Therapy Dog Course
With the end goal of becoming a Therapy Dog, your dog needs to obtain a certain level of basic obedience and then transition to working under high distractions including both people and other dogs. The course will begin with teaching them the basics and then branch out to start to include my volunteers and their dogs at lessons to add to the distraction level. From the midpoint of the course, we will do lessons as field trips to high distraction environments so I can expose your dog to things like loud noises; unusual circumstances; food temptations; etc.
Initially lessons will be spaced out a week apart or as schedules permit then, as the course moves on, we will space them out at least 2 weeks apart to give you time to work with your dog under distraction.
The course is laid out as follows:
Orientation
Video orientation.
You will receive the link to my orientation video and PDF handout.
The information covers what to have for training; my method; leashes and collars; some key points; and gives some general advice.
Lesson 1
Sit at Heel.
Release Command.
Charging a Marker Word.
Leash Pressure Work.
Introduction to Heeling.
Lesson 2
Heeling with a Loose Leash.
Right and Left Turns.
Sit to Be Pet.
Naming Behaviours: Look.
Shaping Place.
Lesson 3
Down at Heel Position.
Naming Behaviours: Place
The “OUT” Command.
Lesson 4
Sit Stay.
Beginning of Distractions with Volunteers.
Lesson 5
Down Stay.
Beginning to Use Competing Motivators.
Lesson 6
Recall.
Progressing the Place Command.
Increasing Distractions.
Lesson 7
Stand for Examination.
Increasing Time and Distance on Place.
Increasing Time and Distance on Sit Stay and Down Stay.
Lesson 8
Real Life Distractions Are Introduced.
Stand Stay.
Food Refusal and Other Competing Motivators.
Lesson 9
Field Trip to High Distraction Environment.
Review of All Training.
Increasing Time and Distance on Stays.
Lesson 10
Proofing Behaviours in High Distraction Environment.
Lesson 11
Therapy Dog Test and Certificate.
