| Therapy dog training, while important, is | | | | simple activities and therapy with those who need |
| something with which many people are not | | | | it. However, in many cases, the therapy is really |
| familiar. A therapy dog is one that is used to do | | | | just the presence of the dog. Those using the |
| animal assisted therapy and activities. | | | | services of dogs trained in how to perform the |
| Organizations train the dog to help people in | | | | therapy can be anything from walking them, to |
| hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and virtually | | | | reading to them, to simply being around them. |
| anywhere people need some sort of therapy. So, | | | | Where to Go |
| then, how do dogs become therapy dogs? It is a | | | | If you are interested in therapy dog training for |
| fairly simple process. | | | | your four legged pal, then you should check out |
| A Good Citizen | | | | the internet or your local yellow pages. Whether |
| Though the requirements for therapy dog training | | | | you live in Virginia, California, or anywhere else, |
| vary from state to state, it is almost universal | | | | there is an organization in your area that will help |
| that the dog must be certified as a canine good | | | | you not only teach your dog how to become a |
| citizen. In order to receive that, you have to train | | | | therapy dog, but also get him out in the |
| your dog to be focused and well behaved around | | | | community and doing his part. Additionally, you |
| distractions. Generally your local animal shelter or | | | | can volunteer to help with everything from |
| even a therapy dog training center will have | | | | training to the therapy itself. Just get in contact |
| classes available for you to learn how to turn | | | | with your local organization. |
| your dog into a canine good citizen. | | | | Therapy dog training can be incredibly rewarding. |
| Classes for Therapy | | | | When you teach your dog how to react to the |
| Therapy dog training can start as soon as your | | | | situations with which he will be presented, you are |
| dog has been certified as a canine good citizen. | | | | putting him in a situation to be more than just a |
| The training consists mainly of teaching your dog | | | | pet. You and your dog together can be real |
| how to ignore things like hospital equipment and | | | | additions to the community and help your fellow |
| school noises that he or she may not be used to | | | | man. |
| being around. They also train the dog to help with | | | | |