Dog Advice & Discussion :: Dog Chat

Hi,

I have a one year old Labradoodle puppy. I am very interested in training him to be a therapy dog so he can visit hospitals. He has no formal training, and only knows basic commands. He is a very sweet dog, but still playfully nips and jumps.

Does anyone know of any programs or organizations that help train dogs for such activities?

Thank you,
Allison

Ahh I'm getting into the exact sime kind of volunteer work! I've yet to bring home the dog I'm looking for, considering my current dogs would not be suitable for this. There is no specific breed, but temperament is obviously important.
Go to the Therapy Dogs International website, it's a fantastic website that describes exactly what your dog needs to know/be able to do to be a therapy dog. Some of the things are: basic obedience, very well-socialized, at least 1 year old, etc. Also, you can become a member of TDI and pass the suitability tests. Then you can contact your local hospital/nursing home/centre and see if they have a therapy dog program there that you can be a part of. Sadly, there are no major therapy dog groups near me, but you could see if there's one near you.
Hope that helped =)
Mista <3

Dob't know which county you are in but if you are in the UK you have to join with PAT dogs.  Sorry don't know their website but they do have one.

They will then put you onto someone who tests the dogs either at your home or a training club.  The test is fairly simple and you don't have to have them too highly obedience trained.  Just as long as you can control your dog, they ave not nervous and that they get on with people you should have no problems.

I will warn you that many hospitals are stil in the ice age and do not allow dogs to go to them!!  Hopefully one day this will change.  They are still under the stupid idea that dogs are dirty things that bring in viruses etc.  Daft I know but unfortunately this is how many of them are, but some are getting there slowly!

you have to join with PAT dogs.

Who said you have to join PAT? and does that apply to all hospitals, hospices, old age rest homes, psychiatric units etc, etc? is this a law or something?

Yes it is for all as your dog has to be tested to ensure that it is suitable to do PAT dog work.  

Sorry not sure about their website address but I'm sure that if you go through Google you will find it  :)

With you saying that your dog is still nipping i presume it's still a very young pup?  I think that they have to be at least 6 months before they can be a PAT dog, could be slightly older.

It's well worth it and can be a lot of fun but you have to be on your guard all the time as some people don't like dogs and one woman who acted as though she was going to stroke one of my dogs hit her on the head right next to the eye, she got glaucoma 2 weeks later in that eye, she already had it in the other eye but there were no signs of it developing when she was seen just before this incident at the veets and was put down soon after as she couldn't cope with not being able to see.  

Go on sign up, it doesn't cost much and you really can get a lot out of it as can your dog, but don't do too long a visits at the start as it can be quite draining for your dog.

Sorry I did not write my question properly. What I meant was are you saying the only PAT dogs can become therapy dogs in all kinds of hospitals. nursing homes etc?

We have taken half a dozen dogs to a children's hospice on a couple of occasions to show the children some tricks and agility. They interacted with the children afterwards. Only one of them was a registered pat dog.