How to become a therapy dog?

[busbysix]

Can anyone out there in Rottie Land tell me how I can get Raider to become a therapy dog? I think he would be a good candidate, but I dont know where to start! Any help would be greatly appreciated

[GypsysMom]

Therapy Dogs. Helping People Nation Wide.


Good luck Not sure if it has all the information you are looking for

[spoiledbabies3]

You can check with TDI and/or Delta Society as they are the groups for this. It is my understanding that candidates must pass a test similar to the CGC but in greater depth. Deja Vu is enrolled in a CGC class now and after she completes it and turns 1 year old, she willl be evaluated for the Delta Society Pet Partners and I will also be contacting TDI for the same. Good luck on your boy!

[busbysix]

Thanks Gypsy and spoiled...I will be seriously looking into this. I appreciate the info

[2rotties2luv]

Websites are:
Delta Society(look for links to Pet Partners)
tdi-dogs.org

While both organizations and many local organizations will evaluate one year old dogs, remember that rotties are slow to mature, both physically and mentally. I recommend that rottie owners wait until their dogs are at least 3 years old, well past adolescence, before they begin evaluation and therapy work. A rottie, however friendly and gentle, that is pushed to do therapy work before it is mature may quickly learn to dislike this work as it is stressful.

Use the time until your rottie is fully mature to continue with socialization and obedience training to the advanced level. Believe me, I speak from experience, when you finally begin to do therapy visits the people you visit will be very grateful for a well trained, calm, confident and gentle dog who is well past any adolescent issues.

I had two rotties that worked as Delta Society Pet Partners. Sierrra from 1998 until she died in 2002 and Jazz from 1999 until he died just last March. Sierra began therapy work at the age of 4.5 and Jazz at the age of 3.5.

[charmsalot]

Hey there! I have just recently passed the Delta test and am a certified pet partners team. Alexis is just 2. While we are still woprkin gon a great deal of training and there are facilities at the moment that I will not take her to, working with the kids she is great. I take her to a school for mentally disabled children and she is great because her still high energy level is a plus there. I do agree with the previous post though, we have an 12 year old female rott and she is still hyper in her old age lol. There may be certain facilities that you do not want to visit right now, you may not want to actually get involved in the therapy yet, but the Delta Society is also a great source for training. This is the organization i work through Wags For Hope

[spoiledbabies3]

Originally Posted by 2rotties2luv

A rottie, however friendly and gentle, that is pushed to do therapy work before it is mature may quickly learn to dislike this work as it is stressful.

Use the time until your rottie is fully mature to continue with socialization and obedience training to the advanced level. Believe me, I speak from experience, when you finally begin to do therapy visits the people you visit will be very grateful for a well trained, calm, confident and gentle dog who is well past any adolescent issues.

I had two rotties that worked as Delta Society Pet Partners. Sierrra from 1998 until she died in 2002 and Jazz from 1999 until he died just last March. Sierra began therapy work at the age of 4.5 and Jazz at the age of 3.5.

Thanks for the advice...I hadn't thought about it from this perspective.

[Cash]

Originally Posted by 2rotties2luv

Websites are:
Delta Society(look for links to Pet Partners)
tdi-dogs.org

While both organizations and many local organizations will evaluate one year old dogs, remember that rotties are slow to mature, both physically and mentally. I recommend that rottie owners wait until their dogs are at least 3 years old, well past adolescence, before they begin evaluation and therapy work. A rottie, however friendly and gentle, that is pushed to do therapy work before it is mature may quickly learn to dislike this work as it is stressful.

Use the time until your rottie is fully mature to continue with socialization and obedience training to the advanced level. Believe me, I speak from experience, when you finally begin to do therapy visits the people you visit will be very grateful for a well trained, calm, confident and gentle dog who is well past any adolescent issues.

I had two rotties that worked as Delta Society Pet Partners. Sierrra from 1998 until she died in 2002 and Jazz from 1999 until he died just last March. Sierra began therapy work at the age of 4.5 and Jazz at the age of 3.5.

I think this is a very important perspective, and a respectable one. You'll see a change between a 15 month old and a 3 year old. Honestly, I wouldn't weigh in on TDI before my dog was at least 3.
Best thing you can do as an owner is evaluate if your dog is truly up to the criteria necessary for the task. If not, respect that and grow where your dog is most suited.