Jack passed his CGC/Therapy Dogs International test last spring and we occasionally go to nursing homes with him. However, despite being pretty darned bomb-proof, he is really not the best therapy dog because he's a Type A personality and when he hits the nursing home, he acts like it's his "job." Not sure how to describe it, but he treats nursing home visits the same way he treats an agility course. "Are we going in now? How about now? Ok, we're going too slow, we can get there faster. Are we going in the dayroom? Here we are, in the dayroom. Oh, they moved around the chairs. Let's check it out. Ok, we said 'hi' to everyone, are we going to the rooms? Up the hall we go, hup-two, hup-two. This room? How about this room? Do they want a visitor? Have we checked all the rooms? Are we going back to the dayroom?"

He loves it, but he's "on" the whole time and while the residents love him, it's not very relaxing for ME.

When we got Maddie, I thought she could be Shawn's therapy dog (she's a much easier dog to handle). Well, it turns out that Shawn has no interest in going to training classes. He comes to nursing homes with us and likes it, but really doesn't get any thrill out of dog-training so he's happy to just come along for the ride.

I'm taking Maddie to the TDI classes now, and if she passes (she should, but she's not real solid on "stay" and she tends to gait out instead of walking on a loose leash, so there's a chance she could bomb if we have a tough marker).... anyway, if she passes I was thinking of trying to pass the test with both dogs at the same time.

I want to phase Maddie in as my main therapy dog, since she's got a more suitable personality for it, but I want Jack to keep his active status by making a few trips a year too, so I have this idea that I could take them both together every now and then. If you want to visit with two dogs at the same time, you must pass the test handling both dogs at once.

So, has anyone here done this (or something similar)? Any tips? We have no problem doing side-by-side sits, downs, stays. Well, I shouldn't say "no problems"; Maddie can be slow to respond and Jack starts to bark impatiently at me when she's taking her sweet time.

But what I'm not sure about are the walking exercises. Would it be easier to have both dogs on the same side? Or one on each side? Jack will hold position on right or left. Maddie does not hold position as well and tends to crowd into Jack, and then he gets frustrated if he can't be right on a formal "heel" position and gets a bit confused and drops back. So one on each side has some appeal, but then turns are harder and if I need to focus the dogs I can't very well look at them both if they are on opposite sides!!

If anyone has tried to do the test with two dogs I would love to hear how you did it! And if you never did the test but regularly work two dogs at the same time, I'd love any input as well. I know we have some trainers here as well, whose input would be much appreciated.

Thanks!