
I can't wait to get our ID cards and certificates when I send in all the paperwork!!!
 
BTW - on the way home we got some chicken nuggets, ice cream and a frozen knuckle bone!!!

Congratulations!!! I'm so glad it went so well (and certainly Cooper deserved the celebration afterwards!).

FYI, I think part of being a therapy dog owner is being able to handle all the idiots who don't know how to handle their dogs. I frequently run into Bide-a-Wee dogs at some of the places Jessie visits, and they're not only not certified, but they tend to shove their face in Jessie's face and not stop, which, as dog social as Jess is, she does NOT like. But I figure if she's going to be a therapy dog, she needs to be able to ignore it (and yes, "leave it" is perfect for such occasions).

It's something of a pet peeve for me the people whose dogs "start" trouble by getting in other dogs' faces, or staring incessantly, and then if the other dog growls, the other dog gets blamed. But just like with people, part of life is learning how to deal with the ones that don't know better. Besides, as an ambassador for TDI (and dogs in general), therapy dogs have to set an example.

It sounds like your Cooper will do a fine job of it. Congrats again!! Always great to hear another therapy dog will soon be making the rounds!!

Jan & Jessie

Way to Go!!!  You'll love doing therapy stuff. 

Good job, Cooper!!!!  Welcome to our little "club".  You're gonna love it.

Hi, I just found this board tonight. My dogs are my life, I have a poodle and a powderpuff chinese crested. The both have their CGC and are registed therapy dogs. My poodle goes to schools but does not have a regular schedule. My crested goes to a nursing home every week. I love it and she loves it.One word of warning though, depending where you end up taking your dog. Because I go to a nursing home I see the same people week after week and I have become very attached to some of them. They are old and sick and I can be devestating when your lose someone. My crested and I have been going to the same place since January and I love some of those people so much. I did lose one in April, and did not know it until I came in the next week. It was very difficult to go on that day and visit with the others, but you have to go on and like it did not happen, most of them don't even know it.