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Toledo Dog Training-Headquarters
6128C Merger Drive- Map
Holland, OH  43528
By Appointment Only

 About Your Instructor  
 
 
Our unique Therapy Dog Skills Training course prepares both the dog & owner/handler to take the  Pet Partner  evaluation through Delta Society! Delta Society is the only national registry that requires volunteer training and screening of animal/handler teams. Delta Society's Pet Partner Teams are able to assist in animal-assisted activity and animal assisted therapy programs. Teams can visit participating animal programs in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, schools and other facilities. After graduation, we will help you connect with local facilities in your area.

Toledo Therapy Dog Class

Our therapy dog skills training class focuses on preparing the handler and dog for the therapy environment. We will work on skills that include working around medical equipment, unpredictable circumstances, loud noises, distractions, medical scents & even have mock visits!
 
Prerequisite for dogs: For dogs at least 11 months old & with owner for at least 6 months. Current vaccines  (DHPP & Rabies Required, Bordetalla Recommended) .  This is an advanced-level course focusing on the therapy environment.  All dogs enrolled in class, should have good obedience skills & passed our Level Assessment or Intermediate at Toledo Dog Training & Instructor ApprovalIs your dog ready?  Please read this first.
 
Please note: Dogs that have been trained for any type of bite work cannot enroll. Animals cannot be fed a Raw Protein Diet per Delta Society. 
 
Prerequisite for handlers/owner: Handler must be at least 10 years old to become a Pet Partner.
 
Class Details: $175 6-1 hr classes, plus 1-Delta Society's Pet Partners Team Manual (Manual value $42), Shadow Visit & 1 Team evaluation will be available by Delta-Licensed Team Evaluators from K-9's For Compassion at no additional charge.Class Cost $175 (sorry, no discounts on this class).

Once you pass your evaluation, you must then register with Delta Society within 90 days of your evaluation.

The price of the class also includes 1 Delta Society's Pet Partners evaluation and 1 Pet Partners team manual (required to become a Pet Partner).  If you would like to have additional handlers with your dog, a manual & evaluation for each handler is required.
 
Topics Covered: Determining stress and calming signals in your dog, ethics, liability, handling difficult situations, animal health & safety, interacting with special people, local therapy locations & joining a therapy dog group!

Shadowing a registered Delta Society Pet Partner team is also included!
 
Please note:  Although we will review all obedience skills your dog needs to pass the Delta Society Pet Partner’s evaluation, this class will not focus on teaching your dog to sit, stay, walk on a leash. it will be assumed that your dog can perform these skills in a variety of contexts prior to registering for our therapy dog class. if not, we recommend that you brush up on his obedience, and register for therapy dog class at a later time.
 
 
Commands/Skills Refreshed: toledo therapy dogs
  • Accepting a friendly stranger
  • Accepting petting
  • Appearance & grooming
  • Out for a walk
  • Walk through a crowd
  • Reaction to distractions
  • Sit/down/stay/recall/leave it/offer a treat
  • Animal passed to 3 strangers (small dogs)
  • Animal placed on lap or table (small dogs)
  • Reaction to neutral dog
  • Overall examination
  • Clumsy petting
  • Restraining hug
  • Staggering & gesturing
  • Angry yelling
  • Bumped from behind
  • Crowded & petted by several people
  • Proactive handler/owner
Why Delta Society Pet Partner Program above other non-Delta Therapy Dog Programs?
 
This is an issue that must be addressed for the safety of all that are involved.  We are aware that many facilities allow animals to visit. Often these animals have not been tested by any nationally recognized standard. 
 
The Delta Society Pet Partner program registers animal-people teams that successfully complete skills, aptitude, and health screening and evaluation, along with volunteer training.   
 
To become a Delta Society Pet Partner program member, the animal must first successfully pass the 19 part pet partners skills and aptitude evaluation.  Then, the animal must pass a health screening conducted by a licensed veterinarian for specific health and temperament criteria. 
 
To help the candidate volunteer feel capable, confident, and effective, Delta Society requires that the volunteer receive a minimum level of instruction on how to participate in a visiting animal program.  This instruction, the Delta Society Pet Partner team training course, contains much practical information for volunteers.  The candidate must also complete a written test, which is then submitted to Delta Society for review.
 
There are many types of facilities that Pet Partners teams can visit; however teams vary in experience, confidence, and capability.  Therefore, each Pet Partner team will be qualified to visit in either predictable or complex environment.  This will be noted on their id badge.
 
 
Delta Society Pet Partner Teams: 
  • Provides standard-based training for the handler
  • Has criteria in place for evaluating the suitability of all
    domesticated animals
  • Screens the team at both ends of the leash.  both the animal and handler must work as an effective team.
  • Requires that delta society licensed animal-handler team
    evaluators and team training course instructors renew their
    license every two years
  • Delta Society also provides its members with an educational newsletter.
  • If you are with a local facility & would like to have qualified Therapy Pet Teams visit, please contact us! 
     
As a registered Delta Society Pet Partner, you will receive:
  • Delta Society membership and interactions magazine
  • $1 million primary liability insurance
  • Identification badge & collar id tag
  • Referral to facilities searching for Pet Partner teams
  • Exclusive offers to Pet Partners accessories
  • Opportunity to network with other Pet Partner teams
  • Support from the Delta Society office
  • Membership option to Toledo Therapy Pets (first year paid)


Prerequisite for dogs: For dogs at least 11 months old & with owner for at least 6 months. Current vaccines (DHPP, rabies & bordetella).  This is an advanced-level course focusing on the therapy environment.  All dogs enrolled in class, should have good obedience skills & passed Toledo Dog Training's Level Assessment or Intermediate & Instructor Approval.
Is your dog ready?  Please read this first.

 
  • Tentative Dates for 2012
  • May 8th 2012 TBA
  • September 10th TBA
 
**A big thank you goes out to Katie & her volunteers at The Learning Dog for helping to bring Delta Society Pet Partner teams to the Toledo metro area!  Katie and her team will be traveling here 2x a year from Youngstown, just to test our teams!


-----Donations-----

A huge thank you for those of you who have been mailing us in kind donations to our program!  An honorary donation is a meaningful way to honor and  remember someone special. Your gift reflects your desire to make a lasting impact on the lives of others, just as your honoree has done for you. 

Because our therapy program is still in it's infancy stage, for tax purposes we keep everything under our parent company-Perky Paws Cafe. Hopefully in the future with supports such as yourself, we will be able to grow & expand our outreach.  If you would like to send a donation to our program, please write your payment to: Perky Paws Cafe.  Thank you!!

Toledo Dog Training-Headquarters
  6128C Merger Drive- Map
Holland, OH  43528
By Appointment Only