Therapy Dog Evaluation Class

THIS CLASS STARTS 7:15 pm on Thursday, Feb. 5 and runs for 4 weeks. This course includes more in-depth work with medical equipment, focus on polite greetings with people on crutches, with walker or cane or in a wheelchair. Your dog must be as professionals as when you are visiting public facilities, so focus is on achieving professional behavior. Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dog Test is offered week 5 (at a time to be scheduled) for an additional $20 Donation to Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs. Requirements: Dogs should be at least one year old. For more information and to register, people can go to the website at www.liveandlearndogs.com. Not sure if you should attend this class or our Intro Class? Ask yourself the following questions: 1. Can your dog greet a person without jumping on them? 2. Does your dog walk on leash nicely by your side, not dragging you after them? 3. Can your dog perform a “sit” and “down” and come to you when called — all in a distracting environment? (People making noise. Someone walking by with a dog) 4. Will your dog “wait” until you release them? (in a distracting environment? 5. Can your dog walk by food left on the ground or a nearby table obeying the “leave it” command? If you answered "no" to any of the above questions, then we strongly recommend you take the Introduction to Pet Therapy Class first. Class instructor Tricia Baker is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Evaluator (CGC) and Certified Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dog Evaluator. She also is the Co-Director of Attitudes in Reverse (AIR), an all-volunteer organization that works to address mental health issues and student suicide prevention. Baker and her five dogs are involved in many activities, especially therapy. Her dog, Miki, has earned his Canine Good Citizen certification, Therapy Dog Certification from Bright & Beautiful and has been awarded the American Kennel Club Award of Canine Excellence. Her other dog Luna, a Pit Bull mix, was certified as a therapy dog at the age of 13, proving you can teach an old dog new tricks.