Therapy Dogs - Getting Started

A Therapy Dog is born, not made ...
A therapy dog is a pet (handled by its owner) that provides emotional comfort by sharing its unconditional love and affection with adults and children. These dog/handler teams are volunteers who want to bring joy into people's lives. Although some facilities will allow any pet to visit, a true therapy dog has been evaluated and registered with a national organization such as Therapy Dogs International, Inc. (TDI)

Interested in bringing smiles to some lonely faces? Well don't look any further! If you are willing to share your dog with others, bring happiness to residents of nursing homes, hospitals, and children with special needs read on.
Since most people wanting to get started have so many questions, I hope that in this article we can answer most of these questions and help you get started today.
Most people want to know if their dog is suitable.
You should ask yourself if your dog has the following traits:
· Confident
· Out Going
· Love People More Than Other Dogs
· Likes to be Petted and Touched
· Predictable
· Healthy
· Good Temperament
· Reliable
· Controllable
· Can Handle Stress
These are the basic traits that your dog should have. Certain populations can be more stressful to visit than others, so please keep that in mind when asking where you would like to visit with your dog.
What is expected of the handier?
The first thing you should ask yourself is do you have the time to make this commitment. Do not jump into visiting every week with your dog. They can be very stressful to both you and your dog. Start slowly with once a month and keep your visits within an hour of your home. This will avoid stress and burnout. The reason most teams dropout of doing therapy dog work is burnout, Start slowly. If this is working, then visit twice a month.
Be on time and prepared. If you cannot keep an appointment, be sure to call either the day before or first thing in the morning. Most facilities will be putting you on their calendar and the residents will be expecting you. Give the facility ample time to reschedule or advise the residents that you are coming another day.
How old should my dog be?
Dogs must be a year old in order to be registered with any of the therapy dog organizations. Can I visit with a puppy? Visiting with puppies can be a wonderful experience. However, evaluate each puppy to see if it is suitable for visitation. Some puppies can nip, jump on people, get easily stressed, or not be housebroken. It depends on the individual puppy and handler.
What level of obedience training is required?
Dogs should have basic beginner obedience, and be under total voice command. They will be required to pass the American Kennel Clubs Canine Good Citizen Test modified for therapy dogs, Your dog doesn't need a LID to be a therapy dog, but it will need good manners. They will need to know that they cannot jump on people or beds, bark excessively, pull the handler on a leash. Some dog obedience schools now offer a special Therapy Dog Training Class, if this is not available, a Beginners and Novice Class should be all you need.
Is a female or male make a better therapy dog?
This does not matter; it is up to the individual dog and if they have the above mentioned traits. With males, however, you should teach them to eliminate on command so that they do not have any territorial marking while visiting. Do not bring females in season on visits.
Does my dog need to know tricks?
Even though knowing tricks can be helpful it is not necessary. Anytime you are going to do jumping or tricks, please check and make sure that your dog has solid footing to avoid the dog getting hurt or the residents.
Should I visit on my own or with a group?
Visits can be either done individually or with a local group if there is one. This would depend on your area and when you are available to visit. It is recommended, if possible, to visit with an experienced team for the first several visits. In this way you can learn what is expected of you and your dog on a visit. If this is not available, have a staff member or the Activities Director go around with you on your first several visits. Going around with a staff member will allow you to see how the facility works, learn the facility, and give you some insight to each of the residents.
Should I join and register my dog with a therapy dog organization?                                                                                  Absolutely! These organizations ensure that your pet has the skills and aptitude for working in healthcare settings. They give you creditable when contacting a facility to visit. You will receive an identification badge, a tag for your dog, liability insurance, and networking. It is up to you which therapy dog organization to register with.
What does my dog have to do for the test?
· Both of the organizations listed in this article use a modified version of the American Kennel Clubs Canine Good Citizen Test. A copy can be obtained from the AKC. This test is to determine and demonstrate confidence and control of the dog.
· Accepting a Friendly Stranger
· Sitting Politely For Petting; Whole dog is examined and touched
· Appearance and Grooming
· Walk on a Loose Leash
· Walking Through a Therapy Crowd including Medical Equipment
· Sit, Down, and Stay on Voice Command
· Come When Called
· Reaction to Another Dog
· Reaction to Distractions
· Supervised Separation for 3 minutes

Amendments that TDI (Therapy Dogs International) has made to the above tests to adapt it to therapy needs are as follows:
· Tell the handler that you are going to touch the dog all over, handling it heavily. Ask if there is any reason that the dog will not allow you to be all over it. All handling is done at the dogs level.                                                                                         · Add patting the dog on the head, and conversing with handler.
· Make a big deal about the brushing and combing. As you do this, drop your clipboard, made a large motion with your arm or body in an attempt to elicit an unusual reaction. Check the dogs nails for proper length, and comment on long nails to owner.
· Ask the handler to do an obedience routine that is familiar to them, you may call it if they are familiar with that method. Otherwise, have them walk changing directions when you ask, watching them for control and ease of handling.
· Use the other test takers as a crowd. Use all the dogs and handlers as a group no more than 6 at a time) to test sociability.
· Sits and Downs are needed in therapy work, so must be done properly.
· Join in with the handler in praising the dog.
· Use another dog and handler from the group as greeter for each other using different ones for each dog.
· Use a variety of noises, stumble near the dog exhibit jerky motions near the dog. Do not attempt to scare the dog from behind.
· A volunteer handler holds the leash while the owner leaves the room.

Trek Camp(Ockanickon Camp)at Medford, NJ August 24 2009