Therapy Dog Test

[Miabella]

Hi everyone,

Has anyone out there taken a therapy dog test? I have Mia signed up to be tested by Therapy Dogs Int'l on April 28. She has her CGC, so I'm more concerned about the parts involving exposure to medical equipment and acclimation to infirmaties.

We often bring her to a huge flea market downtown, with lots of people, other dogs, and weird furniture. She behaves like a perfect lady. I really don't have access to medical equipment, so is this kind of socialization enough to prepare her?

-Laurie

[2rotties2luv]

It depends. Sometimes the evaluator and the helpers are laid back and just use the medical equipment as if they were in a real situation. Sometimes, they are really entheusiastic:D and kind of go overboard.

The first time I got my rotties tested, the evaluator told me she didn't like rotties, and proceeded to find every fault with them she could. Sierra did fine until the evaluator told one of the helpers to start poking at her with a crutch. She freaked & didn't pass. Jazz was pinched HARD between the toes. He pulled his foot back and turned his head away. The evaluator failed him for not wanting his feet handled and for being unfriendly (turning his head away).

I have had both dogs tested twice since then with different evaluators. Both dogs passed with flying colors and and both evaluators thought they were great dogs. So don't feel bad if you don't pass the first time. Many dogs don't. It just means you have to practice whatever your dog has trouble with.

For Sierra, I borrowed a pair of crutches from the local ambulance corps and got her used to them. She was fine once she realized they weren't going to come after her. Where I live, the local volunteer ambulance corps have crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, etc. that they loan out at no charge for a short time.

Good luck!!!:) :)

[CarolineS]

It probably depends on the individual dog. I'd venture to guess if your dog doesn't react to strange looking things she sees for the first time at the flea market, then she'll probably be okay with the medical equipment. Strange and different looking things and people never bothered my dog much before she took her therapy test so didn't bother her in the test. She did kind of look sideways at a crutch coming straight at her, but that was it.

In our organization, the things that will deny you the opportunity to retest are if your dog relieves itself indoors or if it shows aggression toward any other dog or person. If the dog isn't comfortable around some of the equipment, you're able to retest at a later date after you've worked on the problem.

2rotties2luv, that's horrible about the evaluator not liking Rottweilers. I would say that a Rott who gets his toes pinched and reacts by looking away is an excellent candidate for a therapy dog, as was obviously proved by Jazz as he went on to be a great therapy dog!

In our organization, the evaluators are very well qualified. All potential evaluators must do an "apprenticeship" with a qualified evaluator for at least a year. They are then observed conducting an evaluation by our Chief Provincial evaluator before they are allowed to test on their own. The same test is used across all of Canada and there are pretty clear guidelines on what is a failure and what is a pass. All of our tests are applied equally, with no regard to the dog's breed. This tends to weed out anyone with prejudices.

Miabella, good luck on your evaluation. Let us know how it goes.:)

[Silvana]

I thought the test was hard but fair. My dog already had a CGC but we had to take a second CGC test that day because the evaluator said she wanted to see the dog for herself. The test included crutches being dropped on the dogs back and having to walk over dropped crutches on the floor, a metal bedpan dropped next to the dog with a loud bang, lots of wheelchairs and people surrounding the dog while the people were speaking loudly, person on crutches looming over the dog and taps the dog on the head instead of petting it, walking together with a group of other therapy dogs without interacting. Most of the group of "pretend patients" were men and had loud voices. Another thing we weren't prepared for when we actually began visits (yes, he passed), was that we needed to be able to walk into elevators and escalators and your dog has to be able to pass up any food that it might see in the course of a visit. It's a great thing to do with your dog.:) :)

[JonandMichelle]

I have found that IF you go to a hospital, or a nursing home that is active with the Therapy Dog program, you may explain to them of your intents and ASK for assistance. Many will help you on the side and let you borrow some equipment, IE; crutches, wheel chairs, ect. I am sure if you can find a place, they will be more then happy to help you. Also, you may want to contact your CGC evaluator. I know when Raja was practicing for her CGC; they used crutches and a wheel chair as part of the testing. Your instructor maybe able to help you out also in inquiring these objects.

[TrishB]

Originally posted by 2rotties2luv
The first time I got my rotties tested, the evaluator told me she didn't like rotties....

That's horrible! I would think that an evaluator how had such biases would have to excuse themselves from such a test. Was there a way to ask for another evaluator? Maybe report them to their supervisor? It would be interesting to know how many of what breed she had passed, and how many of what breed failed. :p

If you have a bias against a particular breed, you shouldn't be performing the evaluations.

[Bucky's Mom]

Can you post information on the location of the test please? - Lisa (Bucky's Mom)

[Miabella]

Thanks for posting everyone. I feel like I have a better idea of what to expect now.I was shocked by the bias 2rotties2luv experienced. I'm always taken aback when people openly announce their predjudices, like it's something their proud of. I can't imagine a better reaction than looking away from a painful stimulus, from any dog of any breed.

The test is being sponsored by the Capital Dog Training Club, and it will be held at their clubhouse located at 2758 Garfield Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland. Their website is www.cdtc.org, and you can read more about registration info there.

[Bucky's Mom]

The people are very nice and helpful but one word of warning - they get very busy - I would arrive as early as I could to be one of the first to test - they ran further and further behind as the day went on - by the time we got our turn - Bucky had had enough of even being there - he kissed the first guy who was testing us - they said he was TOO friendly - he did the rest of the test fine - we failed - Lisa (Bucky's Mom)

[CarolineS]

He failed merely because he kissed someone??!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I assist at the testing of our dogs and the more tail wagging and kissing that goes on, the better. Doesn't matter if the dog is a chihuahua, a golden, a pitbull or an Irish Wolfhound. Wow, it sounds like some of these evaluators should be severely evaluated themselves.

[JoJo]

Question.......Is there a protest portion of this evaluation?!! What's up with these evaluators? You would think that they would really appreciate a well mannered, well behaved dog who "tolerates" THEM!!! They need to try and evaluate me..........I would NOT pass!


JoJo

[Bucky's Mom]

yes - he was TOO friendly (?) - I think there is a bias against Rotti dogs - but we will try again - Lisa (Bucky's Mom)

[Caesarsmom]

Hi Laurie,

Caesar and I took the TD test and very nearly failed. Caesar wanted to climb in the wheelchair with the evaluator! Fortunately, the evaluator gave me a look which said, 'I wouldn't let him do that if I were you!' That was our only near mistake. During our test, there were people on crutches, in wheelchairs, speaking quite loudly, and petting him harder than normal. Also, Caesar had to do a 5 min. down stay with me out of the room. While I was gone, he could not whine, pull, etc. I also had to do an obedience pattern with him around a number of standing individuals, then I had to put him in a sit-stay while 8-10 people jogged around us. Caesar also had to let strangers handle his feet, ears, lips, and touch his tail. No problem. It seemed as though the evaluators were trying to see how many dogs got rattled by all the commotion.

Good luck with your test in April. Please let us know how Mia does. Taking her to the flea market is an excellent idea!

~Cris

[Dei]

Originally posted by JoJo
Question.......Is there a protest portion of this evaluation?!! What's up with these evaluators? You would think that they would really appreciate a well mannered, well behaved dog who "tolerates" THEM!!! They need to try and evaluate me..........I would NOT pass!


JoJo

Chill. The thing is that some of the patients that your dog will see may not reasonable in their behaviour towards dogs. Others may be reasonable towards dogs but are in fragile health and would be injured by an over-exuberent dog.

Fair is good, but I would much rather an evaluator were overly harsh and failed a dog that could later be retrained and pass than if one were too nice to a dog and did not really push a dog to find out its tolerance to stress. And if an evaluator perceives a possible weakness, the right thing to do is to apply MORE of that kind of stress to check it out.

It is the health and trust of vulnerable people that is at stake here. That and the reputation of therapy dogs. Not the dogs and certainly not the pride of their owners.

[RottiMomCT]

To those that are already Therapy Dog & Handler Certified: How tired are you and your dog after a visit?

That, I think, is one of the reasons that the evaluators push the dogs. It is not an easy thing to do, being a Therapy Dog. The dogs seem to 'take in' the stress of the surroundings and the stress that some of the patients are showing, and that can be exhausting.

I visit a local childrens hospital once a month, and Ben has developed a bond with alot of the kids (we keep in touch with the parents and if they are close enough, we'll go visit them at home once as well), and he seems to know whether someone has gone home, or they have passed away. He can tell by the reactions we get from the staff when asking about people, and he seems to react to that.

After a visit, he and I will usually come home and take a long nap. Then, of course, it's a yummy extra special dinner for both of us!

When Ben and I were tested by Delta Society, it was noted that of all the dogs that took the test, Ben seemed to ENJOY the clumsy/exhuberant petting potrion of the test! As she was on her knees rubbing him and poking him with her elbows, he leaned INTO the evaluator, asking for more, with this look in his eyes as if to say, "Oh yeah, right there...that's the spot!" She loved that about him!

Ben was spooked by the helper wearing a shawl that she waved at him but he looked to me for reassurance and when he saw that I was OK, he quickly recovered. It's not only the dog that is being tested, it is the both of you, as a team. The evaluators want to see how you and the dog interact and how the dog recovers from uncomfortable situations (how you assist him in doing that).

It sucks (can I use that term here??!!) that evaluators are biased against rotties, but I am SO PROUD to tell people that ben is Therapy Dog! It seems to immediately change their view of him (if not rotties in general).

Thinking of testing for Therapy Dog certification - get to it! It's often fun, definitely fulfilling, yet stressful, and a wonderful thing to do. To see the faces of people when you go to visit is almost worth just walking in the door! They light up when they see animals. Many patients repond better to animals than to many traditional treatments.

How many of us de-stress by talking to our dogs, or just merely petting them? Your dog is your own personal Therapy Dog!