Therapy Dog Training?

[amber913]

We're about to get a puppy, and since the kids are starting school, i thought i'd have enough time, this time around, to train her to be a therapy dog. Thing is, i know no one who does this/has done this, so i have no idea where to start. Seems there are lots of groups online, but how do i know which is best? And do i even have to go that route? How do i get started?

[Narmowen]

Some good links to get you started:

http://www.therapyanimals.org/R.E.A.D.html (Reading Education Assistance Dogs)
http://www.deltasociety.org/Page.aspx?pid=183
http://www.dogplay.com/ (online groups that will help you find local therapy dog groups)
http://www.therapydogs.com/

[SugarGlider]

As a pup the most important thing is socialization. Getting your pup used to everything. Teach it to sit when it is being paid attention to and never allow it to jump or paw at you.

[amber913]

Thank you! Yes, we'll be raising a Rottie for this, so i'll have to deal with both her strong head and her intelligence--should be a bumpy ride!

[ErynneM]

To be certified with Therapy Dogs International, it really helps to be Canine Good Citizen certified as well.

Here is info on TDI: http://www.tdi-dog.org/
And the CGC: http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/

Generally, if you train for everything on the CGC, you will pass the TDI certification process easily.

- E (i'm a pet trainer, by the way)

[Oubliette8]

The socialization will be key to start. And make sure to expose the pups to lots of different situations- different walking surfaces (tile, grates, brick, boardwalks etc) different enviroments (busy downtown areas, construction, trains, farms) and people (men with beards, ladies with umbrellas, people with mohawks, people in wheel chairs) and ages (babies, toddlers, teens, young people, elderly people)

I came across this book a few years ago and it has a GREAT sample socialization check list to get you started if you can find a copy- http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Dog-...2290094&sr=1-8

As far as training, most therapy dog tests are modeled after the CGC test. If you train for that, it should give you a good foundation. As a bonus, many training classes train for the CGC class, so it shouldn't be too hard to find help.

Also, you might see if there is a local therapy dog group. Our local kennel club runs one and they having monthly meetings at a local nursing just for training. They don't do therapy during their meetings, but rather expose their dogs to medical equipment and smells of the nursing home etc. Something like that would be excellent for habituating your pups to common therapy items, but also be a great training resource for you.

One other caution, you didn't mention it, but if you plan to feed a raw diet to any of your pets (not just your pup) you'll be excluded from being a Delta society therapy team. Other therapy organizations are fine with raw feeding. But if you were considering it, its worth looking into, to see if there are non-Delta groups working in your area. Obviously if you don't raw feed its not a concern.