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THINKING OF BECOMING A PET THERAPY TEAM? GETTING
STARTED 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
Healthy What
is expected of the handler? 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 some beginner obedience, and be under total voice command.
They will be required to pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen Test modified
for therapy dogs. Your dog doesn’t need a UD 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, or 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.
In fact, Chesapeakes being retrievers are wonderful. They can catch a tennis ball that a resident throws, play
find it with a toy, or carry a basket.
Use your imaginable and the things you can do on a visit are
endless. I sometimes amuse
young children with their chairs. I
line them up in a row, place the dog on a sit, then ask the children to
count to three with me and yell “Coco Over”.
It gets the children to participate.
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.
1)
Accepting a Friendly Stranger However,
the Delta Society Pet Partners requires an additional test to see where
and what type of population the dog is best suited to visit.
How
can I get in touch with these therapy dog organizations?
There
are several quality organizations to join: Pets and People: Companions in Therapy and Service
P
O Box 4266, Meridian, MS 39307
www.petsandpeople.org
Therapy Dogs International,
88 Bartley Road, Flanders, NJ
07836, (973)252-9800 Delta Society Pet Partners
289
Perimeter Road East, Renton, Wa 98055-1329,
(800)869-6898 (206)226-7357 Fax-206-235-1076
deltasociety@cis.compuserve.com http://www.deltasociety.org
TheraPet, Inc., P.O. Box 787, Clark, NJ 07066 (732)602-1112 www.therapet-inc.com All
of the above organizations have different requirements.
Please write or call them for information. What
do I do after I am registered? How
do I get started? Once
you have registered with one of the above organizations and have
received your credentials, you are ready to get started.
If there is a local chapter in your area, get in touch with them
for a list of facilities they are currently visiting. If you have in mind
a facility you would like to visit, contact them and ask for the
Activities Director, Recreational Therapist, or Volunteer Director.
Different facilities have their pet therapy program fall under different
departments. Offer to meet
one on one with the director to discuss both of your goals and
expectations. If there is currently a pet therapy program in process,
contact the person in charge of the visits and observe several. Be sure
that the facility has in mind the best interest of the residents, your
dogs, and yourself. If
you are interested, start today. It
is a wonderful and rewarding experience. Joanne
Silver, 412 Woodbury Drive, Wyckoff,NJ
07481 silverck@carroll.com
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