shelb'smum Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 Peter/Wicket is a special dog, and I see this more and more every day. Even with me as a trainer he is well behaved and sweet and gentle. His biggest thing is that he LOVES children. LOVED EM'. I am thinking that since he is soft fluffy and cute. A lot of children we run into love him as well. I would like to maybe get his CGC and start training him as a therapy dog for children. Esp. since I don't plan on having any of my own in the near or distant future. I just love watching him interact with them. He intensely becomes SO much more gentle and sweet. and EXTRA SUPER LOVEY What did it take you to get into that field of "work" with your pup? I know its worth it!!! I would love to hear some stories about the working dogs!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iluvlucy Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 me too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurie etc Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 check out this link about kids reading to dogs. I don't have the time in my life right now, but that looks like a really worthy project. Laurie http://www.tdi-dog.org/childrenreadingtodogs.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaggieDog Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 Maggie and I have been a therapy dog team for almost 4 years now. We started out visiting nurnisng homes, and now visit at a local elementary school special ed class and ocassionally help out at "Reading Fur Fun" (doggie reading program) at the local library. I highly recommend getting the home study book that Delta puts out for prepping for testing - it gives you a great base to work from on what's expected and how to go about certain things. The testing itself is in two parts: skills and aptitude. Dogs can't be tested until they are 1yo or have been with their handler for 6mo or more, whichever comes last. I have to recommend Delta Society (www.deltasociety.org) over TDI - TDI changed there policies and now you can't register with another therapy org, it's difficult to form local therapy groups, and their insurance policy isn't as good as Delta's from what I hear. Also, in my opinion, TDI testing isn't as thorough as Delta's and it concerns me that they only test dogs once in their lifetime as I think that a lot can change over the years; I much prefer Delta's testing protocols and retesting every 2 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iluvlucy Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 Thanks Erin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Root Beer Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 Maggie and I have been a therapy dog team for almost 4 years now. We started out visiting nurnisng homes, and now visit at a local elementary school special ed class and ocassionally help out at "Reading Fur Fun" (doggie reading program) at the local library. I highly recommend getting the home study book that Delta puts out for prepping for testing - it gives you a great base to work from on what's expected and how to go about certain things. The testing itself is in two parts: skills and aptitude. Dogs can't be tested until they are 1yo or have been with their handler for 6mo or more, whichever comes last. I have to recommend Delta Society (www.deltasociety.org) over TDI - TDI changed there policies and now you can't register with another therapy org, it's difficult to form local therapy groups, and their insurance policy isn't as good as Delta's from what I hear. Also, in my opinion, TDI testing isn't as thorough as Delta's and it concerns me that they only test dogs once in their lifetime as I think that a lot can change over the years; I much prefer Delta's testing protocols and retesting every 2 years. Does Delta Society require yearly vaccinations? That's my one problem with TDI. I would love to have Dean be a therapy dog, but I'm not going to vaccinate him yearly. I'd like to cut it out with Maddie, too. I only got hers last year to keep her TDI certification current. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaggieDog Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 Nope! No yearly vax requirement as far as I know. My vet fills out the paperwork and says she's current and when she's due - we're on the 3yr protocol - and I haven't had any problems thus far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Root Beer Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 Nope! No yearly vax requirement as far as I know. My vet fills out the paperwork and says she's current and when she's due - we're on the 3yr protocol - and I haven't had any problems thus far. I like that! I just renewed Maddie's TDI, but I might consider that for the future, and for Dean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flrpwr52 Posted February 22, 2007 Report Share Posted February 22, 2007 Zoe and Ari are also therapy dogs with Delta. We go just about anywhere they will let us in. It is so rewarding to see the dogs work with the patience, young or old. Zoe has a special gift that comes out with semi catatonic and Alzheimer's patients. We were told that a certain man of 64 years old has not taken notice of his surroundings for over 2 years and probably wouldn't even notice the dogs. Zoe and I approached him and he did nothing so I thought we would move on but Zoe wanted to stay. She moved closer to him and laid her chin on his knee. It was obvious she was not going anywhere soon so I sat next to his wheelchair on the floor and waited to see what she was going to do. She continued to sit with her chin on his knee as I was talkng with some of the staff. A young staff member was walking past and stopped and pointed without saying a word. The man was moving his finger over Zoe's head. We all stopped breathing and watched in awe. It was a beautiful and very moving moment. It lasted only a few short seconds but Zoe reached this man. She always goes back to him each time we visit that facility but he has never acknowledged her again. She still rests her chin on his knee and looks him in the eye but nothing. That's what it is all about. I reccommend pet therapy highly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurie etc Posted February 22, 2007 Report Share Posted February 22, 2007 I like that! I just renewed Maddie's TDI, but I might consider that for the future, and for Dean. I have never renewed my dogs' TDI certifications, because of the vaccination protocol. I would love to have them Delta certified, but it doesn't seem as popular in the East - anybody have connections in the Washington DC area for an evaluator? Laurie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat W. Posted February 22, 2007 Report Share Posted February 22, 2007 Many years ago I qualified my now 13 yr old Ashe as a therapy dog. It was very rewarding We would visit the geriatric (sp?) floor, childrens ward and the psych ward. All three were wonderful in their own way. Ashe loves kids and is very gentle with them. With a "Toes" command he would gently put his feet up on the bed so a child could reach to pet him. Sometimes we were there for both the parent and the child. Most people were pretty suprised to see a border collie visiting the hospital. The psych ward was very interesting as at the request of the treating Dr. we would come at group therapy time and Ashe would simply move around the room sitting with whom ever he felt needed the encouragement/courage to speak by just sitting and leaning against their leg. People would reach down and pet him and relax enough to talk about the things bothering them. I just sat to one side and watched and waited ). Sadly I later got a full time job and just didnt have the time to visit the hospital any more. Would like to get into it with my aussie some day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaggieDog Posted February 22, 2007 Report Share Posted February 22, 2007 I did a quick search on evaluators, and while there aren't any in DC proper, there are a number in MD, including Baltimore and Fredricksburg. Go to the Delta website (www.deltasociety.org), click on the Pet Partner's button, go down to search, and select "team evaluators", then add in the info you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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