Therapy Dog 101: Part 3 // How to Get Your Dog Started as a Therapy Dog

ℹ️ ABOUT THIS SERIES:
Welcome to Therapy Dog 101! We're Christina and Tara and we are so excited you're here! We are two women who are incredibly passionate about therapy dog work (other known as animal assisted therapy) and we're excited to share our knowledge on this topic with you in this series! We know this space can be very confusing, so we're here answering all your questions. Answers we wish we had when we were getting started!
If you have decided your puppy or dog has the temperament and personality to become a therapy dog, GREAT! That is our whole heart behind Paws for Love - to encourage and educate others to get their dogs trained, certified, and out into their communities to love others! Now, we will warn you, this video is long but full of important information to get you started on your therapy dog journey. So be sure to grab your notebooks to take notes. You won't want to miss any of this!
In this video, we're explaining:
→ Where to begin on this journey
→ Options for training and what kind of training you'll need to start with
→ An honest expectation of time commitment (both as you get started and while you and your dog volunteer)
→ Options for where you can volunteer
→ How to choose a therapy dog organization to serve with
Of course, we loop in our own personal stories too. :)
Curious what the Canine Good Citizen Exam covers? Check out this link from the AKC website: www.akc.org/expert-advice/tra....
Questions to ask an organization you are thinking of volunteering with:
→ Where do they volunteer in the community? Does that align with where you are looking to spend your time?
→ Do they have limitations as to where you can volunteer? Do they only volunteer in certain places?
→ If they are a larger, national organization, could you also join a smaller, local group as well if you decided?
→ Ask about membership dues and requirements:
→ What do the dues cover?
→ What kind of insurance do they provide?
→ What are their program requirements, policies, procedures?
→ Do they have a monthly volunteer time commitment?
…Ask all of these things up front so you are fully aware and nothing becomes a surprise.
Do you have questions? Leave a comment below!
Want to follow along with Christina, Tara and their pups behind-the-scenes? Be sure to follow them on Instagram!
Christina and Nash: @pawsforlove (on Instagram and UA-cam)
Tara and Juno: @tarahoover
📱JOIN OUR FREE PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP:
/ 966230530943317
📸 FOLLOW OUR INSTAGRAM:
/ pawsforlove
➡️ PLEASE VISIT OUR SPONSORS WHO MADE THIS TOUR POSSIBLE:
Lippert ----- www.lci1.com/
SportsGraphics ----- sportsgraphicsinc.com/
Peak ReFuel ----- peakrefuel.com/
RUVI ----- www.goruvi.com/
🛻 OUR RIG:
2017 Grand Design Reflection 315RLTS
2019 Ford F350 Platinum Super Duty
3M 2080 Satin Metallic Grey Wrap
🎥 SEAN'S CAMERA SETUP:
Main Camera: Sony A7Siii (Yes, it's as amazing as everyone says!)
Second Camera: Canon EOS R
Polar Pro Peter McKinnon VND Mist Edition II
RV Camera: GoPro Hero 9
Audio: Rode Video Mic Pro Plus
Interview Audio: Rode Wireless Go + Go Lav Mics
Interview Audio Recorder: Zoom H6
Lighting: Aputure 120d ii
Drone: Mavic 2 Pro
Camera Bags: Tons of Peak Design Bags! These products are amazing!
Gimbal: DJI Ronin-S
#rvliving #rvlife #goldenretriever

[@jackieminucci475]

You gals are wonderful,,,, thanks so much!!!

[@PawsForLove]

Thank you!

[@sherriweber7105]

My dog I tell you is a very smart dog. He gets excited and and barks at people in our neighborhood then he’ll turn around and when he sees my neighbors kid who has a disability he’ll go over to him and be calm and and sweet and he’ll let him let him. I think he senses his disability and then both of them are calm. I have never seen anything like it when my dog did that. He’s a very good dog. He comforted my mom when she was dying too! Thank you both so much for all this information. This is good to know.

[@PawsForLove]

That gives me chills!! You definitely have one very smart pup!! It’s incredible what some can sense. Being able to witness things like that is such a blessing!! ☺️🥰 Thank you so much for sharing that!

[@keyplayer5]

Thanks for sharing this information. It gives me a lot better idea what to look for in the temperament of a dog. We are still trying to decide on a breed and size for our next dog. I’m leaning towards smaller so that as an older couple, we can handle getting her in and out of our car easier. I think it would help with bed patients as well in nursing homes and hospitals.

[@PawsForLove]

Thanks so much for watching Barbara! We're so glad this series helped! I'm so excited for y'all to get started on your therapy dog journey! Little pups are definitely easier to get in and out of the car! :)

[@femalism1715]

Dogs, like kids, go through developmental stages! You have to build skills and practice! Having the time to practice means using everyday life as a series of teaching moments. Because our dogs were formally trained and certified as service animals, the therapy training didn't really require CGC assistance but I would recommend it for every pet.

[@PawsForLove]

We agree! The CGC is such an awesome set of skills to have and with basic obedience training really makes for such a well behaved pup. I’d love to see every dog earn theirs!
I love the idea of incorporating training into every day life too. We heard that as an idea very early on and it really stuck with me. Less of a “to do” and more of just life! And it’s so important to keep up on it, even as they grow up. We definitely saw that Nash needed to brush up on his skills after quarantine! 😂