Guidelines for our Canines for Therapy course:
- The dog certifying must be at least one (1) year of age and have lived in the handler’s home for at least 6 months prior to participation.
- Dogs must know strong and reliable basic obedience (sit, down, stay, recall and walking on a loose leash) and have completed AKC Canine Good Citizens prior to class registration. Your completion must be proven on the first night of class.
- If your pup does not currently have their CGC, you can search for a class near you here https://www.akc.org/products-services/training-programs/canine-good-citizen/
- Petco also offers a CGC course https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/s/petco-dog-training
- Neck buckle collars, cloth martingale collars or head harnesses (i.e. Halti, Gentle Leader, Snoot Loop), are the only acceptable equipment allowed.
- A six (6) foot leash is mandatory; no retractable leads.
- First night of class handler must provide completed registration form, proof of CGC certification and copy of animal’s vaccination record. Class Policy.
- The person handling the animal must be at least 10 years old.
- Anyone aged 10 to 17 participating in a class must accompanied by a participating parent.
- Dogs trained to aggressively protect and/or encouraged to actively bite, even as a component of a dog sport (e.g., bite work that is part of Schutzhund) may not be therapy dogs.
- All dogs who participate in the program must be healthy and free from parasites, disease, infections, and illnesses.
- Dogs are not allowed to be on raw diets of any brand to participate in the program.
- The health screening is completed by your animal’s regular veterinarian.
- Canines for Therapy requires all of its handlers to have a background check (upon completion of class)
- Class policies are available from the organization providing the approved Canines for Therapy program.
- Can miss only one (1) class during the 6-week course and it cannot be week 1 and week 2.