JOIN OUR THERAPY DOG PROGRAM AND TEAM
OUR PROGRAM
Frederick Family Dog Training LLC’s (FFDT) Therapy Dog Program evaluates, trains, and helps facilitate therapy dog visits within our local communities. Whether the therapy dog is visiting assisted living homes, working full time at an elementary school, becoming a reading dog, an animal assisted therapist, working at a counseling office, or visiting many locations, the benefits of a therapy visits from our canine friends is needed, important, and life changing for everyone involved.
FFDT’s Therapy Dog Program offers both general and specific therapy dog training as part of a through process to help owners and their evaluated dogs bless the lives of our community by bringing joy, love, and comfort to individuals and organizations through well mannered, well tempered, and well trained therapy dogs.
FFDT is a private trainer specializing in working dogs such as service, therapy, and emotional support. Because we are a private trainer, we issue our own Certificates and hold our standards to or above the American Kennel Club, Therapy Dogs International, APDT, IACP, and other training organizations. FFDT is an approved AKC evaluator, and we utilize the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program as well as specialized skills/tasks in our working dog requirements and foundational skills. We also hold accreditation through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants as a accredited dog trainer, and the Animal Behavior as a certified service dog trainer, and are professional members of the APDT and IACP.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Basic Obedience and Foundational Sills
- FFDT Basic12 List Mastered
- AKC Home Manners or equivalent
- AKC Canine Good Citizen Test
- AKC Community Canine Test
- Evaluation and Acceptance into FFDT Therapy Dog Program
- $200 Enrollment Fee
- Therapy work defined, if applicable
- Therapy Dog Agreement Signed
- FFDT Working Dog Important Skills List
- Up-to-date on all vaccinations required by state law
- Dog registration if required by city/county/state
- AKC Registration if titling (see “Additional Testing Page” for more information on AC Titling)
- Minimum Age: 1 year (can begin training sooner)
- Spayed/Neutered
- Therapy dog skills, general and/or specific to environment
- Minimum four lessons with FFDT trainer
- Minimum three working lessons (FFDT specialist present; may use as part of twenty-five documented visits)
- Two observations completed at end of program
- Recommended: Intensives2
- Minimum twenty-five successful documented therapy dog visits wile in training
- Minimum two group trains (included in enrollment)
- Demonstrated impulse control and ability to function with distractions
- Free from inappropriate reactivity, aggression, and behavior problems
- Must document at last one therapy dog visit every six months to remain active as an FFDT Therapy Dog.
- One annual Therapy Dog observation post-graduation for duration of active therapy dog work life