Just Got My Greyhound! What Is The Next Step To Becoming A Therapy Dog?
October 18, 2009 by admin
Filed under Care & Training Q&As
I just adopted my wonderful greyhound yesterday!, and I am really interested in training him to be a certified therapy dog. Where would I start, and what are the steps? I know that I would need to get the CGC certification, but how do I get into that? I also know they have classes for it, but are those classes required? Or can I just personally teach him what he needs to know and have him take the test?
And after the CGC test, what is the next step to becoming certified for therapy? Are there different kinds of therapy certification based on what kind of therapy work you want to do? I would really like to take him into hospitals.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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If you are certifying through Therapy Dogs International, you need the CGC. I don’t know about other organizations. But I will be certifying through TDI with my Poodle.
The CGC test is a GREAT thing to train for. My Standard Poodle got her CGC, and it was a lot of fun! We have been taking classes since she was 3 months old. We went through 2 puppy classes, and 2 and half (long story) adult obedience classes before taking the CGC test. And she passed easily. Go to akc.org and find the links about the test, you can find lists of people who are licensed to administer the CGC test in your area.
That being said, I recommend signing up for training classes. You said you adopted your Greyhound, I’m assuming either from a shelter or rescue? Maybe its a retired racer? Anyway, classes are great not only for training, but they’re also excellent for socialization, especially for therapy dogs and especially for adopted dogs.
Get online and start searching for local trainers. Talk to vets, groomers, and other animal professionals that might know of some places to train. Then once you find some, go visit, watch a class or two, and see if you like how they train. Then sign up for the first obedience class you can take. Ask about the CGC test, see if they have classes geared toward it or if the curriculum you will learn can be used for the test.
The classes are absolutely not required. You could go take a CGC test with your dog now if you really wanted to, however he wouldn’t pass. Yes you can train your dog on your own. However this is a pretty big undertaking, especially if you’ve never trained a dog before. Yet it can be done. Visit akc.org and read the CGC pamphlet, get a good handle on what your dog needs to learn and start teaching basics – sit, down, stay, come, leave it. Then work on loose leashing walking/heeling, reaction to distractions, dogs, people, etc. It will take a while, but you can do it, whether you’re in classes or not.
After getting your CGC, I am not sure if you need to do anything else before taking your therapy dog certification test. Visit http://www.tdi-dog.org to find more information about their test and their requirements. With a TDI certification, you should be able to take your dog to hospitals. TDI is a pretty well known therapy organization. If you do get certified through TDI, your dog will get a “TDI” after its registered name in the AKC books. For example, when my dog gets certified, she will be Ali-Ann Inspired Addiction CGC TDI.
Good luck with your Greyhound, I’m sure he will do well. Training is a lot of fun!
Depending on what organization you use to certify him, you don’t always need the CGC. The skills that come by having a CGC will be necessary however.
I would contact the Delta Society. I’ve certified two animals through them and they’re a pretty good organization. They do their own tests to certify the dogs… very similar to the CGC. http://www.deltasociety.org
You will need to order the training material to learn what to do… but it’s quite easy.
Check out this link: http://www.deltasociety.org/Page.aspx?pi…