Therapy Dog Training Class (Laurel, MD)

This training class includes 6 sessions.

Prerequisites:

• Completion of Handler's class (only required once per handler)
• Dog must be at least 9 months old by the first day of class
• Dogs must have passed the AKC Canine Good Citizen test sponsored by the American Kennel Club by the first day 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 and appropriate temperament, including:

Class Goals:

• To prepare teams to pass the therapy dog evaluation
• To learn new training skills that can be used in therapy work, including dealing with distractions
• Meet other NCTD volunteers, and learn from their visiting experiences
• Gain exposure and a level of comfort around hospital equipment
• Improve communication and control with your dog
• To provide opportunities for interaction with successful therapy dog teams

Attendance Requirement:

• Teams must attend 5 of the 6 classes to be eligible for the evaluation
• The sixth class is a community outing so that teams may practice visiting skills in a public setting.  The date, time, and location of this class will be determined at a later time.