Pretty excited to be teaching a new class for Molly's AdobeDogs Dog Training starting on April 28! It is a class for people who have pet assisted therapy dogs and want to learn more about shaping behaviors for the pet assisted therapy setting. I will be teaching some basic behaviors such as having your dog put his head on a lap, side of a bed, or the arm of a wheelchair, as well as advanced behaviors like how to train them to lay quietly on a bed without disturbing a patient; staying with the handler without shortening the leash, for better mobility in tight hospital corridors; and standing on a riser so that patients who are prone can reach the dog, to name a few. I love to shape new behaviors in my own dogs, and teaching others how to shape behaviors is so much fun! You can actually watch a dog learn without frustration. A clicker can be used to shape behaviors, but isn't required, so any dog can still have success.
I really do enjoy pet assisted therapy work and introducing it to others. Visits are rewarding not just to the patients, but to the volunteers and their pets as well. And having a few special behaviors that you can ask of your dogs on their visits just makes it all the more enriching, and gives dog owners doing pet assisted therapy work new goals to set their sights on.
Had to share this funny picture of me with "Trouble," during a recent pet assisted therapy training class. He's coming to the new class in April. How about you?
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