Paws with Patience
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How to Join Paws with Patience

Certification

We require all of our pet therapy dog teams to be certified by Therapy Dogs Incorporated. You can visit their web site or call them at 1-877-843-7364 to begin the certification process.

Costs

Therapy Dogs Incorporated is $40.00 per year. Paws with Patience is $5.00 per year.

Would your dog make a good therapy dog?

Therapy dogs must be at least one year old and well socialized to people and other dogs. They need to be friendly and well-mannered. Your dog should be leash trained, show absolutely no indications of biting people or other dogs, keep all four feet on the ground unless invited to do otherwise, and demonstrate a reasonable level of control even in stimulating situations.

Your dog does not have to be perfectly obedience trained! Sit, Stay and Heel are not necessary for a safe and enjoyable therapy dog visit. Overall attitude is more important than these skills!

Therapy dogs first and foremost must be controllable. It is important that your dog respect the personal space of other people and dogs. The people we visit have fragile skin and are often unsteady on their feet. Barking is acceptable but can disrupt a visit if it is prolonged. Your dog should accept new people and dogs without excessive barking. Your dog must be well house broken and may not 'mark' territory inside the homes!

Your dog's breed does not matter! Dogs of all sizes strike the hearts of home residents. Big dogs may frighten some people, but for others their strength and size is inspiring. Little dogs are fun to hold on laps and are often invited up onto beds. But big and medium dogs are just the right height to pet from a wheel chair or bed. The folks we are visiting have fond memories of all different sorts of dogs, by bringing a variety of dog types to visit we appeal to all of these memories.