Even YOUR dog can have a job!

Therapy Dogs are dogs who go into hospitals and make visits to sick people. Your dog can be certified to do this work, if you think you and your pal would enjoy it. It's wonderfully rewarding, and you will make others very happy. Years ago, I used to go to hospitals with my Chow/Retriever mix, Eugene. He would light up the room. People's entire being would change as soon as they saw my dog. Kids would laugh, older people would light up with joy. Somehow, dogs have a magical power to help us forget our own problems, and ignite tremendous love and joy within us. Dogs just simply love it. There's a great group called Therapy Dogs International (TDI), and they run one of the best certifications in the country. It's not that hard! To pass the test, you need a solid recall, sit, down and stay command, and a perfect heel. Your dog has to perform all the obedience tasks on and off the leash, with distractions involved. You may use treats to train, but not for the test! The tester will often "drop" a tray or a spoon or pot, and your dog should not "startle". There are ways to "proof" your dog to make sure he passes the test. In the following weeks, we'll cover one topic per day on how to pass your test as a therapy dog handler. Even if you don't want to take the test, the obedience work is wonderful, and you and your dog will enjoy some quality time together. We will focus on: basic commands, adding distractions, fading the lure (getting away from the treats, slowly), sound proofing, startle proofing, and saying hello. Tomorrow morning, tune in for the perfect "sit".
-The Behavior Savior