Caring Canines' is an independent program sponsored by SLODOG
SLODOG Therapy Dog Teams
Caring Canines' is an independent program sponsored by SLODOG and is comprised of handler-dog teams. Each dog is AKC Canine Good Citizen test certified, and each team works with one of our experienced teams before being allowed to make visits on behalf of Caring Canines'. Our team guidelines teach safety as well as effective interaction, the brief apprenticeship helps novice teams learn more about working with and around wheelchairs, walkers, and prosthetics while preparing mentally for situations they may well encounter.
We are quite serious that Caring Canines' be represented by teams committed to providing the ideal of responsible dog ownership within an atmosphere that spreads as many smiles and as much joy as can fit into a single room.
If you're interested in joining us in our quest, please read the below, How to Become a SLODOG Therapy Dog Team, then, assuming you're still interested, send us an e-mail at labadored1@yahoo.com introducing yourself. We welcome you to join us as an observer on one of our Therapy Dog visits but cannot allow you to bring your dog until you and your dog fulfill our How to Become a Therapy Dog Team requirements, as outlined below.
There are many wonderful facilities in our area, and we are unable to visit them all. We would love to reach out and incorporate more facilities into our schedule and we can only do so with more volunteer support.
How to Become a SLODOG Therapy Dog Team
Being an effective Caring Canines' Therapy Dog team demands time, love, and understanding. It also demands an ability to anticipate potential problems before they arise, to read your dog's mood and attitude at every turn, and to control your dog in ANY situation.
Step 1: Evaluate Your Dog's Potential to be a Therapy Dog
Not all "friendly" dogs do well as Therapy Dogs. A potential candidate first and foremost must love being around strangers, even if those strangers pet him/her roughly at first. The dog's mind-set must be sound and confident, one not frazzled by strange places or by people, dogs, wheelchairs or other equipment occasionally poking or bumping them. The dog must remain unfazed by the presence of cats, birds, rats, and other small animals. because such are often pets at facilities we visit.
A Therapy Dog needs to respond, regardless of distractions, when called, and, this almost goes without saying, he/she must know not to go to the bathroom indoors or jump onto people or furniture.
Therapy Dogs cannot be barkers or obsessed with licking or trying to shake hands/paws. The barking is an obvious no-no, but the licking and shaking can be less intuitive. The reasoning is that we visit mostly convalescent facilities; elderly skin tends to be very thin and easy to break through. A dog's bumpy tongue, when applied repetitively and with a little pressure, can cause abrasive tears; a rough pad and hard nails, even when well trimmed, cut like a knife.
Dogs tongues are not 'germ free' and most people do not appreciate more than a 'one time' lick that a dog might sneak in upon a kind greeting. Even if some people we visit say it's 'ok', that only confuses the dog as to when it's alright to lick and when it's not to. It's best to follow one guideline that licking is definitely not permitted while we're visiting regardless of the age of who we visit.
Therapy Dogs need to know how to accept treats politely. Facility residents often enjoy interacting with dogs that can perform tricks, but no treats can be given out unless the dog can accept them politely.
At Halloween and Christmas our Therapy Dogs often don costumes to further the holiday spirit (see our photo Album for examples). Therapy Dogs don't HAVE to wear a costume and should never be uncomfortable with any get-up you place upon them, but if they're to partake in our holiday visits they should not be nervous around dogs looking momentarily slightly un-canine.
Step 2: Evaluate Your Potential to Serve as Your Dog's Team Partner
Caring Canines' is a TEAM effort. While your dog does most of the work (and garners most of the attention), you are an integral part of every successful visit. Like your dog, you should be comfortable around strangers, particularly the elderly and in-firmed. You should be able to maintain a helpful, easy-going attitude even when expediently correcting an unwanted situation, such as someone being too rough with your dog, and you should be willing if not eager to listen to residents' opinions and stories, even their criticisms (however unjustified) of your dog.
You MUST be able to pick up on early signs of stress in your dog in order to be an effective team partner For instance, your dog may become a dependable Therapy Dog at convalescent facilities, but when we make one of our less frequent visits to a facility for the mentally impaired, he/she may become slightly out of sorts. Some dogs do fine in certain types of therapy situations but don't enjoy others. It's your job to continually read your dog's comfort level and act swiftly and proactively (i e . early) when anything seems amiss. If you have any inkling about any preferences your dog has regarding kids, the elderly, the mentally and/or physically impaired, let us know. Not all our Therapy Dogs have to visit all types of facilities.
Step 3: Join SLODOG
All Caring Canines' Therapy Dog teams MUST be SLODOG club members. It is, after all, our club's reputation that's on the line at every therapy visit.
SLODOG membership costs $20 a year (June 1-May 31); it includes a very nice monthly newsletter, among other things. Download our Membership Form from our site or send an email to SLODOG Information asking us to snail mail a you a form.
Step 4: Take (and Pass) the AKC Canine Good Citizen Test
The AKC’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test evaluates basic canine manners in public. It involves things like a stranger approaching and petting your dog, and your dog being able to be around people and other dogs without lunging wildly, whether in ferocity or play. That nearly 90 percent of dogs and handlers pass speaks to the test’s simplicity. (It’s far less demanding than our overall Therapy Dog requirements).
The CGC test is done with the dog wearing a flat collar, no chain, prong or slip type collars or gentle leader allowed, nor harness. This demonstrates to us that you have control of your dog without added training devices. Our Therapy Dog visits do not permit wearing of the prong, or gentle leader type of collars and using a harness for walking purposes are permitted on dogs that are well handled with voice commands. On visits the slip lead collars are ok as is the training chain collars. Also no leashes beyond 6’ while on Therapy Dog visits, as long lines can easily get wrapped around a walker, a wheelchair and ankles and can be tripped over by people and dogs alike.
Two of our SLODOG club members are AKC-approved evaluators for the Canine Good Citizen Test.
Karyn Convertini in Morro Bay, (email her at kjconvertini@prodigy.net or call 805-990-5944), has years of dog handling experience and is an active member in the Caring Canines' Therapy dog program.
Tea Anders, operates a dog-training facility in Arroyo Grande called Gentle Pets (www.gentlepets.com). They're a great source to learn about certification through which to achieve it.
Check our Calendars for upcoming events offering CGC testing.
Step 5: Join Us at our General Meetings
Each team must attend at least one general meeting (with the dog), so the board members can evaluate in the presence of the general membership and attending dogs, which the members and dogs are encouraged to approach and greet the team
Each team must attend at least one run-thru where Therapy Dog members can observe and evaluate the dog/handler relationship and how it flows within a group situation. The team must participate in an ‘obedience walk thru', and walk thru the 'Rally' course (with assistance if needed), and participation of 'sit/stay' and 'down/stay' (on leash is fine). This will further aid us in observing the dog's demeanor next to other club dogs.
The dog must be calm, well mannered and obeying his owners requests at the run-thrus prior to acceptance into the Caring Canines' program. Additional run-thus might be necessary if the evaluators feel the dog needs a little more structure to aid in meeting these requirements.
Arrive 15 minutes early to a Therapy Dog Visit in order to allow the attending Caring Canines' members to meet and greet you and your dog. If all requirements are previously met and this evaluation is accepted by the Caring Canines' members, then this qualifies you to begin visiting as a "Therapy Dog Team in Training".
Step 6: Review Our Caring Canines' Booklet S Code of Ethics
We distribute by email a Caring Canines 25-page book detailing all that's required and expected of each of our Therapy Dog teams. The final page of the book is our Caring Canines' Code of Ethics. You must read. sign, and return this page to Lana Basinger, our Therapy Dog Chairperson, before you can join us on a Therapy Dog visit
Step 7: Visit Facilities as a SLODOG Caring Canines'
For your first 10 Therapy Dog visits, you'll work alongside fully certified team. We try to let you work with a different team each visit to expose you to a variety of approaches in similar situations. So long as you abide by our ethics and guidelines, we're open to you and your dog adding your own flavor to the visits.
Therapy Dog days are scheduled for the second Saturday of each month. Normally each team attends two facilities per visit, however, Caring Canines' offers four facilities per Saturday and we stay about 45 minutes at each. We provide two visits at both the North County and South County (SLO) facilities, which offers you the choice of where to visit.
Step S: Earn Your Caring Canines' Certification
After completing 10 successful Therapy Dog visits alongside a fully certified team, SLODOG Caring Canines' awards your team with a photo I.D. badge picturing you and your dog, plus a heart-shaped Therapy Dog name tag for your dog. You're now free to join in Therapy Dog visits organized by SLODOG without needing certified accompaniment
After 30 successful visits, your team is awarded our Therapy from the Heart' cloth patch plus a certificate stating that you and your dog are a Certified SLODOG Caring Canines' Therapy Dog Team.
Step 9: Maintaining Your Caring Canines' Certification
If health, travel, or other aspects of life keep you away from Therapy Dog for more than 6 months, we require that your team attend one general meeting and one run-thru practice before resuming Therapy Dog visits to ensure your dog's socialization/manners have not deteriorated from approved levels.
In Closing...
We know this is a lot of information. It may seem intimidating at first, but all the segments are to ensure that the visits themselves are fun and stress-free for everyone.
If you'd like help with evaluating your dog's potential to become a Caring Canines' Therapy Dog or if yoi any questions, contact us at labadored1@yahoo.com or talk to Lana Basinger (our Therapy Dog Chair)
Caring Canines