How to Train Your Dog to Visit Hospitals

Hello Anna, Check out the Step toward method from the article linked below and recruit a lot of willing friends and family members to help you practice with him. Use the Leash method with strangers you can't instruct how to help. Jumping: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-australian-shepherds-to-not-jump For the pulling check out the video and article linked below: Heeling: Heel article - The turns method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel Heel Video - notice the body language and the way its done even if you use different tools: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTiKVc4ZZWo Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Hilart, I suggest working on desensitizing her to guests coming over and the things that signal that guests may be coming over soon. Check out the video linked below. Barking at the door and guests: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxPrNnulp5s Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello, I suggest you bring in a trainer to help you gain the last thing that you want and need for Lexi. Consult a few trainers to discuss the issues and to make sure that you work with someone who has the knowledge, but also the same philosophy as you. Doing so can help Lexi (and you) understand and learn how to work with the fears she has. Ask your vet for recommendations, or take a trip to the dog park and ask around there. Online is another place to look as well. In the meantime, work on Lexi's heeling skills. She will be busy focusing on what you are teaching her and be less reactive to what's around her (ideally). Try either the Turns Method or the Treat Lure Method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel. You may also find helpful videos here and perhaps the opportunity to consult a trainer online: https://robertcabral.com/. Good luck!

Hello Ron, I recommend speaking with those in charge at your local shelters. A lot of the answer to your question will depend on the shelters near you and what they allow and offer. You might see if a friend has a dog who is a good candidate to practice with, even if that dog never become a therapy dog, so that you can have an outlet to practice the hands on part of the training. I would start by joining a therapy dog training group or club that you could practice with on your own to gain the initial skills. Once you have trained one dog, then you could contact your local shelters to see if they would let you work one-on-one with the dogs doing some of the foundation work of socialization, noise tolerance, and calmness (which would also be beneficial for pet ownership too, to help get the dogs adopted even if they never go onto therapy work). When you have successfully trained a few dogs in general, at that point I would pursue helping people with their dogs directly. The sequence of training a person and their dog often generally goes: Being a pet owner who learns how to train their own dog, and practicing things with their own dog. Practicing on some other dogs, where you are the one handling them. Teaching people how to train their dog, where you then have enough experience handling yourself that you can demonstrate and explain how to handle the dog, so they can handle their own dog under your guidance, so the dog will ultimately work for that person too, not just you. A local therapy dog club or training class would be a great resource to join or ask if you can shadow along the way if you can find someone who will allow it. This could serve as a mentor type relationship, which is another way trainers often learn. Plus, since you have an interest in training therapy dogs, you may find it really fun to be around it, learn from others, and share that with those who are passionate about it too. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Imani, I would check with any schools, hospitals, nursing homes, or other places in your area you would like to visit with your dog. See if there is a specific therapy dog certification they require. There are numerous certification programs for Therapy Dogs, but some locations prefer a specific one due to more or less strict testing requirements. Once you know which certification(s) places in your area require/prefer, you can often look online for a therapy dog group, of other owners and their dogs who do visits to places, in your area to get connected with them and coordinate visits and learn from. To be a therapy dog, pup must pass a certification given by a qualified instructor. There are a variety of certifications and classes offered for that. The two websites I have listen below are the most widely recognized in the USA generally. On their websites you can also find information on testing in your area, and sometimes classes offered in your area to practice the required skill to pass the test if pup doesn't already have those skills, unless you prefer to practice those skills on your own to prepare. The Therapy Dogs International link I have included specifically takes you to the page where it mentions the testing requirements for skills pup will need to pass that test, so you will know what to practice. https://www.therapydogs.com/alliance-therapy-dogs/ https://www.tdi-dog.org/HowToJoin.aspx?Page=Testing+Requirements If you don't have a therapy dog specific class in your area to join and don't plan to train totally on your own, a canine good citizen class covers some of the same skills and can be a good place to start to gain at least part of the skills needed for the test and visits. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden