™ Teamworks Dog Training®, LLC
THERAPY DOG Class

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What is a Therapy Dog? 
Video of the Most Important Personality Trait in a Therapy Dog



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Class Description

Class Details & Requirements

The Therapy Dog Evaluation

Carolina Canines for Service

Is This the Right Class for My Dog?
Video of 5 Different Dogs Accepting Petting - which one is most like your dog?

Canine Good Citizen Evaluation Dates

Therapy Dog Dates

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a Therapy Dog and a Service Dog?

Your Dog Can Be a Therapy Dog!

Once you have your "Canine Good Citizen" title, you may want to share your well-behaved dog with others.  Therapy dogs visit nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and hospitals around the country.   This class offers instruction and evaluation to become a certified therapy dog throughCAROLINA CANINES FOR THERAPY.  Scenes below are from practice visitation scenarios done in class.

Pictures from the Therapy Dog Class

 

Class Description

The focus of this class is on preparing the handler and dog for the therapy environment.  Skills include working around medical equipment, loud noises, food, toys, and other distractions.  Topics covered include stress and calming signals in dogs, infection control, medical ethics, general liability, and handling difficult visitation situations.  Class includes a field trip to observe a therapy visit, and information on local therapy locations.  The price of the class also includes a  Carolina Canines for Therapy manual and an official Carolina Canines for Therapy assessment.

Class Details
Tuition: $135.00 for a six-week class.  *

SEE OUR PACKAGE DEALS!

* Includes a Carolina Canines for Therapy  manual and an official Carolina Canines for Therapy assessment.  For class participants, additional dogs with the same handler can be assessed for either test at $35.00 per extra dog.  Additional handlers can be evaluated with the same dog for $35.00 per extra handler, but each handler must attend the class and complete the Carolina Canines for Therapy written test.
Pre-requisite: Canine Good Citizen test certification for dogs, or passing the CGC on a Gentle Leader.  (See Canine Good Citizen Test Schedule)
Dogs should show affiliative behavior toward humans (see video)
Requirements: All dogs must have Rabies and DHPP vaccinations or titers.
 Proof of vaccinations or titers must be brought to first class if not on file. 
Pre-registration and pre-payment required. 
Age: Dogs must be at least 1 year of age at the start of class and should have lived with their handlers for a minimum of 6 months to be eligible for the Therapy Dog evaluation.
Location: Teamworks Dog Training Facility, North Raleigh
Instructor: Mike Wallace (Sunday afternoons)
Evaluators: Michele Godlevski
Mike Wallace
 
Classes:
  • One hour class for six weeks (last class is the evaluation).
     
  • Sunday afternoons, 4:30-5:30 pm: instructor Mike Wallace
     
  • First week is an orientation night without the dogs. 
     
  • PLEASE NOTE:  WE WILL NOT HAVE CLASSES OR OFFICE HOURS ON EASTER WEEKEND, MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND, LABOR DAY WEEKEND, THANKSGIVING WEEK, OR THE WEEK BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S DAY.

  • Class schedules subject to be changed and extended due to severe weather conflicts and due to occasional conflicts in instructor's schedule.  Your instructor will notify you of any schedule changes. Severe weather related cancellations will be posted on voice mail at
    (919) 855-0422 box #2.

    •

 

Carolina Canines for Therapy

Requirements

  • Handlers must be at least 10 years old.  Handlers younger than 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

  • Handlers should present themselves for an evaluation they way they would show up for a visit; handlers should be dressed appropriately and should not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 

  • Handlers should present their dogs as they would for a visit:   dogs should be well-groomed and smell clean.  Dogs must be wearing an appropriate collar and an acceptable leash.

  • Carolina Canines for Therapy requires that each handler take the Therapy Dog class at least one time.  (There is NO HOME STUDY PROGRAM for Carolina Canines for Therapy, as we believe strongly that the handlers and dogs should be required to participate in a therapy-dog-specific training class.) 

  • If a handler has taken the therapy dog class one time with one dog, the handler can "home-school" an additional dog.  If that dog does not pass the evaluation on the first try, the handler and that dog will be required to take the class before being re-evaluated.

  •  If you have taken a Therapy Dog class at Teamworks or Carolina Canines for Service and have a Carolina Canines for Therapy certification,  you will be "grandfathered" into our program and are eligible for a "re-evaluation" with Carolina Canines for Therapy, without taking the class. (sign up online for a re-evaluation). 

  • Carolina Canines for Therapy will conduct a background check on each handler before certification.

  • Carolina Canines for Therapy will provide liability insurance for the team after registration.

  • Dogs who have been trained in Shutzhund or any type of bite work are not eligible for registration with Carolina Canines for Therapy.

    Acceptable Equipment:
    Flat or rolled buckle or snap collar
    Gentle Leader, Halti, Snoot Loop*
    Easy Walk type harness
    Regular harness
    Limited slip fabric collar
    6 ft braided or flat leather, nylon, or cotton lead

    *  If a dog tests with this equipment on, the dog must always visit with the equipment on

    Unacceptable Equipment:
    Metal slip collar (choke chain) or prong (pinch)
    Muzzle
    Nylon slip collar
    Anti-bark collar
    Flexi Lead
    Kennel lead (with slip collar on end)

  • Dogs must be 1 year old and must have lived with the owner for at least 6 months at the time of evaluation.

  • Dogs of any  breed or mix of breeds may participate.

  • If two people wish to register with the same animal, they must both take the entire Therapy Dog evaluation with the animal.

  • Regulations require that these items must be presented at the time of the evaluation:
    1.  A completed questionnaire for the evaluator's review.
    2.  Animal's current vaccination certificate. Rabies tags are not accepted.   Please bring proof of rabies vaccination even if you sent in proof of vaccinations for classes.
    3.  A towel or blanket if the animal will be carried.

 

 

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Carolina Canines for Therapy

Assessment

BASIC OBEDIENCE

  1. Sit-Stay or Down-Stay for 30 seconds at the end of  a 6-ft leash

  2. Come when called away from petting

  3. Walk on a loose leash & halt

  4. Walk past food distraction on the floor (leave-it)

  5. Walk past a wheelchair being pushed by

  6. Sit quietly near 2 people who are arguing

  7. Walk past person who grabs/bumps dog with hand as they go past

  8. Calm reaction walking past another dog

TEMPERAMENT EVALUATION

  1. Greet a person who is afraid of dogs, but pats dog tentatively

  2. Overall exam of ears, tail, paws

  3. Visit a person in a walker who leans forward to pet the dog.

  4. Visit a person in a wheelchair who is non-verbal and has limited range of motion for petting

  5. Visit a crowd of people

  6. Visit a person who offers dog a treat

  7. Visit a person who talks in an excited voice and gives dog a hug.

 

Desirable Responses - Handler

  • Friendly and interactive with people

  • Aware of animal's responses, behavior, and gives gentle cues as needed

  • Ensures animal's well-being

  • Does not yell or use force or jerk the leash

  • Demonstrates gentle interaction with animal

  • Is confident, natural and relaxed

 

Desirable Responses - Animal

  • Is reliable, controllable, & predictable

  • Shows no shyness or resentment

  • Does not jump up on or lunge toward people

  • Shows no aggression or fear

  • Does not eliminate during evaluation

  • Demonstrates a non-threatening body posture

  • Friendly wagging or relaxed tail

  • Soft body, relaxed face

  • Minimal vocalizations - should be controllable by handler and should be appropriate (sighs, grunts, purring, and a single friendly bark, but not rumbling, growling, or intense barking)

  • May lick the evaluator once or twice, but not continually

 

 

 

 
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Carolina Canines for Therapy evaluations are included in the price of the Therapy Dog class. 
Evaluations are scheduled individually at the conclusion of the class with the instructor.
A Therapy Dog evaluation takes 30 minutes, but participants should arrive at least thirty minutes early. 

 
 
2009 Carolina Canines for Therapy
RE-EVALUATION SCHEDULE
 6:30-9:30pm, Raleigh location
Friday, Jan 30th Wed Mar 11th Friday, May 22nd
Friday, July 17th Friday, Oct 16th Wed, Dec 9th
Sign up online  click_to_register.gif (5468 bytes)  to take a Therapy Dog class or a Therapy Dog re-evaluation. 
 
 
*  Groups may also contact Teamworks to arrange a Carolina Canines for Therapy evaluation at another location.  A minimum of ten participants and three  volunteers not taking the test must be available, as well as a suitable facility.  Prices and requirements are the same as stated above and evaluator's travel expenses must be paid. 

 

Teamworks Dog Training, LLC
Business Office & Agility Arenas:
195 Robbins Rd.
Youngsville, NC 27596
(919) 340-0120 (weather hotline)
Teamworkshelp@yahoo.com		 North Raleigh Facility:
8411-129 Garvey Dr.
Raleigh, NC 27616
(919) 855-0422
Click Here For Office Hours...		 Cary Classes at
Arbor Creek Wellness Center in Holly Springs

For More Info:

  • See the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS PAGE

  • Teamworks is closed for Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, the week of Thanksgiving, and 2 weeks from Christmas through New Years.

  • Class schedules subject to be changed and extended due to severe weather conflicts and due to occasional conflicts in instructor's schedule.  Your instructor will notify you of any schedule changes. Severe weather related cancellations will be posted on voice mail at
    (919)     340-0120    .

  • Call (919) 340-0120 for weather related cancellations and for more information

 

Teamworks Dog Training is a registered Servicemark with the US Department of Trademarks