8 Essential Tips for Therapy Dog Training
Joy! - Exercise! - Knowledge - Repetition! - Loose Leash! Relationship! - Build It In! - Socialize!
These tips are intended as a supplement to (not replacement for) help with a professional and our other very important web pages such as Can My Dog be a Therapy Dog?, Angel Paws Therapy Dog Training Position Statement, What is a Pet Partners Therapy Team?, Does My Dog Need Special Therapy Dog Training?, Socialization, Leadership, Equipment, Angel Paws' Pet Partner Training & Registration Process, and other related pages on our web site. Please don't miss those important pages. These are tips to be noted after or concurrent with that information and with help from a professional. Please seek help from a professional to make the most of your efforts! Please click HERE for answers to many questions about Clicker Training!
Get maximum results in the least amount to time by refining your technique!
I highly recommend this on-line course to refine your clicker training technique.
Intending to use positive reinforcement is not the same as using it effectively. ... Technique matters! Cost for the brief course is only $25.
Scholarships are available! We would love to help you maximize your training efforts in order to get the most benefit in less time!
I highly recommend this on-line course to refine your clicker training technique.
Intending to use positive reinforcement is not the same as using it effectively. ... Technique matters! Cost for the brief course is only $25.
Scholarships are available! We would love to help you maximize your training efforts in order to get the most benefit in less time!
Among candidates who have dogs with the appropriate aptitude for this work (friendly with strangers in unfamiliar circumstances) we have seen a number of common denominators among those teams who succeed and those who don't. Assuming the dog does have the appropriate aptitude those common denominators generally fall into one of two categories - handlers who enjoy training consistently between and after classes and those who are kinda sorta willing to casually give it a try by attending classes and see how it goes. Those in the later category generally will require much more time and therefore have a slimmer chance of success due to premature discouragement. We see far too many dogs with potential to be exceptional therapy dogs fall by the way side for simple lack of basic training so we've put together these tips to encourage you to enjoy the journey and help you succeed. It's not difficult - but it does take an effort to be consistent.
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Frequently it is the quieter dogs whose owners think "listen better" so they mistakenly assume they would be a better therapy dog than the gregarious enthusiastic dog who jumps all over people. Often quiet dogs are good therapy dogs! But what we too often learn is that many quiet dogs who appear to "listen better" are quiet and "listen better" because they lack confidence and/or they are not that interested in interacting with strangers. On the other hand many of the more gregarious dogs who may seem least appropriate could make WONDERFUL therapy dogs once they learn manners - they are gregarious and outgoing because they DO love people so much which is most important! - but few if any learn to listen and practice appropriate manners without consistent systematic training. Dog's simply don't speak English so a systematic process of consistent repetitive instruction is imperative to teach reliable manners. Any dog can be trained the necessary skills but no dog can be trained to enjoy interacting with strangers. Too many dogs who don't enjoy it are forced into it which is neither fair to the dog or to the clients which is another reason we want to do all we can to help those who do have appropriate dogs. Also, some dogs who have the potential to be wonderful therapy dogs are rushed into it before they are truly ready so although training can not begin early enough it does take some dogs more time than others to be appropriate for certain venues or to be suitable at all. Other dogs who are ready are not handled or advocated for by skilled handlers so they burn out and actually learn not to enjoy what they once did enjoy. This is why appropriate dog training and therapy dog handling skills are so important for the handler to learn and practice as well.
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As stated elsewhere, volunteer candidates are responsible for their own dog training. This is important to develop the relationship between animal and handler necessary for therapy work. We ARE here to help our candidates succeed in any way we can, however the following tips are no substitute for training with a professional dog trainer from our list of recommended trainers in either a private session or in one of our recommended classes. Even our own recommended trainers may not stress these tips often enough for them to fully sink in and be taken seriously enough for our particular purposes so we find it helpful to emphasize them here for our candidates.
Essential Tips for Therapy Team success are:
JOY! - EXERCISE! - KNOWLEDGE! - REPETITION! - LOOSE LEASH! - BUILD IT IN! - RELATIONSHIP! - SOCIALIZE!
JOY! - EXERCISE! - KNOWLEDGE! - REPETITION! - LOOSE LEASH! - BUILD IT IN! - RELATIONSHIP! - SOCIALIZE!
#1. JOY! ENJOY training your dog! If you enjoy training and practice accurate positive reinforcement training techniques your dog will enjoy learning too! It should be a game/fun activity you both enjoy together. Those who enjoy training will train. Those who don't like it usually don't do it (or not often or consistently enough) and will be much less likely to succeed. Those who are kinda sorta willing to give it a try and see how it goes usually fall into the latter category. So decide and commit to ENJOY training and you will have increased your chances of success immeasurably! And that success will come faster too! The more your dog learns the faster he will learn more. AND, a big part of that joy is being prepared with the right equipment! It's hard to be joyful without the right tools. Doing any job without the right tools is more tedious, less joyful and takes a lot longer - like cutting with a dull knife or pounding nails with a shoe rather than a hammer. Invest in your tools! Be sure to keep your treat bag, clicker and variety of tiny treats ready and convenient for action at all times! (See more about tools in "Repetition" below)
#2. EXERCISE! Regular Physical & Mental Exercise! Assure that your dog receives adequate (variable depending on the individual) regular exercise before and in between training sessions. There is a reason young school children get 2 recesses a day. If you are attempting to train your dog before they've had a chance to blow off all their excess energy it will be like trying to teach a hyperactive child anxiously waiting for recess that never comes. It will be frustrating for the both of you. Don't assume if they are outside in a yard all day that they are getting the exercise they need. Some dogs need interaction of some kind. Aside from physical exercise make sure they are also challenged mentally. Training is one form of mental exercise but make sure you provide ample opportunity for them to participate in a variety of types of mental exercise they most enjoy but are still challenged by. If they like to play ball - play ball but add variety and challenge. If they like to sniff around for critters - give them plenty of time to freely sniff around for critters. Happy fulfilled dogs are more eager to learn, willing to listen and have more to give others - just like people - so make sure they have their dog time too! Find ways to merge their favorite activities into their training and/or as a reward for jobs well done too! Be creative! Find ways to challenge them in their favorite activities. Ask your trainer for suggestions how to combine training with activities your dog enjoys. Any good trainer (certainly our recommended trainers!) are eager to address individual questions and concerns but they don't always have time during class to go over every potential suggestion that may be most helpful for you and your dog so take the time to THINK about your particular dog and ASK QUESTIONS! Studies of the human brain show that a state of Relaxed Alertness most effectively supports learning. Dogs are no different so find ways of keeping them relaxed but alert. If you have a low energy dog make sure they aren't too tired (mentally or physically) when it's time to train.
#3. KNOWLEDGE! Know your dog! Know your Pet Partner requirements! Know your dog's challenges! Part of being a good Pet Partner is independent responsibility and accountability which starts with knowing your dog and knowing your requirements. Your long term ability to be resourceful and self sufficient is important. This starts with training. Regardless of who you train with (even our own recommended trainers) it is not your trainers' responsibility to train your dog to be a therapy dog and not necessarily to even train you to train your dog to be a therapy dog. Your trainer's responsibility is to teach YOU how to teach your dog whatever it is you choose to teach them. It is YOUR responsibility to know & understand what the Pet Partner requirements are, to know your own dog, know what your dog's individual challenges are relative to those requirements, and to address those challenges in class with your trainers help - ask questions! - AND to practice what you learn - as instructed! - outside of class on a regular basis! There is an abundance of detailed information on this web site to help you including very specific information about the PPSAT (Pet Partners Skills & Aptitude Test) and exactly how it is scored - and we are available to answer any specific questions you may have at any time!
#2. EXERCISE! Regular Physical & Mental Exercise! Assure that your dog receives adequate (variable depending on the individual) regular exercise before and in between training sessions. There is a reason young school children get 2 recesses a day. If you are attempting to train your dog before they've had a chance to blow off all their excess energy it will be like trying to teach a hyperactive child anxiously waiting for recess that never comes. It will be frustrating for the both of you. Don't assume if they are outside in a yard all day that they are getting the exercise they need. Some dogs need interaction of some kind. Aside from physical exercise make sure they are also challenged mentally. Training is one form of mental exercise but make sure you provide ample opportunity for them to participate in a variety of types of mental exercise they most enjoy but are still challenged by. If they like to play ball - play ball but add variety and challenge. If they like to sniff around for critters - give them plenty of time to freely sniff around for critters. Happy fulfilled dogs are more eager to learn, willing to listen and have more to give others - just like people - so make sure they have their dog time too! Find ways to merge their favorite activities into their training and/or as a reward for jobs well done too! Be creative! Find ways to challenge them in their favorite activities. Ask your trainer for suggestions how to combine training with activities your dog enjoys. Any good trainer (certainly our recommended trainers!) are eager to address individual questions and concerns but they don't always have time during class to go over every potential suggestion that may be most helpful for you and your dog so take the time to THINK about your particular dog and ASK QUESTIONS! Studies of the human brain show that a state of Relaxed Alertness most effectively supports learning. Dogs are no different so find ways of keeping them relaxed but alert. If you have a low energy dog make sure they aren't too tired (mentally or physically) when it's time to train.
#3. KNOWLEDGE! Know your dog! Know your Pet Partner requirements! Know your dog's challenges! Part of being a good Pet Partner is independent responsibility and accountability which starts with knowing your dog and knowing your requirements. Your long term ability to be resourceful and self sufficient is important. This starts with training. Regardless of who you train with (even our own recommended trainers) it is not your trainers' responsibility to train your dog to be a therapy dog and not necessarily to even train you to train your dog to be a therapy dog. Your trainer's responsibility is to teach YOU how to teach your dog whatever it is you choose to teach them. It is YOUR responsibility to know & understand what the Pet Partner requirements are, to know your own dog, know what your dog's individual challenges are relative to those requirements, and to address those challenges in class with your trainers help - ask questions! - AND to practice what you learn - as instructed! - outside of class on a regular basis! There is an abundance of detailed information on this web site to help you including very specific information about the PPSAT (Pet Partners Skills & Aptitude Test) and exactly how it is scored - and we are available to answer any specific questions you may have at any time!
WARNING ABOUT BREED AND PERSONALITY TRAITS - No dog is an inappropriate therapy dog because of it's breed even though some breed characteristics can present challenges. Please do NOT fall into the trap of using your dog's breed characteristics (or personality) as an excuse for his/her lack of skill/manners! Knowing the challenges that MAY come with your dog's breed or personality is excellent information to be objectively aware of but you must also accept full responsibility for those challenges. Even good trainers can sometimes be overly sympathetic (for our purposes) to breed specifics so if you want to succeed as a therapy team do NOT let yourself be either coddled or discouraged into complacency because of your dog's breed or personality. Every time you find yourself attributing your dog's behavior to his/her breed (or individual personality) ask YOURSELF (and certainly your trainer too!) what YOU should be doing to most effectively address that challenge!
It may be a good idea to give your dog the opportunity to experiment with more of what it was bred to do so he/she will feel more relaxed and fulfilled when it's time to train. It's not necessary to go out and get a flock of sheep for your Border Collie to herd for instance but there may be some related activities to help take the edge off their urge to engage in undesired behaviors and pay more attention to what you are asking them to learn. Be creative and find ways to build what THEY most enjoy into your training and rewards. Again; any good trainer (certainly our recommended trainers!) are eager to address individual challenges but they don't always have time during class to go over every potential suggestion that may be most helpful for you and your dog so take the time to THINK about your particular dog, your goals and challenges and ASK QUESTIONS - but remember to be fully accountable for YOUR responsibilities!
Don't worry that you'll suppress or change your dog's charming personality that you love by teaching and requiring them to respond to you - as long as you practice positive reinforcement techniques as directed and they get plenty of their own play time nothing could be further from the truth!
It may be a good idea to give your dog the opportunity to experiment with more of what it was bred to do so he/she will feel more relaxed and fulfilled when it's time to train. It's not necessary to go out and get a flock of sheep for your Border Collie to herd for instance but there may be some related activities to help take the edge off their urge to engage in undesired behaviors and pay more attention to what you are asking them to learn. Be creative and find ways to build what THEY most enjoy into your training and rewards. Again; any good trainer (certainly our recommended trainers!) are eager to address individual challenges but they don't always have time during class to go over every potential suggestion that may be most helpful for you and your dog so take the time to THINK about your particular dog, your goals and challenges and ASK QUESTIONS - but remember to be fully accountable for YOUR responsibilities!
Don't worry that you'll suppress or change your dog's charming personality that you love by teaching and requiring them to respond to you - as long as you practice positive reinforcement techniques as directed and they get plenty of their own play time nothing could be further from the truth!
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#4. REPETITION! Repetition! Repetition! Repetition! Dogs are creatures of habit (as are we). Good habits for both animal and handler take time to develop and even more time to replace old undesirable habits with new desirable ones - for both animals and handlers. You will probably be learning new training techniques and ways of interacting with your dog too. It's very important important to assure you are practicing those techniques as directed. The more often a behavior is rewarded the more likely it is to be repeated. Set your dog up for success so you can reward good behavior as often as possible. Do not expect immediate results and do not let what seems like slow progress discourage you. And do NOT allow yourself to revert to old habits because the new techniques do not seem to be working fast enough! Regardless of your dogs behavior YOU stay on course and you WILL see progress in time. You will be surprised how all of a sudden after it seems like nothing is happening it will all start coming together but only if you stick with it as directed. Technique matters! If you ARE practicing as instructed consistently with no progress ask your trainer for alterations & or to learn more about what truly motivates your dog. Although Positive Reinforcement (R+) training techniques seem simple there are ample opportunities to make mistakes that will slow your progress significantly. Seek more professional help &/or decrease difficulty and adjust expectations. Reinforce often & increase your criteria for reinforcement in VERY small increments. Remember the 3 D's of difficulty - Distraction, Distance & Duration. Increase all in VERY small increments. If your dog has trouble make it easier and reward often. PRO-actively set them up for success and never miss an opportunity to reward! See other dog training pages as to why professionally taught systematic Positive Reinforcement Dog Training techniques are so important for therapy work especially! And why clicker training especially is so effective. |
Click on image for more great training treat options, clickers, treat bags and more training equipment and information.
CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT
WHY CLICKER TRAINING IS SO EFFECTIVE! FYI - we are very fortunate to have a Karen Pryor graduate - Kristen Van Ness - on our list of recommended trainers and at Posidog!
"To truly comprehend why food is so powerful, you must first understand the influence it has on the dog's brain. Food has the power to not only enhance a dog's ability to learn but also helps a dog overcome fear or anxiety by raising the levels of dopamine in the brain and stimulating the desire to seek or move towards the food reward. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a major role in reward-driven learning and helps regulate movement and emotional responses. ... There are circuits in a dog's brain that encourage seeking or hunting behavior and circuits that elicit the fear response. When you present food to your dog you turn on his seeker system, effectively turning off the fear. ... Turning on the thinking brain deactivates the emotional brain, enhancing a dog's attentiveness with positive motivation and allowing him to move into a calmer state where learning can take place." |
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A Word about your essential tools - Training Treats, Treat Bag & Clicker - If practiced as directed your dog will NOT get "addicted" to treats or only behave if you have treats with you (see other positive reinforcement training pages & article to the right about Why +R is NOT Bribery). Treats will be phased out but during basic training it's important to always have treats with you or nearby as often as possible - certainly during training sessions AND while walking and socializing away from home!
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Practicing TOUCH and LEAVE it, using accurate, well timed, effective clicker training techniques in a variety of situations can work wonders! Remember to reward OFTEN and increase difficulty in VERY small increments. LOT'S of repetition and more repetition will create positive associations and muscle memory. The ore often a behavior is repeated the more often it will be repeated.
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Always have an abundance of a VARIETY of training treats cut to size and ready to go - especially in the early stages of your training PLENTY of HIGH VALUE (soft and smelly) treats cut SMALL and ready to grab from the fridge and fill your treat bag with. Because they must be cut to training size and because soft and smelly treats usually must be refrigerated having prepared treats ready to go is another habit that must be developed. Natures Balance Dog Food Rolls (shown above) because they are nutritious, soft, smelly, high value, to dogs, can be cut in advance to small sizes (no larger than the eraser on the end of a pencil) and stored in the fridge - ready to go! What you see in the store labeled as training treats are almost always (if not always) still too large. Even the smaller pieces in the photo above are still much too large. They should be no larger than M& M's or the erasure on the end of a pencil! Even for large dogs! You will be giving them a LOT! If your dog's weight is an issue cut back on meals.
Hot dogs can be good if used sparingly and be sure to use organic without harmful chemicals. Small cut pieces can be heated in the microwave on a paper towel to reduce the slimy factor. Some people would never use hot dogs for health reasons so be careful.
Hot dogs can be good if used sparingly and be sure to use organic without harmful chemicals. Small cut pieces can be heated in the microwave on a paper towel to reduce the slimy factor. Some people would never use hot dogs for health reasons so be careful.
Get maximum results in the least amount to time by refining your technique!
I highly recommend this on-line course to refine your clicker training technique.
Intending to use positive reinforcement is not the same as using it effectively. ... Technique matters! Cost for the brief course is only $25. Scholarships are available! We would love to help you maximize your training efforts in order to get the most benefit in less time!
I highly recommend this on-line course to refine your clicker training technique.
Intending to use positive reinforcement is not the same as using it effectively. ... Technique matters! Cost for the brief course is only $25. Scholarships are available! We would love to help you maximize your training efforts in order to get the most benefit in less time!
Click on image to read full article - brief and simple - hit's the nail right on the head!
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"Treat Training Trinity: Why positive reinforcement training did not work for my dog." by Yvette Van Veen!
Highly recommended short article & well worth the read ... REALLY hits the nail on the head! " I realized that intending to use positive reinforcement was not the same as using it effectively. ... Technique matters. ... A few weeks or a month of good technique may include bursts of obscene machine gun clicking. The alternative is months or years of slow feeding and searching for the miracle cure that may or may not come. ... While providing feedback at the right moment in time is important, it is equally important to raise expectations in small, measured increments. ... Really, it’s not a moral issue. At the end of the day we want dog training that works." |
... Never miss an opportunity to reward your dog for good behavior no matter where you are!
Rapid fire mark & rewards when teaching a new behavior. Raise criteria for reward (3 D's of Difficulty = Duration, Distraction, Distance) in very small increments. What your dog finds most rewarding may not even be treats in any given moment so remember to alternate food rewards with praise, toys and play too!
Rapid fire mark & rewards when teaching a new behavior. Raise criteria for reward (3 D's of Difficulty = Duration, Distraction, Distance) in very small increments. What your dog finds most rewarding may not even be treats in any given moment so remember to alternate food rewards with praise, toys and play too!
#5. LOOSE LEASH! (for Greeting AND Walking!)
Get maximum results in the least amount to time by refining your technique!
I highly recommend this on-line course to refine your clicker training technique.
Intending to use positive reinforcement is not the same as using it effectively. ... Technique matters! Cost for the brief course is only $25. Scholarships are available! We would love to help you maximize your training efforts in order to get the most benefit in less time!
I highly recommend this on-line course to refine your clicker training technique.
Intending to use positive reinforcement is not the same as using it effectively. ... Technique matters! Cost for the brief course is only $25. Scholarships are available! We would love to help you maximize your training efforts in order to get the most benefit in less time!
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A straight line from you dog's collar to your hand is NOT a loose leash.
THIS is a loose leash!
(There should be visible slack in the leash. However the leash does not need to be quite this long) |
The concept of a "loose leash" is relative so it's often necessary to be specific about this. If your leash forms a straight line from your dog's collar to your hand it is NOT loose. Your leash should form a J shape from your dog's collar to your hand - without dragging on the ground or being in danger of getting tangled or caught on anything of course! Momentary taught or even tight leash is acceptable (no jerking!) but your leash should be an insurance policy rather than a means of physical control (steering wheel or brakes) or correction. This goal is very important to keep in mind at all times while training (even if it's still a challenge) and also why it is so important to learn and practice systematic positive reinforcement techniques consistently. Practice, practice, practice those techniques in as many different circumstances as possible and reward success often! BREAK the habit of jerking on the leash or keeping the leash tight to "hold on to" or steer your dog. Many candidates are in the habit of maintaining a relatively tight leash even when their dog is right by their side or not going anywhere - usually without even realizing it. This is especially common for people with small dogs. The feeling of knowing exactly where their dog is by feeling them on the other end of the leash may be easy and a comfort but a bad habit and a difficult one to break the more you indulge it. Your dog must learn to respond to your verbal/visual cues NOT to your physical control with the leash regardless of your dog's size. If your leash is tight it should be with the immediate goal of it becoming loose by use of your patient waiting for success, verbal/visual cues when appropriate and rewards (after getting the appropriate behavior or position) ASAP - NOT a default or resting position! Manage and reward appropriate behavior generously as indicated. The more often your leash is tight, the more desensitized you and your dog will be to it. Never miss an opportunity to reward your dog! CREATE opportunities to reward your dog as often as possible! And your dog should be within arms length so even if your leash is loose but they are taking full advantage of the length, walking too far away from you, they need to stay closer.
TOOLS ARE NOT TEACHING Tools facilitate teaching, as long as there is teaching present. ... However, dog training is the rare discipline where one is teaching two different species simultaneously, both beginners, ow to communicate. Therefore it is imperative not only for you to learn how to use tools correctly but also how to TEACH your dog the new behavior that you would like them to perform.
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Remember to be a communicator NOT a puppeteer. If you are using the leash to control your animal you are not communicating you are puppeteering.
Teaching Your Dog Loose Leash Walking #1
Remember - Intending to use Positive Reinforcement is not the same as using it effectively! Loose Leash Walking #1,2 & 3 videos below provide an effective step by step process for teaching your dog to walk politely on a loose leash. While it seems very elementary and you will be tempted to rush ahead and expect more of your dog faster than directed if you follow these directions you will be laying a solid foundation of effective technique and setting your dog up for success. Resist the temptation to expect too much too soon! This step by step process is what will provide lasting results.
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The more you pull on the leash the more you are teaching your dog to pull on you. Jerking on the leash is only intimidating into submission, not teaching. Remember to teach your dog what you DO want rather than physically force it or punish what you don't want. Reward loose leash often - VERY often - especially in the beginning! The more often a behavior is rewarded the more likely it is to be repeated. Moving forward while walking on the leash for instance is a reward in itself. If your dog is moving forward on a tight leash he is being rewarded for walking on a tight leash.
Teaching Your Dog
Loose Leash Walking #2
Remember to progress slowly, step by step with accurate technique to effectively teach and set your dog up for success!
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PLEASE CLICK FULL SCREEN TO VIEW CLEARLY This is a perfect example of too much tight leash during an exercise in the PPSAT. This handler is attempting to communicate with the leash rather than using verbal cues. As a result, she is physically controlling rather than communicating. Note constant tight leash even at rest, pulling to control the dog with the leash rather than verbal cues. Is this comfortable and relaxing for the dog? Does this inspire the dog's confidence? What would happen if the handler let go of the leash? Does this inspire the client's confidence? Remember that even the most enthusiastic dog lovers we visit may be feeling extraordinarily fragile and easily intimidated. Therapy dogs must willingly respond to verbal cues on a loose leash - not be physically controlled with a tight leash or leash corrections. Also, this dog is interested in visiting with the client but doesn't seem sure what to do because the handler has such a tight grip on him/her.
Loose Leash Walking #3
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#1
Teaching Your Dog to Walk on a Loose Leash - Part #1 Click on image to enlarge
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Remember LOOSE LEASH for BOTH Greeting AND Walking! Remember to use your PRO-Active management teaching techniques, distracting, redirecting, verbal/visual cues and rewards at all times - NOT the leash - and reward OFTEN. The more often a behavior is rewarded the more likely it is to be repeated. REWARD OFTEN - set your dog up for success in order to be able to reward often! See our Equipment page if extra Equipment (such as the front clip harness) is necessary but NO piece of training equipment is a substitute for training. Again, if you fall out of a routine or regular training don't let everything fall apart - practice what you can as often as possible - don't give everything up just because you aren't "training" on a regular basis. If your dog is on the leash you are training and he/she is learning - the only question is what they are learning and what habits you both are forming. Never miss an opportunity to reward your dog! CREATE opportunities to reward your dog as often as possible! |
#2
Teaching Your Dog to Walk on a Loose Leash - Part #2 Click on image to enlarge
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Get maximum results in the least amount to time by refining your technique!
I highly recommend this on-line course to refine your clicker training technique.
Intending to use positive reinforcement is not the same as using it effectively. ... Technique matters! Cost for the brief course is only $25. Scholarships are available! We would love to help you maximize your training efforts in order to get the most benefit in less time!
I highly recommend this on-line course to refine your clicker training technique.
Intending to use positive reinforcement is not the same as using it effectively. ... Technique matters! Cost for the brief course is only $25. Scholarships are available! We would love to help you maximize your training efforts in order to get the most benefit in less time!
#6. BUILD IT IN! Build training time into your daily walking routine, socialization & play time! NEVER miss an opportunity to reward success! And keep it up to whatever extent you can even if you fall out of your routine. If you have to go out of your way or make a special point of "training" outside your normal routine chances are greater that you won't do it consistently &/or you will only do it in the house or in your own neighborhood and maybe even give up prematurely. What passes for teaching family manners around the house and what is necessary for therapy teams are two different things. Those of us who for some reason MUST walk our dogs on a leash on a regular basis (living in a condo or apartment for instance) have the advantage of having that routine built in. If you are in the habit of letting your dog out to go to the bathroom, if your dog spends a lot of free time outside, or if you only put your dog on a leash to go out for the purpose of elimination or even to go from the car to play in the park, you are probably at a disadvantage of not necessarily having that leash walking time built into a natural routine. We encourage you to change in order to make it more likely that you will train consistently and progress fast enough to keep you and your dog interested and committed. Training at home and on your own property is a start but it is JUST a start and must be taken on the road! Regardless of how much time your dog spends outside build it into your daily routine to walk your dog on a leash off your property (around your neighborhood or down the road) for at least 20 minutes at least once or twice a day. That doesn't mean you must train that whole 20 minutes or for your whole walk but train in small intervals where you require your dog to respond to your cues and reward success generously - set your dog up for success and never miss an opportunity to reward your dog as often as possible! Make it clear to your dog when you expect his/her full attention and response and when you are releasing them for a break or free time. ALWAYS carry ample treats (high value, variable, NO bigger than an M&M or the eraser on the end of a pencil) in an easily accessible carrier and clicker (if you use a clicker). If you don't use a clicker make sure you use your DEFINITIVE verbal marker (such as a definitively enthusiastic YES!) appropriately just as you would a clicker (always followed by a treat) and do not confuse it with a simple "good boy/girl" while training or, heaven forbid!, as a recall to get attention - remember the clicker or verbal marker/reward is used ONLY AFTER the desired behavior NOT before and it is always followed by a treat. I do highly recommend using a clicker rather than a verbal marker for teaching new behaviors or increasing reliability in higher distraction environments though - click here to read why! See our Leadership page and remember to practice PRO-active Leadership too! BUT - if you fall out of the routine of training on a regular basis it should NOT be an all or nothing practice. If you have taken classes and practiced for a while but got busy and fell out of practice - do what you can when you can - practice what you learned as often as you can when ever you can. Don't let it all fall apart just because you haven't found the time to maintain a routine.
#7. RELATIONSHIP! Focus on building an effective and trusting working relationship with your dog (relaxed, reliable response to subtle verbal/visual cues in a variety of environments) NOT on passing a test! Many candidates expect or want to sign up for a "therapy dog training class" and "graduate" with "a therapy dog". This is understandable but not practical. Remember; Angel Paws and Pet Partners train and register therapy TEAMS (animals AND handlers) and it is important to take YOUR responsibility as a therapy dog handler seriously regardless of how well behaved your dog is - this is a two way street so you must know your dog. Some candidates have been surprised and disappointed that neither our own therapy dog training class (when available) nor our recommended trainers will go through each of the Skills & Aptitude Test exercises one by one for you to learn and practice. This would actually defeat the purpose of the test. The test is an entrance exam rather than a final exam and it is designed to evaluate your independent, spontaneous working relationship with your dog in a variety of circumstances often encountered in therapeutic situations. We can't present every situation you are likely to encounter which is why the test is designed to evaluate your relationship with your dog - how you interact with each other (relaxed, reliable response to verbal/visual cues) at the same time you are interacting with others in a variety of situations. True "Therapy Dog Training" is on-going, on the job, and there is nothing you could learn in any class (even so called "therapy dog training classes") that could simulate everything you will encounter in real life, often emotionally charged, therapeutic situations. You must learn to think on your feet in the moment and to independently apply appropriate techniques in a variety of unexpected situations to guide and support your dog to meaningful interaction with others. And your dog must have complete trust in you if not in all others which takes time to develop in a variety of environments beyond any class. This is why we say our PPSAT is an entrance exam rather than a final exam. It is designed to test whether you are ready to independently apply that trust and those skills (yours and your dog's) that you have learned in dog training classes (along with what you will learn in your Handlers Workshop) to real life situations. Your Angel Paws and on-site training will go even deeper into actual visiting situations but you MUST have the solid foundation of basic skills to build on first. There are no extraordinary skills necessary to be a therapy dog - reliable response to basic verbal/visual cues taught in any basic dog training class including "sit", "stay", "come", "wait", "heel" (not a formal heel but within arms length on a loose leash so you MUST use a definitive cue for this not used for anything else), "off" (move away from something they are wanting to move toward or engage with such as another dog, person, or food on the ground). ("say hi" or "visit" is helpful but not required and the only cues that would not ordinarily be taught in a basic dog training class). The dog's level of reliability however must be consistent and the handler must be observant of and sensitive to their dog as well as be in the habit of effectively and comfortably applying basic skills in a relaxed PRO-active manner at the same time they are interacting with others. Your Pet Partners Handlers Workshop and on site training will provide further training about application of basic skills to the therapeutic visiting process but it is still YOUR responsibility to apply all you have learned in your dog training classes and your Handlers Workshop to each new and perhaps unexpected situation. Remember; any good trainer (certainly our recommended trainers!) are eager to address individual goals and challenges but they don't always have time during class to go over every potential suggestion that may be most beneficial for you and your dog so take the time to THINK about your particular dog, your requirements, goals and challenges and ASK QUESTIONS! Again there is an abundance of information on this web site to help you including very specific information about the PPSAT and exactly how it is scored.
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#8. SOCIALIZATION! Socialize - Socialize - Socialize - WITH MANNERS! Never miss an opportunity to practice skills and social manners in as many unfamiliar locations - out of your dog's comfort zone - as possible. Training and Socialization should be practiced together in a fun way!
Remember that the manners required for therapy work require a higher level of restraint (while still being spontaneous & friendly) and reliability than what might ordinarily be acceptable so while you are training be very conscientious about this and ask others to cooperate by requiring your dog to practice manners too. Assuming your dog enjoys interaction with others (and if they are to be a therapy dog they should!) let that interaction be the reward for good manners. Introducing a verbal cue such as "say hi" or "visit" will be very helpful too.
There is plenty of time to play as rough and tumble as you like at appropriate times but keep socialization with strangers away from home primarily on a training level for now. If not, make it definitively clear to your dog when it's free time as opposed to gentle listen & pay attention time.
Take your treats and clicker everywhere you take your dog! Everytime you have errands to do take your dog with you and take your dog (WITH clicker & treats!) inside everywhere they will allow it. If you have to run out to Lowes or Staples don't forget to take your dog with you - WITH Treats and Clicker! When I first began training my dog we went to Staples a lot when I was still clicking and treating everywhere. To this day she is decidedly more automatically well behaved there than just about anywhere else and I haven't brought a clicker or treats there in years! Never assume they won't allow a dog inside - give it a try! Never misrepresent your dog as a service dog or service dog in training but explain your therapy dog training and see what they say. Always require your dog to "Wait" before entering a door! Encourage others to interact with your dog but keep visiting and PPSAT criteria in mind as you interact with others. Ask for help from others if your dog does not wait patiently to be petted. Do not allow others to pet before your dog practices his or her Therapy Dog manners. Practice P.E.T.S.while you socialize (Proximity, Eye Contact, Touch,& Speech) - allowing more freedom & spontaneity only as manners become more reliable.
See our Socialization & Leadership pages for suggestions and further information. Remember to practice being PRO-active as described on our Leadership page and on the Overall Handler Assessment description to the right! (click on image to enlarge - 2 is highest score, 1 passing, NR not ready but may test again on a different day, NA not appropriate/may not test again). Learn the types of touch your dog enjoys from strangers the most - it may differ from what they enjoy from family most - and encourage people to do that for him/her. (scratching under the chin or behind the ears for instance) When you are ready, feel free to contact us to arrange a time for complimentary feedback while socializing with your dog.
REMEMBER! ...
#1 - ENJOY!!! Don't ever doubt that the relationship you are building while appropriately training & socializing your dog will be the most valuable gift you can give your dog, yourself, your family and friends - everyone your dog will interact with for the rest of his/her life- regardless of whether you actually pursue therapy work or not! ... |
click on image to enlarge
Practice PETS while Socializing With a Purpose!
(teaching & practicing Therapy Dog manners) 
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#2 - Exercise! - #3 - Knowledge! - #4 - Repetition! - #5 - Loose Leash! - #6 - Build It In! - #7 - Relationship! - #8 - Socialize!
Get maximum results in the least amount to time by refining your technique!
I highly recommend this on-line course to refine your clicker training technique.
Intending to use positive reinforcement is not the same as using it effectively. ... Technique matters! Cost for the brief course is only $25. Scholarships are available! We would love to help you maximize your training efforts in order to get the most benefit in less time!
I highly recommend this on-line course to refine your clicker training technique.
Intending to use positive reinforcement is not the same as using it effectively. ... Technique matters! Cost for the brief course is only $25. Scholarships are available! We would love to help you maximize your training efforts in order to get the most benefit in less time!
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Links to our Important Dog Training Web Pages
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Angel Paws Brochure to download & print, 2 pages, print front & back, fold inward in 3rds with photos on front. Great to hand out while socializing in indoor locations that may require an explanation!
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Related pages ...
Training & Registration Process
Can MY Dog be a Therapy Dog?
What is a Pet Partners Therapy Team?
Does My Dog Need Special Therapy Dog Training?
Angel Paws Position on Dog Training
Pet Partners Skill & Aptitude Test
Socialization
Leadership
Equipment
Recommended Dog Trainers
AVSAB Position Statements
AVSAB on How To Choose A Trainer
Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
Why No Choke Chains, Prong or Pinch Collars
Canine Behavior Myths
Can MY Dog be a Therapy Dog?
What is a Pet Partners Therapy Team?
Does My Dog Need Special Therapy Dog Training?
Angel Paws Position on Dog Training
Pet Partners Skill & Aptitude Test
Socialization
Leadership
Equipment
Recommended Dog Trainers
AVSAB Position Statements
AVSAB on How To Choose A Trainer
Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
Why No Choke Chains, Prong or Pinch Collars
Canine Behavior Myths