Therapy dogs?

Question

I have a small dog who is trained very well. She is wonderful with all different types of people and has a ton of tricks she knows that make everyone smile and laugh. I want to bring her to retirement homes.

Does she have to be certified as a therapy dog? If she does, how does one go about doing that?

Answer 1

In most places yes she does have to be certified.Even in places that she doesn't she should be because of liability.

Go to the TDI (therapy Dog International)website. It will tell you where tests are being conducted. Once you find where they are contact them and see about registering for the test.

I have a TDI certified therapy dog, a Great Dane. We've been doing therapy work now for 3 years. My obedience club is also hosting a TDI test on Nov.18.This will be the third year we've hosted one.

Answer 2

23 hours after the question was asked, my answer is: Any breed can produce a good therapy dog. No breed is guaranteed to produce one. In other words, just because you get breed "X" doesn't mean it will automatically turn out to be a therapy dog. If you're going to get a puppy and raise it, start with a puppy from parents with good temperaments. In other words, get a puppy from a reputable breeder who will allow you to meet both parents. That's the only predictor you will have with a puppy. Some dogs will have a promising temperament and be raised wrong. Some dogs will be born with an inappropriate temperament for therapy work, and even if raised by the most talented most caring person still can't overcome what they were born with. It's nature AND nurture, not either or. You must start with a dog with a sound mind, and then raise it correctly. With a puppy, that means hedging your bets on the genetics part of things by assuming two temperamentally sound parents are more likely to produce temperamentally sound puppies. With an adult, you know what you have. Whatever the dog was born with has been developed. He's done. You can do some tweaking here and there, but once an animal is mature you can't change his core temperament. It doesn't matter whether you know the parents because baring some medical condition to throw his brain chemistry off or a traumatic event, he is what he is and what he will remain. Temperament is far more important than breed.

Answer 3

It depends on local codes, but in some places it is not required. My wife recently had major surgery, and I was allowed to bring our 2 Bichon Frise into her room 2 hours after her surgery. The medical profession is starting to realize that an animal, especially dogs and cats, are helpful in speeding the recovery process. We take our girls (Bichons) to see my wife's 81 year old mother almost every week in an assisted care facility. Check with your hospital and or nursing homes to see what is required, usually just proof of vaccinations in our area. The reason our Bichons are not registered therapy dogs is because of the age requirement, they have to be at least 1 year old. Here is a link to the Therapy Dog International website. They list the requirements. (and the dogs are insured after certification from this organization, too)

http://www.tdi-dog.org/tditesting.html

Good Luck, and I think it is a wonderful thing ou are doing!!

Answer 4

Most places want your dog to be certified AND for you to carry insurance (accidents happen, that's why you have insurance!).

Do a search on the Net for dog/pet groups in your area. Pets Helping People and Creature Comforts are two such organizations in my own area. Both groups do the certification and carry insurance. You can start by looking for TDI (Therapy Dogs, International) tests in your state.

One of my dogs is TDI certified. This was, beyond a doubt, the hardest title he achieved (out of seven he currently has!). This title took all the knowledge he had gained earning all the other titles. He had to obey 100%, be calm, tolerate other dogs/cats, ignore food dropped in front of him on the floor, not be startled by people in wheelchairs or walkers and pans dropping, accept people petting him too roughly or making strange sounds, climb softly into a bed and much more.

It was well worth the effort, though, as we routinely visit a home for the mentally disabled and bring joy to them, and thoroughly enjoy the visits ourselves!

Answer 5

It may depend in your state but over here they didn't have to be certified as therapy dogs, simply had to pass a test before being allowed to enter hospitals and retirement homes. It's not a hard test, just basic stuff to make sure your dog doesn't react badly to certain every day distractions.

Answer 6

Call your local Kennel Club. They usually have a group that does certify the Therapy dogs. Not many places will let you just waltz in with you dog. You need to be with a group that is trained and certified.

Answer 7

What a great idea! I did that with my Shih Tzu. It was so much fun and very rewarding. I joined the local Pet Outreach program the our local SPCA. No training or certification was required, only an updated copy of his immunization record. Just check your local area SPCA to see if they have such a program. If not perhaps you could contact a local retirement home and speak to the activities director about making regular visits. The residents just love when animals are brought in. It really can make their day.
Best of luck to you.

Answer 8

Okay, at the top of this page where it says, search, type in, "License for a therapy dog", then click where it says web search. I did that a whole bunch of information came up. when it comes up, if you look all the way to the right, there is a space where if says "how to get a license" for a therapy dog, okay? Good luck.

Answer 9

First I want to congratulate you on your choice of dog activities. Two thumbs up!!
We have been a suporters of "Delta" for a long time, and if you want to get into therapy with your dog, here is how to do it right.

http://www.deltasociety.org/

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