[nagdu] Guide dogs and Therapy Dogs

[Lyn Gwizdak]

Hi Cindy,
Landon was certified to be a therapy dog about four years ago when we 
started to work with the Humane Society.  He had to take the AKC's Canine 
Good Citizen Test and another test that the Pet-Assisted Therapy Program - 
Humane Society has for all dogs entering the program. Landon had to show 
that he's cool around the other animals we bring on the visits - rabbits, 
guinea pigs, and rats.  Landon and the rats seem to hit it off well.  He 
does well with the others but the rats are the only ones who actually like 
to interact with Landon.  They will walk up to him and they sniff noses - so 
cute!  I love the rats because they are so smart and interactive!

I haven't had any problems with Landon doing both jobs - guide dog and 
therapy dog.  He does understand that when guiding it isn't time to visit 
people.  If people do "drive by" pets, he just blows them off.  If I'm 
standing around and not having the handle in my hand, he knows he can visit 
when I tell him to "say hi".

I'd say, to do this work sucessfully, you need to make sure your dog knows 
the difference in how to behave during guiding work and during visits.  When 
we are in visit mode, I take his harness off and he has a vest from the HS 
program that he wears.  Make sure your dog likes to interact with strangers 
when you tell him it is OK to do so.  Make sure your dog is CLEAR in how to 
behave in both venues and will transition well between the two things 
easily.  Not all guide dogs can do this depending on their own 
personalities.

HTH.  Landon and I really enjoy ourselves doing pet therapy.

Lyn and Landon
"Asking who's the man and who's the woman in an LGBT relationship is like 
asking which chopstick is the fork" - Unknown
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Cindy Ray" <cindyray at gmail.com>
To: "the National Association of Guide Dog Users NAGDU Mailing List" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2013 1:04 PM
Subject: [nagdu] Guide dogs and Therapy Dogs


> Has anyone ever had his/her guide certified as a therapy dog while that 
> dog was still guiding? If so, what are the pros and cons of it. If not, 
> why not? I haven't really met any certified therapy dogs.
>
> Cindy Lou
>
>
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