Getting Started in Therapy Work

By Chris Eggenberger

Have you ever wondered if your dog would be suited for therapy work but don't know where to start? If so, maybe I can help.

First it is important to understand what therapy dogs do. It's simple, really. They bring sunshine to people who often have cloudy days. Research has shown that interacting with animals brings healthful results, and more and more institutions are including dogs, and sometimes even other animals, in their activity and therapy programs.

There are several organizations that offer opportunities for you to involve yourself and your dog in volunteer therapy work. Some of these are local programs offered by hospitals and other institutions. I'm only going to discuss Therapy Dogs International, the oldest organization, because my dog and I have taken their test and are registered as a TDI therapy dog team. Each organization has its own testing standards, but the basics remain the same.

Your dog must know and obey certain commands, so your first step is to take your dog to obedience classes and progress to at least the intermediate level. This means your dog must not only perform sits and downs, but stay put while you walk across a room until you call him. Another reason to attend classes is that your dog will also be tested for how it reacts to other dogs. Obedience class is one of the best places to go for this kind of socialization.

The Therapy Dogs International test closely follows the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test and is sometimes offered at the same time and location. Here are the criteria for earning a CGC.

1. Accept a Friendly Stranger - You and your dog will approach a stranger and you will shake the stranger's hand. Your dog should show neither signs of aggression nor fear.
2. Sit Politely for Petting - Your dog should obey a sit command and accept petting from the evaluator.
3. Appearance and Grooming - You certainly want your dog well groomed before you take him to be tested, but he must also allow the evaluator to lean over him and brush him. 
4. Out for a Walk - The evaluator wants to see you walk with your dog on a loose lead. No tugging or pulling by you or your dog. 
5. Walking Through a Crowd - Volunteers will be on hand to provide a crowd atmosphere. Your dog will need to show neither aggression nor fear.
6. Sit and Down on Command/Staying in Place - Your dog will need to obey these commands to include staying while you walk across a room or show ring. 
7. Coming When Called - Sit, down, and stay commands are the most important things your dog can learn. Not only can obeying these commands possibly save his life, but is essential in being a good canine citizen and a possible therapy dog. You will be asked to leave your dog and he must stay until you call him to you. Then he must come directly to you with little or no hesitation.
8. Reaction to Another Dog - You and your dog will greet another handler and dog. Your dog may show only a mild interest in the other dog, but may not display aggression or fear.
9. Reactions to Distractions - This includes a person running and a loud crashing sound. Everyone should teach their dog the "leave it" command. Distractions can come at any time when you are in public. Having control of your dog means you have successfully taught it to ignore distractions upon command. 
10. Supervised Separation - You will ask a stranger to hold your dog for you while you go out of sight for three minutes. Your dog must remain calm during this time of separation

Therapy Dogs International modifies the CGC test by adding the following elements.
1. Reactions to Distractions: Here your dog must walk within three feet of a bowl of dog food and obey the "leave it" command. Believe me, this will come up in your therapy career. You don't want your dog slurping out of a patient's plate!
2. Walking Through a Crowd - This time the people in the crowd will be using medical equipment such as walkers, canes, wheelchairs, and crutches. Your dog must not shy away from people using such equipment and allow them to pet him. 
3. Meet the Patient - Your dog needs to show a willingness to make himself easily accessible for petting. Small dogs are expected to get on a chair if necessary so they can get closer to someone who may be too weak to reach out to them.

Most importantly in a TDI test, you and your dog are tested as a team. The TDI Certified Evaluator will judge both the conduct of the handler and the dog. Although AKC allows slip collars (fabric or chain) for their CGC test, TDI only allows a flat buckle or snap collar. Training collars, harnesses, or Halti's are not allowed.
For more information about Therapy Dogs International, visit their website at www.tdi-dog.org.

This test is not hard for a dog to pass if he's had good, solid, basic obedience training and a good temperament. The wonderful thing is that the rewards are immeasurable. After you share your dog with people in need, you walk on air. Watch closely, though. You may see your dog walking on air right beside you!

I wish to thank my friend Stella Moore, Certified CGC/TDI Evaluator, for her assistance with this article.