Perhaps you’ve heard about dogs who bring comfort to people in hospitals and nursing homes, or dogs that visit schools where they listen nonjudgmentally to young students reading to them. These are “Therapy Dogs,” and they are in great demand! Not to be confused with “Service” or “Assistance” Dogs, who are trained to aid their owners navigate daily life’s obstacles, Therapy Dogs are trained to give aid to others, by making visits to them when they are in need.
So, do you think your dog would make a wonderful Therapy Dog? The process is not long and arduous, and the rewards are overwhelming! Although taking a special class is not required before you and your dog tak the Therapy Dogs International test, many owners like the preparation our mini-class offers, and many dogs benefit from being in a familiar setting when they are being evaluated.
Click TDI Test for a list of the individual test items covered in the new, revised TDI evaluation.
The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test can be administered at the same time as the TDI test; the TDI evaluator just needs a separate fee and paperwork for this test. You may choose to test for either one or both certifications, as long as you have pre-registered. Information will always appear on the Home Page, under “Upcoming Events.” Click here for more information on Canine Good Citizen. (Note: we will soon be offering the next level of the Canine Good Citizen designation, which evaluates the dog’s behavior out in the community.)
Marian Manor’s resident Therapy Dog, Gilbert, sleeps comfortably with Mr. Joseph Smith, who has reached down to grasp his paw. This 108-year-old gentleman had recently become totally unresponsive to humans, and he passed away the following morning. But his family found great peace and comfort, knowing how he spent his last night.
There are very few certified TDI evaluators in the Hampton Roads area, but Playful Pups Training has one of them—Jean Nohle, owner of Perfect Paws Pet Training—comes to the training center at 412 Investors Place, suite 103, Virginia Beach, every two months or so to test prospective therapy dog teams. We schedule our Therapy Dog Prep classes to culminate with the test, typically administered on a Sunday afternoon. And after you and your dog become certified by Therapy Dogs International, we can help you connect with the places best suited to your specific interests and abilities.
TDI is currently undergoing a reorganization and does not have a test date/location set. However, CGC Evaluations will be offered at Playful Pups on April 17. Note that there is a Prep class that starts on April 3, which is not necessary but may be helpful. Go to the Group Classes page for the schedule of classes, pricing, and information as to how to enroll
Canine Good Citizen Prep: This 3-week class helps dogs and owners to get used to the format of the Canine Good Citizen test. You certainly may have your dog tested without taking the class; however, we offer it to help dogs practice the skills needed, such as: happily accepting the approach of a stranger, sitting on command, lying down on command, walking nicely on a leash, and coming when called.
Here’s a newspaper article about one of our Therapy dog graduates, Frodo!
