Therapy Dog Training- Share the Love

Our suggested processes is your puppy or dog should have plenty of experience in group classes working around and ignoring other dogs. Here is what we recommend for getting you to completation ( this depends on your dog or puppies age):

1. Puppy Class
2. Beginners Class
3. Intermediate Class
4. Advanced Class
5. CGC Class
6. Therapy Dog Prep Class
7. Take and pass your therapy dog test
8. Start visiting

In these classes your dog will learn the necessary skills to be a therapy dog.  These include but are not limited to, sit, down, loose leash walking, leave it, go say hi, how to keep all four paws on the ground, waiting at doors, ignoring other dogs and stay. Other keys factors to consider: Does your dog or puppy love people? Do they love going new places and experiencing new things? Therapy work is not for every dog, and that does not mean there is anything wrong with your dog. They have love languages just like us! Some love attention from strangers and others prefer to play fetch as an example. We encourage you to make sure your dog, loves this type of work first. We always want to consider our dog’s welfare first and foremost.

Visit here for all of our group classes: https://www.facebook.com/TenaciousDogTraining/events

We also offer private lessons if you can not make group classes work.

                    Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Where do I take my therapy dog test? In Sioux Falls we currently have two entites that have certified dogs in our state. The first is TDI- Also known as Therapy Dogs International visit here for:Testing Requirements .  We also have The Alliance of Therapy Dogs or ATD visit here for:Testing Requirements
2. Can any breed of dog be a therapy dog? Yes, any dog or mix of breeds can test to be therapy dogs. 
3.  What is the difference between a therapy dog and a service dog? Service dogs are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) giving them public access rights, in most places, not all. In contrast a therapy dog is trained to provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals,  nursing homes, schools, hospices, and must be invited to come there. 
4. What are the most imporant things for a dog to be a good candidate for therapy work? They should have a stable temperment and love strangers. Good obedience skills are a must as well. Our dogs must also be able to handle tight spaces such as elevators, different noises and people running by to name a few things.
5. Do I have to take all of those classes? It depends on how well you keep up with training at home. Remeber we are always training our dogs, even if we do not think we are.