Therapy Dog Team Evaluation Practice

Get hands-on practice and guidance before your Therapy Dog Evaluation. In this workshop, you’ll learn how the evaluation is scored and how to prepare for each exercise. You and your dog will also run through every exercise with coaching from an experienced Evaluator.

You’ll explore what it means to volunteer with your dog—how our program is funded, fees, where we visit, and our code of ethics. We’ll cover how to become a volunteer, navigate our volunteer system, and follow protocols for different environments. You’ll also learn how to prevent issues, report an incident, and advocate for your dog.

How the workshop runs

• Working segments where you and your dog practice skills

• Settle segments where your dog rests at your feet while you learn
  Please bring a favorite toy and a mat to help your dog relax when needed.

Instructors: This course is taught by senior-level trainers who are also therapy dog team evaluators and have extensive personal experience volunteering with their therapy dogs.  

Age of dog:  12 months minimum.  Please note that dogs closer to 18 months and older tend to be better suited for starting their therapy dog career.  

Prior Training Required:

• Pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen Community or Advanced evaluation and
• Instructor recommendation

Dogs must be able to greet strangers without jumping up.  Dogs must be able to work calmly when another dog is also working nearby.  The ideal dog is comfortable in new situations and loves to be petted by everyone, young and old, of all races and all sizes, and wearing any garment, including hats, robes, hoodies, and costumes.   

Please contact us if you have questions!