I am about to start training my dad's dog for ptsd therapy work. I haven’t trained a dog for therapy work but I am going to bring you all along on this journey. I do dog training on the side of training my own dogs, working full time, and going to school full time. Yes, I know it’s a lot but training dogs is what I do for fun. My dad was a firefighter in Kansas City for 34 years (most firefighters retire after about 20 years or so). He has always loved his job and he always told me to find a job that I love so that you’re excited to go to work everyday rather than working only for money. Firefighting is something that many people haven’t been able to experience but I have been around their environment for my whole life. I grew up running around the halls of the Firestation while all of the firefighters around me watched me grow up. They came and supported me at my sports games and were my second family.
With all of the fun that I’ve had with my second family there are a lot of daemons that they have dealt with themselves that no one ever notices. My dad has suffered from PTSD for most of my life and he started being treated for it in 2019. After he was in a better place he got his foot in the door with a rehabilitation center that helps other firefighters in his position. He got his two current dogs last year and whether he knows it or not they have a natural talent for therapy work.
I have had Emotional Support Animals (ESA) since I was in high school and I am a big believer in their assistance. Now our therapy dog training begins… We have three AKC tests to begin, canine good citizen, urban canine good citizen, and the advanced canine good citizen test. I will put below what those tests entail and where we’re starting from in this process. After these tests we will do visits in different facilities.
AKC CGC Test
-Accepting a friendly stranger (looking for command to break heel)
-Sitting politely for petting
-Appearance and grooming (must be polite and accept anyone doing the grooming)
-Out for a walk (loose leash)
-Walking through a crowd
-Sit and down on command staying in place
-Come when called
-Reaction to another dog
-Reaction to distraction
-Supervised separation (little to no anxiety when left without handler)
AKC Urban CGC Test
-Exit/enter doorway with no pulling in dog-friendly building
-Walk through a crowd on a busy urban sidewalk.
-Appropriate reaction to city distractions (noises: horns sirens, construction noise; Moving objects: skateboard, bikes, carts, person running; Surfaces: concrete, grass, grates, plastic tarp, wet sidewalk)
-crossing street (stand or sit to wait, cross street with no pulling.
-ignore food on sidewalk
-Person walks up and pets dog (holding bag but doesn’t set it down to pet dog)
-Public Building (slick floors/carpet) 3 minute hold while handler has snack
- Stairs, steps , and elevator
-House trained
-Transportation, owners choice Car Enter/exit rides under control
AKC Advanced CGC
-Dog stands, sits or lies down and waits under control
-Walks on a loose leash in a natural situation (left, right, fast/slow, and stop)
-Walks on a loose leash through a crowd
-Dog walks past a distraction dogs present; does not pull
- Sit/stay in a small group (3 people & 3 dogs)
-Dog allows person who is carrying something to approach and pet (“May I pet your dog?” Item is set down before person pets)
-Leave it dog walks by food and follows owners instructions
-down or sit stay - distance (sit stay, owner walks away with back to dog, picks up item, returns to dog
-recall with distractions
-Going through doors with owner
Don’t get me wrong we have a TON of work to do but I will try to update everyone on our progress with this!
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