Saturday is going to be a big day! I could really use a lot of those good luck vibes if you all could kindly spare some! 
I have been training and preparing my Australian Shepehrd puppy, Ranger for MONTHS now! Saturday is our CGC (Canine Good Citizen) test (praying the snow holds off!). We have an aweful lot of pressure riding on us to preform well. You see, if all goes well, Ranger is going to be a certified therapy dog and he will assist not only in Animal Assisted Activities (such as petting/visiting groups of people, giving seminars on animal safety/etc)...I believe that he would also be a good canidate for Animal Assisted Therapy (that helps patients with mental, physical, emotional, medical issues regain their lives and independance). While therapy dogs do make visits to group homes and things of that nature, they also can play a huge roll in physical therapy settings through helping patients gain larger ranges of motion (brushing the animal, throwing a ball, petting to ease stress, you name it). Therapy animals serve a wonderful purpose and are a terrific gift to the community. I pray we are able to use Ranger's sweet temperment and affinity of people as an aid for others in our community. I also would love for us to be a good ambassador for his breed. Working together as a certified therapy team will allow us to do both. 
I went two weekends ago to the handler seminar for our local chapter's Delta Society seminar and I absolutely loved everything I saw!
This was not an overnight decision- it's something that has been on the table for quite a while; I was just waiting for the perfect time and the perfect doggy match; soo glad Ranger came along! We already make a lot of practice visits to local pet stores, pet friendly stores and resturants (I have a list for those who are interested). He is more than comfortable with medical equipment, children/babies, elderly, you name it. He has been "put to work" ever since his first week at home when we began training. In order for us to move foward with the therapy program however, we must first pass Saturday's CGC test. It will prove that he is of a sound and predictable temperment and it will also hold up in court should the need ever arise.I'm also preparing my other sweet dog, Macy for her CGC test as well! Due to her extensive medical conditions, she is unable to qualify as a therapy dog; however, she is an amazing helper in Ranger's training and will continue with her own training lesson! I plan to continue training with both dogs for the rest of their lives. It really makes for a wonderful dog/handler bond, and happy pets. Ranger will also be training in agility (and hopefully Dock Dogs) after his first birthday (Jan. 27). We have to wait until Ranger is over a year of age for his growth plates to mineralize so that he will be less likely to suffer a bone related injury during competition.
Back to the therapy front- There is a massive need for Therapy animals and handlers throughout the country right now. (In a side note, kitties can make great therapy pets too- if anyone is interested, let me know and I'll put you in contact with a coordinator in your area!) That being said, the requirements for entry into this particular therapy program are quite strict due to safety and the insurance policy that Delta Society places on each certified therapy animal. If all goes well on Saturday and we pass, I will start more classes in Feb. as his handler, and then he will begin joining me with those. He will also be going to Therapy Skill Building classes at one of the speciality dog training facilites here in town. After all of that, I sit for a test myself, and then we both sit for one at the end of March to become an official certified therapy team though Delta Society. Please pray we do well!
There is currently a very long list of facilities that have requested therapy team visits in our city. Unfortuantely, since there is a large need for handlers, the waiting lists are long. If we are sucessful, I have already picked out several places that we are comfortable visiting, after a talk with one of the program directors. That being said, there is a lot that hinges on our rating during the final therapy test- they rank dogs according to comfort levels with certain situations and place according into adequate facilities). One program that I am particurally intrerested in is called the R.E.A.D. program (Reading Education Assistance Dogs). It is a wonderful program that is designed to assist children with special needs in learning how to read. We would have the opportunity to possibly praticipate in several therapy/hospital settings as well. I mainly plan on using Ranger for the READ program and hospital/theapy related settings (assisting with OT/PT children and adults who are recovering from injuries.) Another possibility that strikes my interest would be volunteering at abused children/womens shelters; his sweet spirit would be wonderful in an environment like that to help foster trust and hope again. He brings soo much joy and happiness to my life; I have no doubt that he will do the same for other people in our community. There is a list about a mile long of different facilities/settings you can choose from once we're certified; a lot varies depending on how your dog scores during their therapy test; it helps guide placement into what settings they would thrive in.
Anways, sorry for the ramble; it's just a very exciting time and it's amazing how quickly the test is approaching! I look foward to the day that Ranger and I are able to visit other people and brighten their days as a therapy team! I am unable to do much right now due to the complications I had during my August heart procedure. The one thing that I am able to do however is work with/train my dogs since I am home with them pretty much around the clock. Having the ability to work extensive hours each day with the dogs has really deepened my bond with Macy and Ranger and given me soo much comfort during my own medical ups and downs. The moment Ranger and I have been training for is finally around the corner and it is exciting, yet nervewracking! I pray we succeed the first try, but even if that isn't the case, I have faith that we will one day make a great therapy team. I have run him through every single scenario time and again and each time he has done well. I just pray he and I are calm and sucessful the day of (as well as all of the other handler/dog teams that will test that day; many are also in training to become therapy dogs.)
Ranger and I would REALLY appreciate a few of those lovely TCS vibes for a sucessful test on Saturday if everyone can spare a few! The CGC test is a 10 part test; we must pass each part in order to become CGC certified and move on to the therapy work. Please send lots of nerve calming/obedient doggy vibes! It means a lot!
My sweet boy! He will be 1yr old on the 27th of January!
(I also posted in the PL. I'm not sure if this thread belongs here or in another section since the vibes are for the both of us! Mods, feel free to move this if you need to.)
I have been training and preparing my Australian Shepehrd puppy, Ranger for MONTHS now! Saturday is our CGC (Canine Good Citizen) test (praying the snow holds off!). We have an aweful lot of pressure riding on us to preform well. You see, if all goes well, Ranger is going to be a certified therapy dog and he will assist not only in Animal Assisted Activities (such as petting/visiting groups of people, giving seminars on animal safety/etc)...I believe that he would also be a good canidate for Animal Assisted Therapy (that helps patients with mental, physical, emotional, medical issues regain their lives and independance). While therapy dogs do make visits to group homes and things of that nature, they also can play a huge roll in physical therapy settings through helping patients gain larger ranges of motion (brushing the animal, throwing a ball, petting to ease stress, you name it). Therapy animals serve a wonderful purpose and are a terrific gift to the community. I pray we are able to use Ranger's sweet temperment and affinity of people as an aid for others in our community. I also would love for us to be a good ambassador for his breed. Working together as a certified therapy team will allow us to do both. I went two weekends ago to the handler seminar for our local chapter's Delta Society seminar and I absolutely loved everything I saw!
This was not an overnight decision- it's something that has been on the table for quite a while; I was just waiting for the perfect time and the perfect doggy match; soo glad Ranger came along! We already make a lot of practice visits to local pet stores, pet friendly stores and resturants (I have a list for those who are interested). He is more than comfortable with medical equipment, children/babies, elderly, you name it. He has been "put to work" ever since his first week at home when we began training. In order for us to move foward with the therapy program however, we must first pass Saturday's CGC test. It will prove that he is of a sound and predictable temperment and it will also hold up in court should the need ever arise.I'm also preparing my other sweet dog, Macy for her CGC test as well! Due to her extensive medical conditions, she is unable to qualify as a therapy dog; however, she is an amazing helper in Ranger's training and will continue with her own training lesson! I plan to continue training with both dogs for the rest of their lives. It really makes for a wonderful dog/handler bond, and happy pets. Ranger will also be training in agility (and hopefully Dock Dogs) after his first birthday (Jan. 27). We have to wait until Ranger is over a year of age for his growth plates to mineralize so that he will be less likely to suffer a bone related injury during competition.Back to the therapy front- There is a massive need for Therapy animals and handlers throughout the country right now. (In a side note, kitties can make great therapy pets too- if anyone is interested, let me know and I'll put you in contact with a coordinator in your area!) That being said, the requirements for entry into this particular therapy program are quite strict due to safety and the insurance policy that Delta Society places on each certified therapy animal. If all goes well on Saturday and we pass, I will start more classes in Feb. as his handler, and then he will begin joining me with those. He will also be going to Therapy Skill Building classes at one of the speciality dog training facilites here in town. After all of that, I sit for a test myself, and then we both sit for one at the end of March to become an official certified therapy team though Delta Society. Please pray we do well!
There is currently a very long list of facilities that have requested therapy team visits in our city. Unfortuantely, since there is a large need for handlers, the waiting lists are long. If we are sucessful, I have already picked out several places that we are comfortable visiting, after a talk with one of the program directors. That being said, there is a lot that hinges on our rating during the final therapy test- they rank dogs according to comfort levels with certain situations and place according into adequate facilities). One program that I am particurally intrerested in is called the R.E.A.D. program (Reading Education Assistance Dogs). It is a wonderful program that is designed to assist children with special needs in learning how to read. We would have the opportunity to possibly praticipate in several therapy/hospital settings as well. I mainly plan on using Ranger for the READ program and hospital/theapy related settings (assisting with OT/PT children and adults who are recovering from injuries.) Another possibility that strikes my interest would be volunteering at abused children/womens shelters; his sweet spirit would be wonderful in an environment like that to help foster trust and hope again. He brings soo much joy and happiness to my life; I have no doubt that he will do the same for other people in our community. There is a list about a mile long of different facilities/settings you can choose from once we're certified; a lot varies depending on how your dog scores during their therapy test; it helps guide placement into what settings they would thrive in.
Anways, sorry for the ramble; it's just a very exciting time and it's amazing how quickly the test is approaching! I look foward to the day that Ranger and I are able to visit other people and brighten their days as a therapy team! I am unable to do much right now due to the complications I had during my August heart procedure. The one thing that I am able to do however is work with/train my dogs since I am home with them pretty much around the clock. Having the ability to work extensive hours each day with the dogs has really deepened my bond with Macy and Ranger and given me soo much comfort during my own medical ups and downs. The moment Ranger and I have been training for is finally around the corner and it is exciting, yet nervewracking! I pray we succeed the first try, but even if that isn't the case, I have faith that we will one day make a great therapy team. I have run him through every single scenario time and again and each time he has done well. I just pray he and I are calm and sucessful the day of (as well as all of the other handler/dog teams that will test that day; many are also in training to become therapy dogs.)
Ranger and I would REALLY appreciate a few of those lovely TCS vibes for a sucessful test on Saturday if everyone can spare a few! The CGC test is a 10 part test; we must pass each part in order to become CGC certified and move on to the therapy work. Please send lots of nerve calming/obedient doggy vibes!
It means a lot! My sweet boy! He will be 1yr old on the 27th of January!
(I also posted in the PL. I'm not sure if this thread belongs here or in another section since the vibes are for the both of us!
Mods, feel free to move this if you need to.)
. I just pray that nothing gets cancelled! I don't think I've been this nervous since my first day of clinicals almost a year ago
Keep your fingers crossed that the nobody cancels Saturday's test over a little snow/ice!
The people there were sweet and helped me out a bit by greeting, petting, and grooming him (one of the first parts of his test tomorrow will include things like that.) While I appreciated their kindness and help, I really wasn't thrilled with his overall appearance, but that's for another story; (the girl we normally see wasn't in; I did speak with the manager though). On a brighter note though, at least he smelled like a vanilla cookie! When we left the grooming salon, we went to another pet store to get some new food/treats. It's a smaller store and I know some of the people there, so they helped me work with him for a while there also. Ranger was really well behaved and made quite a few friends today! I'm hoping tomorrow flies by and we do well. 
