Therapy dog training - Labrador Retriever Dogs Chat Forum Board - Dogs, Puppies, Photos, Training, Pictures, Rescue Forums

1tulip · 08-30-2009, 10:31 AM

OK...

I have a great little dog who's gotten quite far down the road in her field work. Winter is coming and we will be increasingly limited on training grounds.

I'd like to see if she can meet the challenge of being a therapy dog, but am not sure where the training starts. Oh, yes... for sure we're doing obedience as part of her retrieving, and she's been socialized in diverse settings. But the specific therapy issues? Here's a bed, a wheelchair (she knows shopping carts) here are crutches, here are the sights, sounds and smells...

I googled our area (Reno, NV) and got info on the standards and the testing, but not on the logistics of getting the training in. Am I on my own for this? I'm and RN and could probably get my colleagues to help me... but I would think we need official Therapy-dog-in-training imprimatur before we could act the part.

Hailey's Mom · 08-31-2009, 10:34 AM

You don't need a therapy dog trainer, but they are offered through several local and nationally recognized therapy dog clubs. I didn't have a trainer for my Sheltie or Cocker that were certified many years ago and took it upon myself to make sure they were comfortable in pressured situations with strangers and miscellaneous medical equipment.
This time around with Jordyn, we took a five week class (1 hr a week) being evaluated in various situations. I liked the class simply because it showed Jordyn's potential to be a therapy dog and my ability to keep her focused in pressured environments, but again, its not totally necessary.
I do field training with my other lab Hailey, but the obedience for a therapy dog is not quite as strict. The dog needs to walk nicely on loose lead but also want to go visit with people as they see them, not stick to your side at a heel like they would in the field. Otherwise its the basic, sit, stay, come , heel etc. They also need to know leave-it, stay in heel while being greeted by a handler and neutral dog and not jump up (thats an automatic fail).
Getting her use to medical equipment is important too, they will use crutches, a wheelchair, a cane etc., all of which the dog has to familiar because the evaluators are required to bump the dog during testing with each of these objects so they can see the dogs reaction (and if any, their recovery).
If you can get a small group of friends to help act as patients and run scenerios you may come across while visiting, that would be ideal. Practice at various locations too, that will help her learn to stay focused despite distractions. Good luck!

1tulip · 08-31-2009, 10:13 PM

Thanks for the info.

She is VERY exuberant, being a rip-snorting sort of field/hunting retriever type, also being less than 18 months old. She has all her obedience down, but that whole jumping up to get the love... well, that's still a tough thing for her to resist.

I know we have some distance to travel. I also know that with patience and practice, we can keep her four little feet on the floor.

We will keep working on it and I'll check with my facility to see how they deal with therapy-dogs-in-training. If there is some authority or agency we have to go through, I'm sure they'll tell me.

Thanks again.

Hailey's Mom · 09-01-2009, 09:22 AM

Jordyn is still very young (only 1 yr) so I had to work hard to curb her jumping habit too, though she doesn't really jump up she tends put her paws on peoples legs, but obviously that is not acceptable for many patients. I utilized friends and family members by having them walk towards her in an excited manner (calling her name, swinging their arms, etc) and when she jumped they would turn around and walk away, so she learned when she jumped they went away, but when she sat they gave her affection. That training really paid off during our test, because our evaluator was very enthusiastic during the initial greeting, and while I know she had the urge, she sat there as calm as a cucumber.
Maybe that training would help your girl. Happy training.

08-30-2009, 10:31 AM	#1
1tulip House Broken Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Northwestern Nevada Posts: 237	Therapy dog training OK... I have a great little dog who's gotten quite far down the road in her field work. Winter is coming and we will be increasingly limited on training grounds. I'd like to see if she can meet the challenge of being a therapy dog, but am not sure where the training starts. Oh, yes... for sure we're doing obedience as part of her retrieving, and she's been socialized in diverse settings. But the specific therapy issues? Here's a bed, a wheelchair (she knows shopping carts) here are crutches, here are the sights, sounds and smells... I googled our area (Reno, NV) and got info on the standards and the testing, but not on the logistics of getting the training in. Am I on my own for this? I'm and RN and could probably get my colleagues to help me... but I would think we need official Therapy-dog-in-training imprimatur before we could act the part.

08-31-2009, 10:34 AM	#2
Hailey's Mom and Jordyn, too! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: FL Posts: 4,382	You don't need a therapy dog trainer, but they are offered through several local and nationally recognized therapy dog clubs. I didn't have a trainer for my Sheltie or Cocker that were certified many years ago and took it upon myself to make sure they were comfortable in pressured situations with strangers and miscellaneous medical equipment. This time around with Jordyn, we took a five week class (1 hr a week) being evaluated in various situations. I liked the class simply because it showed Jordyn's potential to be a therapy dog and my ability to keep her focused in pressured environments, but again, its not totally necessary. I do field training with my other lab Hailey, but the obedience for a therapy dog is not quite as strict. The dog needs to walk nicely on loose lead but also want to go visit with people as they see them, not stick to your side at a heel like they would in the field. Otherwise its the basic, sit, stay, come , heel etc. They also need to know leave-it, stay in heel while being greeted by a handler and neutral dog and not jump up (thats an automatic fail). Getting her use to medical equipment is important too, they will use crutches, a wheelchair, a cane etc., all of which the dog has to familiar because the evaluators are required to bump the dog during testing with each of these objects so they can see the dogs reaction (and if any, their recovery). If you can get a small group of friends to help act as patients and run scenerios you may come across while visiting, that would be ideal. Practice at various locations too, that will help her learn to stay focused despite distractions. Good luck! __________________ HAILEY *DO YOU* HAVE WHAT IT TAKES? I DO.** ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~* Dogs & Cats Forever, Inc. No-Kill Animal Shelter www.dogsandcatsforever.petfinder.com

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

08-31-2009, 10:13 PM	#3
1tulip House Broken Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Northwestern Nevada Posts: 237	Thanks for the info. She is VERY exuberant, being a rip-snorting sort of field/hunting retriever type, also being less than 18 months old. She has all her obedience down, but that whole jumping up to get the love... well, that's still a tough thing for her to resist. I know we have some distance to travel. I also know that with patience and practice, we can keep her four little feet on the floor. We will keep working on it and I'll check with my facility to see how they deal with therapy-dogs-in-training. If there is some authority or agency we have to go through, I'm sure they'll tell me. Thanks again.

09-01-2009, 09:22 AM	#4
Hailey's Mom and Jordyn, too! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: FL Posts: 4,382	Jordyn is still very young (only 1 yr) so I had to work hard to curb her jumping habit too, though she doesn't really jump up she tends put her paws on peoples legs, but obviously that is not acceptable for many patients. I utilized friends and family members by having them walk towards her in an excited manner (calling her name, swinging their arms, etc) and when she jumped they would turn around and walk away, so she learned when she jumped they went away, but when she sat they gave her affection. That training really paid off during our test, because our evaluator was very enthusiastic during the initial greeting, and while I know she had the urge, she sat there as calm as a cucumber. Maybe that training would help your girl. Happy training.