Training

Obviously, one of the most important areas in preparing your dog to be a therapy dog, is training.  Based on what we read on the Internet and books, we knew from the beginning we needed to get our dog socialized.  So, even before he started actual training, we had him out in public meeting other people and experiencing the public.  We took him on car rides, to outdoor concerts, short car trips and anywhere he was allowed in public.  I think Ivan has a great personality but I think this helped improve his disposition.

We have an outdoor shopping area not far from us and we have walked Ivan in that area numerous times.  The sidewalks are wide so when we encounter people we have room to let them pass.  Also, on one visit, I noticed that some of the stores have a dog paw sticker on their door that says that dogs are welcome in their store.  We started going into those stores when we visited.  It teaches him to go around objects and encounter people.

As far as formal training, we did a combo of group training and one on one training.  The group training was great because he was able to interact with other dogs and people.  The one on one training has been good for the obvious reason- he gets the trainers full attention.  We also spend time between training, working with Ivan. I purchased a 15 ft leash from Amazon and we practice in a large green space or on a dead end section of road in our neighborhood.  We work on sit, stay, come during those sessions.  I also consider the (almost) daily brushing as training. He has to accept being touched and brushed as part of acceptance to be a therapy dog.  I also have a list of the things Ivan will be tested on for Canine Good Citizenship and we try to go over those regularly.

The first big test to see how he is doing will be next week.  Ivan is trying out for a local therapy dog organization.  The standards are similar to what most require but Ivan does not have to be a year old to participate.  I think he has a pretty good chance but all depends on which Ivan shows up-crazy puppy or mature puppy.  My hope is that this will help get him used to therapy work and I can see if he really enjoys it.  I have a pretty strong feeling that he will love it but I look forward to finding out with him.

We may not go beyond this organization.  This organization in not national but we are covered by insurance on visits and they have a small number of facilities participating.  Through them, he can visit the students in my husbands kindergarten class as long as the school signs the consent form.  They are currently considering the idea so hopefully that will work out.  In the meantime, we have been doing Zoom meetings with the students so they can become familiar with Ivan.  We still have some kinks to work out- he slept through the last meeting- but we are hopeful.