Certified Therapy Corgi

Hi... Cody is now a certified therapy dog. We visit hospitals, nursing homes and rehabs. Any one else doing this? Best thing I've ever done...

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Permalink Reply by steve smith on September 8, 2011 at 4:37pm

There are a few who do that. I think that is great. Does Cody have to wear the red cross or anything else when working? My last post did not show up for some reason.

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Permalink Reply by Ellen Andersen on September 8, 2011 at 6:28pm

Congrats on getting Cody certified!

My Nimh is a therapy dog. I think there are several more folks on this forum who do pet therapy with their corgis, too. It's very rewarding and Nimh LOVES it.....he gets ALL the attention. I think it's his favorite thing to do. We go to the local VA to the nursing home folks.

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Permalink Reply by Trip Barnett on September 9, 2011 at 12:59pm

Actually Cody got certified about a year ago. We are part of "Allan's Angels" (see facebook page), which was founded by our leader in memory of Allan Leventhal, the founder of Bolton Veterinary Hospital in Connecticut. We visit 2 hospitals, a rehab, and a behavior health unit. He makes people smile. see the Funky Winkerbean comic attatched

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Permalink Reply by Ellen Andersen on September 17, 2011 at 10:17am

I love this cartoon....it's kinda like that when Nimh shows up at the VA! Everyone knows Nimh by name...I'm just the dope on a rope....I like it that way.

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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on September 9, 2011 at 3:18pm

Sage is a new Therapy Dog as of July, we visit nursing homes, libraries,kids camps and more. We are also venturing out on our own more.Sage belongs to 2 therapy dog groups. There's also a group on here for Therapy Dogs...might want to check it out.

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Permalink Reply by steve smith on September 17, 2011 at 5:54am

What does it take for a dog to be a therapy dog? Do they have to take a written test?

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Permalink Reply by Ellen Andersen on September 17, 2011 at 10:21am

Steve, there's several groups that certify dogs as therapy dogs. I'm with Therapy Dog Inc, but there's also Delta Society and some others, too, I believe. Your dog must be good at basic obedience, up on all vaccinations and parasite free, must be tested by a certified therapy dog tester, and stuff like that. They are exposed to wheelchairs, crutches, canes, walkers, people making fast or abrupt movements or noises, other dogs.... Check out the different certifying groups online and they'll tell you what they need. Each one varies a bit but they're all basically the same.

It's well worth the effort and the rewards you get for your soul are immeasurable. My dog LOVES it...he gets showered with attention. The karma points ain't bad, either.

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Permalink Reply by Beth on September 17, 2011 at 4:23pm

Mine are with Therapy Dogs International (or now just one is, as the other needs some bloodwork that he's not cooperating on having done). They must pass a basic obedience test, mostly the CGC test with a few extras thrown in.