Exposure?

[MonicaBH]

So Clyde & I are working on our evaluations to become a therapy dog team. We've only had 1/3 evals. so far, but it was good & fun.

My question is this: What can I do to get Clyde more exposure to different things? He's only ever been around one wheelchair (at an outside pet event). He's never been in an elevator, nor has he been around old people or people using walkers.

I take him to the petstores with me, and to my parents' hardware store and he always does well with the people.

I am just concerned about his lack of exposure to these other things. I don't have steep stairs in my house (only a 3-4 stair stoop), and I don't know where to go for exposure to elevators and/or wheelchairs & walkers.

Any suggestions or advice?

THANKS, from both of us.

[targonrotts]

i usually try to take my dogs anywhere dogs are allowed.
for stairs-are there any stadiums near you? schools with bleachers you can go up and down on? just go slow and be careful.
for elevators-any outside 2 floor malls you can go to? if you have absolutely nowhere to find elevators, if the only place you see them is at a therapy evaluation, make no big deal out of it. just walk on in. i usually go in and have them sit next to me.
for other equipment- i had crutches here from when i busted my knee, so i walk around them with it or have someone else do it so they get used to seeing them.
hardware stores are great. let them get used to seeing tractors, carts ect move around them.

main thing is to socialize. make it a possitive experience. do not force them onto anything. get them used to traffic, crowds, different looking dogs/pets.

great you are getting into therapy! enjoy!

[miccmill]

Contact a University Hospital in your area. Start with the Director of Volunteer services.

The reason I say University Hospital is that they are very accustomed to making arrangements for all types of teaching and learning experiences and may even have pet therapy volunteers working. Private hospitals who have never had students in the building wouldn't even know where to begin if you asked to bring a dog-in-training into the facility for exposure.

[MonicaBH]

The only university hospital around won't allow pets unless they're already registered therapy dogs. I live very close to a large medical university, and just checked their website. However, that same hospital does have pet therapy twice daily for registered therapy dogs. *IF* we become registered, I will have to fill out a volunteer application, have a general health screen (I think the dog does too), and a criminal background check. Is this normal? I assume it is, since it is a liability. I believe I will call down there and see if I can come observe a therapy dog team next week.

When you take your dogs places (hardware stores, etc) with you, do you call first to see if dogs are allowed, or just show up and hope for the best? Where else, besides hardware stores, would you go?

I have been going through Clyde's "drills" with him. Yesterday I took him outside on his 30' training lead. I had him in a down/stay whilst I wandered the yard, hid behind trees, tripped over myself and made loud noises. He got up once or twice, but a quick "nuh-uh" stopped him. We also walked on a heel, down/stay & sit/stay from a distance, come, etc. He did wonderfully, but he always does when it's just me & him. If someone else is watching/observing, forget it.

[Inga]

In my area a lot of the nursing homes do not require a dog to already be certified. I take my dogs there to practice and train for evaluations. I also socialize every public place I can with my dogs. Out side of stores or malls. Gas stations etc...

[Nishasmom]

Originally Posted by MonicaBH

When you take your dogs places (hardware stores, etc) with you, do you call first to see if dogs are allowed, or just show up and hope for the best? Where else, besides hardware stores, would you go?

I just walk in non-shalantly and do my thing; occasionally someone awkwardly comes up "um...sorry, but dogs aren't allowed". It really depends on who's working that day, and if they care.

Places Nisha hasn't been "kicked" out of:
*Ulta (make-up store)
*Barns and Noble
*Lowes
*Home Depot
*Various boutique type stores (non-chain)
*Restaurants with outside eating areas
*Liquor store (it was nextdoor to petsmart )
*Flooring store (sells tile, carpet, wood, ect.) *the owner here actually had a rottie, needless to say, he invited us to come anytime !
*coffee shops (she waited on the patio)

Places Nisha got "booted" out of
*Sprint
really, thats it! I don't take her inside any place that sells food

[MonicaBH]

Cool list; I'm glad to know those places are "dog-friendly". Although I'm sure it varies from store to store and the staff as well.

Sprint sucks anyway.

LOL

More comments, suggestions, & recommendations, please! Anything to get us more exposure!

[Maxxx]

For elevators, do you know anyone who lives in a high rise building? My mom lives in a condo and we always take the elevator when we visit.

[2rotties2luv]

Check if there is a volunteer ambulance group in your town or a nearby town. The ones in my area all maintain a stock of used and donated wheelchairs, walkers, crutches and other health equipment to loan to those who need them for short-term use. I borrowed them for a week each to practice before my rotties had their Delta Society evaluations.

Also, if your town has a senior citizen's center, perhaps you could drop in and visit with the oldsters. There may be some there who have wheelchairs and walkers. But get permission from the director first. Perhaps if they won't let you inside the center, you can hang out outside and greet people as they enter and leave.

[fbkeays]

For elevators, I would make sure the dog was at least sitting or better, laying down before the elevator moves. Distract with a treat and happy voice when the elevator starts to move.
Do you have a large parking garage? Most have elevator if they have more then one level. Go park and ride!

[MonicaBH]

I live in the suburbs; we don't have that stuff around here that I know of.

It's a great idea to call the ambulance place. I am going to do that tomorrow! Thanks again for all the suggestions. Keep 'em coming!

[Denise L.]

I walk Cyrus around the college campus where I work. So far he has been exposed to wheelchairs, crutches, canes etc. Not to mention every nationalitly and race. Also some very "interesting" modes of attire!

There is "everything" on a college campus!

[MShaw]

Originally Posted by MonicaBH

I live in the suburbs; we don't have that stuff around here that I know of.

It's a great idea to call the ambulance place. I am going to do that tomorrow! Thanks again for all the suggestions. Keep 'em coming!

I'm not exactly sure where you live, but if you're in a suburb... there's gotta be a decent sized city close? Walking around in the city is awesome! Not only will you come in contact with slews of "weird" people, but most cities will have parking garages.

If you're close to a university, every university I've been to in the midwest has parking garages with elevators. I believe its the law. Not to mention, what denise said! Students are also usually more "friendly" and "bold," and usually will come up to you more often than someone on the street, which will be helpful in learning commands with someone else present (we're still working through this). Hope that helps :)

To Nisha's mom: WOW. I think everyone should try this. The only place we've done something like this is at the Octopus car wash, which is a full service wash, vacuum, dry, wax wash that you have to go inside to pay. Of course, everyone loves a rottie and Vegas was welcomed back! I guess I should be more bold :)