Is Volunteering with Therapy Dogs United Right for You?
There are two different types of therapy dog outreach programs available through Therapy Dogs United, and either option – if not both - may be a good fit for you and your dog.
Therapeutic visitation dogs, commonly referred to as simply “therapy dogs” - is the most widely used method of animal therapy. These dogs are household pets that make visits with their owner, referred to as a volunteer handler. Together, the dog and the handler work as a team to reach beyond traditional forms of therapeutic healing and treatment.
Animal-assisted therapy dogs assist physical and occupational therapists in meeting specific goals or "measured results" important to a patient's recovery. These dogs are used to help anyone suffering from a stroke, physical injury, or trauma. AAT (animal-assisted therapy) dogs and their volunteer handler team up with trained therapists to use agility equipment and recreational therapy techniques. The end result encourages a patient to regain mobility, strength, range of motion, balance and confidence.
Therapy Dogs United, Inc. is proud to offer both therapeutic and animal-assisted visitation programs. Once your dog is certified with us, we will help you choose which program is right for you and your dog.
We welcome volunteers with or without a dog. To request a TDU Volunteer Application, Email Us. Please let us know if you want your application sent via Email, or standard mail.
Should I Become a Volunteer Handler?
Volunteer today. Here's why. Our Paw Power networks of certified therapy dogs provide hope. Please consider the following questions to decide if being a therapy dog volunteer is the right fit for you:
- Are you friendly with other people and their pets?
- Do you enjoy interacting with people of all ages?
- Do you have the desire to interact with children and/or adults? (Realize that the people you come in contact with may be in poor health, or need special assistance).
- Are you comfortable in a nursing home, or medical setting?
- Do you have the time and energy to volunteer on a regular basis?
- Do you have the time to continually train and update your dog’s skill level?
- Are you able to maintain your dog’s appearance as required for all therapy visits?
- Are you willing to keep your dog's vet records and shots up-to-date?
Is My Dog a Good Therapy Dog Candidate?
- Is your dog friendly and accepting of strangers?
- Does your dog get along with dogs of all sizes and breeds?
- Is your dog calm, able to sit on command, and stay for a long period of time?
- Is your dog comfortable around adults and children? Or prefer one to the other?
- Is your dog able to walk calmly through a crowd?
- Is your dog able to stay focused even with distractions?
- Does your dog enjoy being groomed or pet by a stranger?
- Is your dog confident and carefree?
- Is your dog relaxed even with loud, disruptive noises?
- Does your dog have good manners even when you’re not in the room?
- Is your dog comfortable in a new, or changing, environment?
Take the Test: Be a Certified Therapy Dog
Therapy Dogs United, Inc. requires that every dog certified as a canine volunteer pass a very difficult and challenging obedience and temperament test.
Part One: Obedience
We use the nationally-recognized AKC Canine Good Citizen test (commonly referred to as the CGC) as our obedience testing standard. This test is administered by a Certified CGC Evaluator. Every dog is required to pass the CGC before they can work in one of our programs. To learn more about the AKC Canine Good Citizen test requirements, visit the AKC online at:
www.akc.org/events/cgc/training_testing.cfm
Part Two: Temperament
After your dog successfully passes the Canine Good Citizen test - your dog must also pass the TDU Therapy Dog Evaluation. This test ensures that your dog is able to remain calm in difficult, distractive and stressful situations, and work in a group with other dogs. You can expect your dog to be exposed to a variety of distractions (often referred to as 'sights and sounds') that a canine volunteer would find 'out in the field.' Some of those distractions include a wheelchair, walker, wheelchair alarm, medical equipment, multiple children, and other dogs.
What if My Dog Doesn't Pass?
Not all dogs, even the most obedient and even-tempered dogs, pass the Canine Good Citizen test and the Therapy Dog Evaluation. In fact, more than half of the dogs tested do not pass both requirements the first time. There is no limit as to the number of times a potential therapy dog can be tested for either the CGC or TDU Therapy Dog Evaluation. There is no waiting period in-between testing should your dog fail to pass one or both evaluations. It is not required that both evaluations be taken on the same day. A dog, however, must pass both the CGC and the TDU Therapy Dog Evaluation to be certified as a therapy dog with our organization.
Does My Dog Qualify?
Therapy Dogs United requires that any therapy dog candidate be at least one year old. We also require that your dog has a current rabies vaccination and dog license, and your dog is free of ticks and fleas. Some of our Member Agencies may require a bi-annual fecal check, or that your dog is not on a raw meat diet. We also require that all dogs pass our test requirements on a flat buckle collar. Harnesses, pinch or choke collars cannot be used during either evaluation.
If you have questions or concerns and would like to personally observe one of our therapy dog evaluations, call (814) 456-DOGS and ask for more information.
We believe dog training and education is not only a life-long commitment, but an ongoing process. Our therapy dog teams have a solid foundation in obedience and a paw-sitive working relationship with their volunteer handler! Our dogs and humans engage in a mutual partnership through training, socialization, trust and respect.
Please consider sharing your dog's unconditional love with someone in need. Volunteer today.
To learn more about our therapy dog test requirements, or to schedule your dog for testing, please call (814) 456-DOGS or Email our office at pat@therapydogsunited.org
Doggie Humor:
My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to .99 cents a can. In dog money, that's nearly $7.00. - Joe Weinstein.
