We adopted Zaku from a respectable breeder when he was 8 weeks old. A perfect, healthy little golden retriever puppy from a line of Russian champions. Although his genetics were pretty impressive, his character was not top-notch. He was the biggest of the litter; he was drinking a lot of milk from his mama, and he was known to be the laziest puppy. Seriously, who can resist a little fat golden retriever puppy? It was love at first sight. Instant ‘coup de foudre’. Zaku is and has always been loved. So, in return, he loved and cared for everyone.
As a stay-at-home mom with a wonderful family, an easygoing child, and a privileged life, I found myself with plenty of free time. Although I knew nothing about dog training, my desire to give back to the world drew me to this path. For three years, Zaku and I worked diligently, and eventually, we succeeded—and you can, too! People often ask how we reached this goal. If you’ve ever wanted to become a therapy dog handler but weren’t sure where to begin, I’ve simplified the steps to help you and your dog get certified.
First things first: What is a therapy dog?
The moment Zaku, my golden retriever, and I walk into a school, you can instantly feel a change in the mood. All eyes focus on Zaku as smiles spread across the room. Zaku becomes the center of attention, and the students let go of their worries for a bit. They all ask the same question. “Can I pet him?” Then you see this big fluff of golden hair melting on the floor, belly up. If he could answer, he would probably say: “Yes, please be my guest and rub my belly”!
With the therapy organization that you choose, you can go to many places. We prefer helping in school; we love kids, and students are easy to please. Usually, they are under some stress from learning so much in such a short time. And they welcome the friend who brings them comfort and joy. If you prefer, you can go to hospitals, retirement homes, or nursing homes. There is always a place where you will be needed.
Here are five quick steps on how to become a therapy dog team
How did we get certified as a therapy dog team
Zaku and I completed the therapy dog certification by ourself. We had never trained before but we climbed the stairs of obedience together and we succeded. There is a lot of ways to attain a therapy dog certification. I summarized how we did it so you can do it yourself.
Instructions
- Be ready to practice everyday.Find an dog training school near you.
- Enroll in Puppy socialization classes. It is mandatory that your dog get along with other dogs.
- The goal now is to complete enough training classes that you can ace the CGC test.
- Find a therapy dog organization near you. We chose TDI (therapy dog International)
- Succeed the therapy dog organization evaluation and there you go!
Notes
You can find training school at AKC.
We decided to participate in all the obedience lessons available and did some agility for fun so we would be ready to face any situation.
We also went to a class to prepare for the CGC Test with an evaluator before doing the real evaluation.
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Learn how to take the CGC test like a pro
I designed a simple worksheet to help you and your dog remember what is on the AKC CGC Test. Get the 10-step guide and focus on the right things by downloading your CGC free worksheet here.
