Therapy dog?

[KarenT]

So I have been thinking about putting my Rottie (7 month old) in therapy dog training. Does anyone have any suggestions or comments. I work in a large medical group and have seen how therapy dogs really make a difference in peoples health. When would I start the training? Would I even be let into classes? Please give me some advice.

I just think it would be great for people to start seeing Rottie's out there doing good.

[targonrotts]

what i do is lots of training in obedience and around other dogs and people.
we do elevators and stairs when we can.
walk in crowds, different buildings.
if i know someone in a wheelchair or walker, train and walk around them as they stay still or move.
i use this time for shaping up and training in possible situations.
i teach them to go say "hi", which is go to the end of the leash and be petted by another person.
most registries won't register until 12 months minimum, but training and preparedness is fine to work on it as early as possible.

[Canula2000]

like targon said most therapy organization will have you wait until they are a year old but training needs to start as soon as possible. I feel like a therapy dog should be fool proof. There is so much going on at a hospital or nursing facility that you need to have a calm and obedient dog. I do therapy work at a local nursing home and they have a resident cat...my dog doesn't do well with cats but he is obedient to me and does not listen to his instint of chase when in the nursing home.
Also with a large breed you want to make the best impression because there are people with dog fears and if your dog is unruly it makes for a terrible impression.
Training should be done to socialize your dog with every thing....take your pup to stores, parks, kids soccer games, etc...
And most important have fun.

[Katie K]

I would look into the places where you want to bring him and see which certification he needs. I know that the Children's Hospital in Detroit uses Therapy Dogs International. As a precursor, you must have a completed CGC and be 12 months old. Then you can enroll into the Therapy Dogs International program. Depending on where you live would probably dictate which program you'd use. Also, don't forget about liability insurance. At some larger institutions, like Children's, you're covered by using the approved therapy progam. Smaller hospitals may not have a policy in place for therapy dogs and therefore lack coverage. Call and ask to speak to risk management and they would be able to tell you if they have a policy or not.

[Cash]

Originally Posted by KarenT

So I have been thinking about putting my Rottie (7 month old) in therapy dog training. Does anyone have any suggestions or comments. I work in a large medical group and have seen how therapy dogs really make a difference in peoples health. When would I start the training? Would I even be let into classes? Please give me some advice.

I just think it would be great for people to start seeing Rottie's out there doing good.

It's an admirable goal, but understand it's not for all Rotties. It's a stressful position to put a dog in, to understand all the "differences" and to take it all in stride doesn't always equate the same way to a GR as it does to the Rottweiler. Lots of dogs thrive in this field, others, it wouldn't be as much fun for them.
The most important thing to understand is what your dog "truly" has to offer
and the only way to do that is to put your dog to the test in multiple venues. Temperament, age and experience make for the best guages of what compile a good therapy dog.

[KarenT]

We have already been working with both (heeler and rottie) our pups just for being out in the community in general. We have kids and let the 17mth old climb on the Rottie and sit, etc. The Rottie will just lay there and not even move. We have had friends over and large groups of people so that they have to get used to that. We make sure that they stay calm and don't jump and get excited. When I walk the pups I put one on each side of the stroller. So that would help simulate a wheelchair. I've hit their paws a few times. They didn't care. We have an older Chihauhau and a cat in the house that they interact with all of the time.
So we are trying to help these pups be well rounded. Sasha does have a quite laid back personality. I think that she is going to be calm and able to handle it. I had her off lead in the front of my house this last weekend and she stayed right at the garage. Even with other dogs, cats, and kids going by. I was a proud mommy. She's still a pup at times. Chewing on the fence outside, digging. We are trying to keep her busy so she won't do that...

Do you have any other suggestions on working with them?

I love all of the good suggestions I get on this forum.

[Cash]

Originally Posted by KarenT

Do you have any other suggestions on working with them?

I love all of the good suggestions I get on this forum.

I would start with getting your CGC.

For TDI (Therapy Dogs International) & Delta your dog has to be 1 year old to be tested anyway, so, in the mean that is a good place to start.

[2rotties2luv]

In addition to the excellent advice already given, I would like to add - don't rush into this. Rotties are not mentally mature until sometime between 2 and 3 years old. Your 7 month old pup will undergo changes in his personality and other aspects of his temperment will become apparent as he matures. The cuddly sociable puppy can well become aloof and standoffish as he grows up.

Because of this, I don't advise rottie owners to attempt to make therapy dogs of their rotties before the age of 3 years. Use the time till then for obedience training, socialization and exposure to as many strange and unusual situations and environments as you can manage.

Dog owners that try to push their dogs into doing therapy work before they are mature and ready for it may find that their dog becomes so stressed that they begin to dislike the therapy work and even will begin to try and avoid the people that they are there to meet. Ii've seen it happen. I've been involved in dog therapy since 1999 - my first rottie was 5 when we started, and my second rottie was 4. They were both very sociable dogs with a calm and confident temperment - nothing much could rattle them - but even so, they would still occaisionally get stressed after a long session.

Please check out the Therapy Dogs International and the Delta Society websites - you will find lots of information there.