Delta Society Therapy Dogs, Toledo Therapy Dog Training

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.

Toledo Therapy Dog Class

After graduation, we will help you connect with local facilities in your area.

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 & bordetella). This is an advanced-level course focusing on the therapy environment. All dogs enrolled in class, should have good obedience skills. Dogs enrolled in class should have passed the Beginner Dog Training Class at Toledo Dog Training or have their AKC Canine Good Citizen title within the past 2 years. Please note: dogs that have been trained for any type of bite work cannot enroll.

Typical sequence of dog training classes to lead up to entering therapy dog class:

or:

Current Canine Good Citizen earned (within 2 years)
Therapy Dog Class

Prerequisite for handlers/owner: Handler must be at least 10 years old to become a Pet Partner.

Class Details: 6-1 hr classes, plus 1-Delta Society's Pet Partners Team Manual (Manual value $42) & 1 Team evaluation will be available by Delta-Licensed Team Evaluators from K-9's For Compassion at no additional charge.Class Cost $150 (sorry, no discounts on this class)

The price of the class also includes a Delta Society's Pet Partners evaluation and a Pet Partners team manual (required to become a Pet Partner).

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!

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:

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.

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)

2009 Class Start Dates:

Mon 6:30pm June-In session

We do have evaluation only on 7-19-09-Click for more information.

Thur 6pm (10-1; 10-8; 10-15; 10-22; 10-29; 11-5) test day 11-7-2009

Thur 7pm (10-1; 10-8; 10-15; 10-22; 10-29; 11-5) test day 11-7-2009

**A big thank you goes out to Katie & her volunteers at K-9's For Compassion for helping to bring Delta Society Pet Partner teams to the Toledo metro area! Katie and her team will be traveling here 3x a year from Youngstown, just to test our teams!