The Good Dog Foundation - Volunteering information

In order to ensure that your dog is ready to participate in therapy training in a class setting, we require a brief pre-screening session. We want all our dogs to succeed and to get the most out of our exclusive training program. Therefore, we must make sure they are ready to take the step to enroll in classes. During a pre-screening session, a certified trainer will observe your dogÕs temperament, energy level, sociability with humans and other dogs, and relationship with its handler. After the evaluation, our trainer will make a recommendation for your team.

Good Dog Basic Training

Before becoming a certified therapy animal, it is important that your dog master basic commands. During Good Dog Basic Training Classes, the handler and dog will learn to work together to master our required obedience skills. Some of these are:

Sit, Down
Sit-Stay
Down-Stay
Loose-Lead Walking
Takes Treats Nicely
Attention to Name
Leave It
Off

It is important to remember that both dog and handler participate in the training. The handler must demonstrate control over his or her dog at all times. Once basic training has been completed, your team will be evaluated before moving onto Therapy Training.

Therapy Dog Training

After mastering basic obedience skills, your dog begins training to become a therapy dog. This training teaches the dog and handler how to operate in therapy environments, such as hospitals. This includes not only therapy skills, but also education in protocol, policy, and procedure. Dogs learn to tolerate human behaviors they might encounter with ease, such as:

holding paws

patting head

grabbing scruff

staring into the eyes

prolonged hugs

grabbing tail

brushing

yelling

clapping of hands

Dogs also learn how to respond to unsettling situations, unfamiliar sights, and sounds, such as:

hospital equipment
motorized beds
keys dropping
clang of metal trays
loud noises
loudspeakers
crowds
unusual smells
approaching equipment
fearful patients

Certification

Once you and your dog have successfully completed the Therapy Dog Training Class, your team will be certified to work as a Good Dog Team. However, you will be accompanied to your chosen Good Dog partner facility by a trainer on your initial visits. The trainer guides you through your first therapy sessions. This ensures that your team is comfortable and ready to operate on your own in a therapy environment.

Re-certification

The Good Dog Foundation re-certifies its therapy teams on a periodic basis in order to provide consistent and up-to-date care to all our patients. To be re-certified, Good Dog Teams will be evaluated on basic and therapy skills on an annual basis by a trainer.

Things to Consider

The Good Dog Foundation welcomes all interested in becoming an animal assisted therapy team through our exclusive training program. However, it is important to consider a few things about your team before initiating the learning process. If your dog displays the following behaviors, he/she may not yet be suitable for therapy work:

Aggression toward humans

Aggression toward dogs or other animals

Marked signs of fearfulness or shyness

Lack of house-training skills

Uncontrollable hyper-activity (excessive barking, jumping, licking, pawing, etc.)

Medical concerns (advanced age, fatigue, stiffness, excessive panting, signs of discomfort, etc.)

It is also important to remember the dog is only half of a Good Dog Team. We know our handlers love and respect their animals. However, it is important to remember a few things. The handler must be willing and available for training and volunteering. The handler also must not display any of the following behaviors:

Rough or abusive handling of the dog

Unwillingness to follow Good Dog Foundation training

Unwillingness to follow policies of facilities

The Good Dog Foundation welcomes all volunteers to participate in our exclusive training program, beginning with our pre-screening session. We invite you to contact us to learn more, send in a pre-screening form for an appointment, or come and observe our work. We want to help you become a part of the powerful world of animal-assisted therapy because our mission is helping and healing others through Good Dogs. We look forward to hearing from you and to meeting your good dog very soon!

For More Information

The Good Dog Foundation
607 Sixth Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Telephone: 718-788-2988
Toll-Free: 888-859-9992
Fax: 718-788-3269