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THERAPY DOG TRAINING
What are Therapy Dogs?
I like to think of Therapy Dogs as Little Angels of Happiness. Very simply, a Therapy
Dog can bring infectious laughter and joy to the people it’s around, perhaps making
people forget any issues they may have at the moment. Therapy Dogs can also be considered
as our Little Helpers. In addition to delivering happiness to the people around
them, they can also provide assistance services to disabled individuals as they
have been specially trained to be able to perform a number of specific tasks.
What is Therapy Dog Training?
Therapy dog training is something that is quite different from the regular type
of training for your dog (i.e. sit, stay & fetch). It requires a completely different
set of methods and techniques with some extra effort from its owner. All Therapy
Dogs must be housebroken, have proper manners and are obedient. They must not be
shy and be able to interact well with strangers and children.
Below are some tips you can follow to train your dog as a Therapy Dog:
• Frequent public areas with your dog so he/she can get used to the people and the
noisy environment. This will help to train them to remain calm in such a busy atmosphere.
• Teach your dog that certain behaviour is not acceptable regardless of the situation
(for example, jumping, barking , growling and even over friendly behaviour).
• Socialize your dog
• Use gentle and positive reinforcement when teaching your dog basic commands
Can my dog become a Therapy Dog?
While certain breeds of dogs are more suited to be Therapy Dogs versus others, there
are some common characteristics that are shared by this special group of dogs. Dogs
with a calm and friendly personality are definitely good candidates. In addition,
if your dog is great around people, especially strangers, that will also make it
easier for them to be trained.
Once you have determined that your dog is suitable to become a Therapy dog, you
will need to get your dog qualified. A Therapy Dog is required to pass a number
of tests in order to obtain certain credentials, allowing it to perform certain
tasks. Some of these tests include the Canine Good Citizen Certificate Test (CGC),
and satisfying the Therapy Dog International (TDI)’s requirements. Don’t forget,
you, as the owner or ‘Handler’ is also in important link and will also be tested.
You can get more information on how to train your dog properly by checking out Secrets
to Dog Training. Secrets to Dog Training has a ton of updated and detailed information
and includes a complete owner’s guide to owning, rearing, and training your dog,
as well as many other aspects of dog ownership. Many of my friends who are dog owners,
including myself have reviewed this book and would highly recommend it to any dog
owner. You can visit Secrets to Dog Training by clicking on the link below:
Therapy Dog Training ePackage
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