Therapy Dog Owners...

[disneydragon]

For those who own a therapy dog, several questions - First, what sort of therapy does your dog do? Second, what does your state require for certification and where did you have to go to get it? Third, do you have to take out an insurance policy on the dog? --- Any answers/thoughts will be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[poohlover]

I'd love to hear some thoughts & ideas on this too. I have a Newfie that I'd love to train for therapy. Is there a specific organization nationwide or just in each state??

Any comments appreciated. By the way I am in "training" with the Newf for obedience competition...hoping to show him & our female pup this summer.

 

[Mermaid02]

My dog is a therapy dog- she goes to a psychiatric childrens' hospital once a month to visit the kids. She sits there and they pat her and kiss her and talk to her etc. My dh got her "licensed" through Therapy Dogs International. I'm sure if you do an online search you can find some info. I will look around and see if I can find any here!

 

[airhead]

because I just got a newsletter from my (dog)training club stating that if my dogs had their CGC title,we could do therapy work. My dogs both have this title so all I need to do is pay $15 for the Therapy dog certificate

 

[airhead]

Are you doing Show & Go's yet? Isn't it fun! We're working on our open title. Enjoy Novice!

 

[disneydragon]

Originally posted by airhead
because I just got a newsletter from my (dog)training club stating that if my dogs had their CGC title,we could do therapy work. My dogs both have this title so all I need to do is pay $15 for the Therapy dog certificate

Wow, only $15 for the certificate? Somehow I thought it would be more...

 

[disneydragon]

Does the dog have to be covered by insurance then? Or is that a state by state requirement?

 

[nativetxn]

How interesting, our dog is too ill now but she would have made a wonderful therapy dog. She's been great therapy for <i>me</i>

 

[disneydragon]

nativetxn, sorry your dog is ill! Just went through that myself...

 

[24KK9]

Our dog is a therapy dog. He completed several obedience classes with the intent of earning his CGC (Canine Good Citizen). We then earned his certification with TDI (Therapy Dog International). TDI has a test that the dog is required to pass before the certification is earned. Go to www.tdi-dog.org for more complete information. When your dog is certified with TDI there is an insurance that comes with it. The facilities that we visit on a scheduled basis require their therapy dogs to be certified through TDI. It is a real honor for us to be able to take him to hospice, nursing homes, adult day cares and Alzheimer's facilities. He is a natural "people" dog and senses which patients need his attention and which to leave alone. It's always amazing to watch him at work...especially when the caregiver tells me later that the patient hasn't responded to people...and that same patient has been talking to my dog.

There is another group called Delta Society. Their web page is www.deltasociety.org. There is no evaluator in our area, so we're not certified through them.

I could go on and on about my doggy. Feel free to pm me with any questions you might have and I'll try to help.