View Full Version : therapy dog
Kye has blossomed into a very sweet, gentle and affectionate girl. slightly crazy, but when it come to people, and elderly ones in patricular, it's like she senses the need for gentleness and love and quietly goes and gives her unlimited affection. i saw the way their eyes lit up and this idea came to mind.
where can i find information pertaining to requirements for a therapy dog?
(note: when i first started using this website, i'd research on the internet before asking a question. i have terrible luck, so i gave up on that and ask my questions directly here instead. hope no one minds.)
katiem
05-06-2009, 12:44 PM
Try your local obedience trainers, they might know someone who certifies dogs for CGN ( Canadian Good Neighbour, our version of CGC), or might do it themselves. Then they can get you into your local group that does it. My trainer is a CGN tester. Most therapy dogs have to be CGN certified to work in homes, nursing homes, hospitals, etc.
FredsMom
05-06-2009, 12:48 PM
Kye, I looked it up for Fred once. Here is a list for the US
http://www.inch.com/~dogs/service.html
and here is
http://www.tpoc.ca/
theraputic paws of CA...
Im not sure about anything in Alberta but maybe you can call around with some of these can they can help direct you
squashynose
05-06-2009, 12:49 PM
I'm no help, as usual, but just wanted to say that sounds ace, and good luck with it!
i watched a show on it once, i forget the details tho.
maybe i'll try out my sucky internet searching skills and see what i can find. although i did find info for the badger issue alright! took awhile, oh the internet.
I'm no help, as usual, but just wanted to say that sounds ace, and good luck with it!
no help my arse! you've given me VERY useful advice over the course of my dog ownership!
so can it, missy!
and thankie.
katiem
05-06-2009, 12:55 PM
http://www.ckc.ca/en/Default.aspx?tabid=91
Here's a start.
That_girl
05-06-2009, 01:27 PM
The largest, most well known organization in the US is the Delta Society.http://www.deltasociety.org/Page.aspx?pid=183
I did my thesis on canine therapy, mostly focusing on schools.
http://www.sja.ca/Alberta/CommunityServices/Programs/Pages/TherapyDogService.aspx
success! and for starters i'm going to find out if there's a St. John Ambulance near me who can test us once Kye gets older and has a little more work done, just to make sure.
and if we fail, i can always train more and try again!
FredsMom
05-07-2009, 12:12 PM
I love that they all have lil red bandanas! fred has one too. see, hes a therapy dog at heart :D and just a dum dum in the head. ohhhhhhh munchkin butt
awe, freddy boy. i wish we could get together and play! we b!tch, they play. would be GREAT.
katiem
05-07-2009, 12:34 PM
Can I ***** and play too, even if I don't have Borders?
of course! as long as Bram doesn't eat my babies! or me.
a PL expo is sounding so good to me right now. everyone, come to Alberta and see me and Mandy!
but like that would happen...all you americans anyways!
lol. but not you Katie. you're an igloo-livin' chick like moi.
katiem
05-07-2009, 12:42 PM
of course! as long as Bram doesn't eat my babies! or me.
Bram would never eat your pups, he loves other dogs!
Can't promise he won't eat you though...;)
heh, i guess he does get along with other dogs, considering his brothers and sister..Kye's a wussy though around males and loves females, and Rio's the opposite.
and i'll just stick close to a tree that's easy to climb real fast. or something. i betcha i'd find that boy real intimidating.
and good on ya for being so tough.
Wiztherewoz
05-07-2009, 04:00 PM
How sweet are you for thinking of donating your time and energy to sharing your gorgeous dog with people in need??? Wow, that's so thoughtful and lovely of you.
Good luck with that, and if you do manage to enrol her into the job, make sure you get plenty of piccies and keep us posted on what a good florence nightingale she's being. :)
squashynose
05-07-2009, 04:07 PM
How sweet are you for thinking of donating your time and energy to sharing your gorgeous dog with people in need??? Wow, that's so thoughtful and lovely of you.
Good luck with that, and if you do manage to enrol her into the job, make sure you get plenty of piccies and keep us posted on what a good florence nightingale she's being. :)
Thought about doing it with Frankie? ;)
Wiztherewoz
05-07-2009, 04:09 PM
Thought about doing it with Frankie? ;)
...:yikes:
squashynose
05-07-2009, 04:15 PM
...:yikes:
Is that your face, or the face of the poor unsuspecting old folk, when Frankie is lunging for their throats?
Wiztherewoz
05-07-2009, 04:18 PM
Is that your face, or the face of the poor unsuspecting old folk, when Frankie is lunging for their throats?
No, this would be me: :eek5: :34:
squashynose
05-07-2009, 04:19 PM
There you are, saying doh and slapping your forehead, while old fogies are being torn limb from limb... You evil pole.
Wiztherewoz
05-07-2009, 04:22 PM
There you are, saying doh and slapping your forehead, while old fogies are being torn limb from limb... You evil pole.
Lol. Yip, that's me.
You've got me laughing, and I'm also nearly crying over that other thread, and going back and forth I'm sniggering then sniffling like a crazy person. Glad there's no-one in the room with me.
How sweet are you for thinking of donating your time and energy to sharing your gorgeous dog with people in need??? Wow, that's so thoughtful and lovely of you.
Good luck with that, and if you do manage to enrol her into the job, make sure you get plenty of piccies and keep us posted on what a good florence nightingale she's being. :)
Awe, thanks! You made me feel good to read that :D
MandyPug
05-07-2009, 04:29 PM
Miss. Izzie is going to be doing therapy work real soon here... Mostly old folks homes and special needs school, it's all through the mental health association cause my coworker runs the program and who doesn't love my fuzzy wuzzy Izzie-belle! We're not certified or anything cause even if we got the CGN we'd still not be allowed in hospitals cause of the dogs being raw fed (people are so damned paranoid!).
I was gonna suggest the St. Johns thing to you but you already found it yourself!
Wiztherewoz
05-07-2009, 04:31 PM
We're not certified or anything cause even if we got the CGN we'd still not be allowed in hospitals cause of the dogs being raw fed (people are so damned paranoid!)
Whaaaaaaat??? :boggled: The world's crazy.
Wiztherewoz
05-07-2009, 04:33 PM
Awe, thanks! You made me feel good to read that :D
I'm glad, but it's just the truth. It wouldn't have crossed my mind. I hate hospitals, and I'm uncomfortable around people. I think you're a complete sweetheart for wanting to do this. (and I'm not just fishing for another thank-you, so don't worry about that.:p)
MandyPug
05-07-2009, 04:35 PM
Whaaaaaaat??? :boggled: The world's crazy.
Their poop apparently contains a triple antibiotic resistant strain of salmonella... Why i have not gotten sick yet if it's such a strong strain is beyond me... Dogs that eat kibble commonly have the exact same strain in their poops as well!
Well I'll thank you anyways!
I've always had a real soft spot for oldies, and I'm not talking about the music. And, I'm doing it moreso for Kye, because it's soo right up her alley. She'd just die over the amount of lovin she'd get. You'd think she was deprived of it at home!
I hate hospitals too. But at least I'm not the one stuck in there!
Mandy, that's interesting..
MandyPug
05-07-2009, 04:50 PM
Mandy, that's interesting..
The salmonella thing isn't anything to worry about... My coworker has been battling cancer and immune system issues and still feeds her dog and cats raw and has NEVER had an issue from the food OR the poop. And besides, the dog shouldn't be pooping in the hospital anyways! Plus i think it's only at our hospital they're strict about it, i know a few raw dogs in Calgary that do therapy in the hospitals.
I see.
And of course the dogs should be pooping in the hospital!! Sheesh.
So if I can't do the hospital I'll do senior centres (we have lots of those) and we also have what's called SPAN (St. Paul Abilities Network) which is an organization that provides assistance to those who can't always do it for themselves. People with autism, Downes Syndrome, that kinda stuff.
Little Rio, she's definitely not cut out for it though.