Therapy Dog Training Class (Columbia, MD)

This class is for potential volunteers and their dogs who would like to prepare for therapy work.

Class Goals:

• Get to know more about NCTD
  
• Meet other NCTD volunteers, and learn from their visiting experiences
  
• Get better prepared for therapy visits
  
• Get your dog exposed to hospital equipment
  
• Improve control and communication with your dog
  
• Practice team reaction to distractions
  
• Practice with successful therapy dogs
  
• ... and much more!
  

Prerequisites:

• Dog must be at least 9 months old at start of class
  
• A copy of a current rabies vaccination must be provided by the first day of class
  
• Dogs must currently have reliable basic obedience skills:
  
• • Sit, Down, Stay on command
  • Walk on loose leash (no pulling handler, or dragging behind)
• Dogs must have passed the Canine Good Citizen test sponsored by the American Kennel Club
  
• Dogs may be pre-evaluated on the first day of class. If a dog does not pass the pre-evaluation, course costs will be refunded.
  

Attendance Requirement:

• Teams must attend 5 out of 6 classes to be eligible for evaluation
  
• The sixth class is generally a "mall visit" to practice visiting skills in a public setting
• Please do not sign up for a set of classes if you cannot commit to the schedule
  

Note: the Mall Visit (6th class) is a separate event which you must also register for.