Serving all of Iowa and beyond
JOIN OUR THERAPY DOG PROGRAM AND TEAM
OUR PROGRAM
The 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 welcomes currently training therapy dogs, owner trained dogs, or program transfers. We also welcome all kinds of personalities and breeds of therapy dogs.
Frederick Family Dog Training LLC owns and operates Therapy Dogs Iowa.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
At Frederick Family Dog Training LLC (known as FFDT from this point forward), we are 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, 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 an accredited dog trainer, and the Animal Behavior as a certified service dog trainer, and are professional members of the APDT. FFDT is Therapy Dogs Iowa.
THERAPY DOG PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
- Basic Obedience and Foundational Skills
- 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
- $225 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 CGC through AKC (see “Additional Testing Page” for more information on AKC Titling)
- Minimum Age at Graduation: 12-18 months (can begin training and providing therapeutic services sooner)
- Spayed/Neutered
- Therapy dog skills, general and/or specific to environment
- Minimum six lessons with FFDT trainer (please note, some clients/dogs desire or need additional lessons)
- Minimum three working lessons (FFDT specialist present; may use as part of twenty-five documented visits, done in a therapeutic environment)
- Two observations completed at end of program (included in enrollment fee)
- Minimum twenty-five successful documented therapy dog visits while in training, uploaded to visit verification link
- Minimum six group trains (two are included in enrollment)
- Highly Recommended: Intensives, Additional Group Trains
- 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 for duration of active therapy dog work life $40
You are able to begin training at any age and skill level. These are final requirements.