There is a lot of confusion regarding Therapy Dogs and Service Dogs and the testing relevant to each.  We look at the differences, give advice on choosing which therapy organization to join and how to prepare your puppy or dog for this specific type of training.

Therapy Dogs are pets that owners have trained and certified to visit others.  There are many types of therapy organizations both local, national and international with specific rules and guidelines.  

When considering which pet therapy group to join pet owners should consider where they would like to visit and investigate which organization has teams there.  Often therapy organizations will take charge of a visit and not allow other organizations to visit unless a member of their group. Fortunately many visits are also run by the volunteer office of a facility which may set their own criteria and specifics regarding which organizations may visit.  Also important is reviewing the guidelines and testing procedures, along with any additional education required and fees.  

The therapy tests for most organizations consist of some basic obedience work including sit, down, 20 ft. stay and come, plus working with other therapy dogs, friendly greetings with strangers, and working with common therapy equipment including wheelchairs, walkers, four-footed canes and crutches. The test is administered by an evaluator.

The best dog for pet therapy work is one that enjoys meeting people and has basic manners so socialization and basic obedience is an important part of building a solid foundation. If the dog shows fear or aggression toward people they are not good candidates and of course if it is not enjoyable for both the human and the canine companion why do it?

Service dogs work specifically for their handler performing a task.  In the United States there is no central registry despite organizations that claim otherwise.  There are specific organizations that train dogs for service and assistance work such as The Seeing Eye, Canine Companions for Independence and many others.  The new work of service dogs also includes Psychological Service dogs which assist with PTSD symptom intervention, Seizure Alert dogs, and others. These should not be confused with Emotional Support dogs that typical have not had formal training and have come under criticism of late as some pet owners have made unsubstantiated claims.  This was addressed by the major airlines with new criteria for in cabin transport including a signed letter from a psychologist annually with their license and a complete vet exam with temperament evaluation.

The most common test used for service dogs is the Public Access test which consists of testing in public for control, temperament and behavior. The test goes beyond basic obedience and can be found here http://www.iaadp.org/iaadp-minimum-training-standards-for-public-access.html

Service dogs require steady temperament, intelligence and drive. They are often bred for this purpose and are noted for their intense connection performing service for their owners.

There are many individuals who because of their remote locations or unique individual needs may require working one-on-one with a trainer or even training their dogs themselves for therapy or service work.  There are some excellent books on this topic and when reviewing it is essential to check the credentials of the author or trainer. Some therapy dog organizations will certify a team remotely through Skype or video. 

This article was written by Dorice Stancher, MBA, CPDT-KA a therapy dog evaluator for 15 years and professional certified CCPDT trainer.  Ms. Stancher was a featured speaker at the very first NJ Pet Therapy Conference at Morristown Hospital.

The holidays are fun and yet stressful for both humans and their dogs.  Even good dogs that never had a history of aggression can bite if pushed to their limits.  Here are some suggestions to stay safe this holiday season.

Prevent stress for you and your dog with regular exercise and mental challenge

When the weather turns cold and our schedules become full often the first thing to go is exercise.  This does not include letting the dog out to go potty and then allowing back in.  We are talking about a real walk with some training involved including waiting at the curb before crossing. If this is not possible move the activity inside.  You can use balance boards, pedestals and other equipment to give your dog a workout. Here is a link to Fit Paws which has an entire line of exercise equipment for you and your dog https://fitpawsusa.com You can also teach your dog tricks which require a minimum of space and helps with both obedience and mental challenge. Here is a link to the “Do More With Your Dog” program http://www.domorewithyourdog.com/trickdog/

Know the signs of stress in your dog

If your dog is to be a part of the activities make sure that he is comfortable and does not show signs of stress which includes turning away,  yawning, lip licking, stiffness, “whale eye”, and growling. It is important to know when your dog is stressed and to provide space and boundaries. https://www.care2.com/greenliving/7-subtle-signs-your-dog-is-stressed.html

Control all interactions especially with children

If your dog is comfortable greeting visitors but is a jumper wait until he is calm and then put on his leash, grab some treats and practice friendly greetings without jumping. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csuMGROvvVU

Never leave the dog alone with children and set the ground rules regarding human behavior and interaction. These might include not allowing interaction with the dog while sleeping or eating. Here are some great suggestions for setting guidelines with children. https://doggonesafe.com/To-Do-&-Not-To-Do

Better yet if your dog is not comfortable with children give them a break and provide a safe space for them where they will not be disturbed. You can add music as a noise filter, provide them with a stuffed Kong and the security of their crate. In between the festivities be sure to give them a break to go potty.

Use a gate or crate to prevent door dashing

With so any guests arriving it can be an easy opportunity for your dog to sneak out of the house.  Think about your management plan and either use gates or a crate to keep your dog from escaping.

Prevent a visit to the vet

Often well meaning guests may try to feed your dog from the table or sneak your dog a forbidden item. Here is a list of the foods that can be toxic to your dog.  Be sure to share your concerns with guests and remove your dog from where the food is both being prepared and served to avoid counter surfing. https://www.petsbest.com/blog/thanksgiving-foods-pets-shouldnt-have/

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season!

Canines Can Do® llc Modern Dog Training

Would you believe that dogs don’t transfer behaviors from one place to another?  You’ve probably noticed that your dog is perfect inside listening to commands and giving you full attention and then once outside things change dramatically?  Is this unusual?

Think of it this way, when you are outside of the home or your children do they get distracted?  Do you have trouble getting them off the playground or out of Best Buy where they are fixated on the gaming systems?

With so many wonderful distractions even for us wit our cell phones,  we need to start somewhere.  The first step in getting attention from our dog is to put the phone away. I find this challenging at times but it is a must.  Next is to begin teaching attention.  For us it can be mindful meditation and learning to focus on one task instead of many. For our dogs it means getting their undivided attention.  I start with teaching the LOOK command in a quiet place indoors.  This is a process.  I bring a soft treat to my eyes and when I get eye contact from the dog I mark with YES and treat. I do this about 10 times and then add a distraction like simply putting the food to the side and then asking for eye contact. If the dog does not get it I start again from the beginning. Once this is mastered we begin moving outdoors and gradually increase the distractions. As it becomes more challenging it is necessary to make sure the dog is very hungry and the treats are of very high value like real chicken or steak.

When training outdoors it is essential that the dog be comfortable. There are some that have anxiety or fear issues which can interfere with attention.  Create a safe space when teaching these skills and work slowly toward your goals keeping distractions at a distance and working up to closer proximity.  If necessary contact your veterinarian and discuss options for the anxious dog. Another helpful tool when teaching attention is to use your body by moving and becoming a subject of interest.  Use your voice and sudden movements to get your dog to think you are the most interesting thing in the area.  Another way to get attention is to teach a behavior like TOUCH and reinforce it when in different settings.  I like teaching dogs tricks since they are fun and create attention.

What also helps with teaching attention is to build leadership skills by having your dog earn all of his rewards. This is not that hard when you consider they can earn meals, going through the door and getting on the couch.

Remember that just like with us our dogs can often become distracted but with patience and encouragement we can build a better bond and our dogs will learn that we are far more interesting than this distractions.

Happy training!

Dorice