We adopted Zaku from a respectable breeder when he was 8 weeks old. A perfect little golden retriever puppy from a line of Russian champions. Although his genetics were pretty impressive, his character was not top. He was the biggest of the litter; he was drinking a lot of milk from his mama, and he was known to be a lazy 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 loves and cares for everyone.
I am a stay-at-home mom with an only child who was and still is easygoing. I had a lot of time on my hands, and I started thinking that my dream of becoming a therapy dog handler could be a reality. I knew nothing about training and succeeded, so you can, too! People often ask me how we got there. Maybe you would love to do that but never knew how. So, I simplified the steps so you can get certified as a therapy dog.
First thing first: What is a therapy dog?
The moment Zaku 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 melts on the floor, belly up. He could answer: “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.
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.
