Therapy Dog
Prep School
To book a date for your prep day, cgc test, or therapy dog behavioral analysis, click here.
To register for our Summer 2023 6-week Therapy Dog Prep School, Scroll to the bottom of this page.
To register for the Little therapy prospects class (for dogs under 10 months), Click here.
All dogs attending Prep School/ Prep day and active therapy animal teams must receive the vaccines listed below. Proof of vaccination must be submitted before the start of class, via this form.
Rabies
DHPP (Distemper/Hepatitis/Parainfluenza/Parvo)
Bordetella
Option 1: AKC CGC test ONLY-
$25, 30 min long (bookings open year round)
This is for those interested in obtaining the "Canine Good Citizen" title and certification only. You can read about the benefits by clicking the link below.
Option 2:
Therapy Dog Behavioral analysis ONLY-
$25, 30 min long (bookings open year round)
This is for those who want to be a therapy dog team and have already obtained their AKC CGC Test. For those with dogs who are already certified with another organization, are ready to be a therapy dog, want to measure where your dog is at before committing to classes (you could surprise yourself and pass immediately, or gain some one-on-one tips and advice on what to work on before your next test/which classes you may need).
Option 3:
Therapy dog behavioral Analysis and AKC CGC Test
20-45 minutes, $50 (bookings open year around)
Take both tests you need to become a therapy animal team in one sitting. Upon passing and submitting necessary paperwork, you will be qualified as a therapy animal team with TAP.
Option 3:
Therapy Dog Prep Day and Class-
1.5 hours, $150 (bookings open year round)
One-on-one lesson to measure your dogs ability, review the material beforehand with tips given for the testing process, and have a quieter area to test in since they arent with a group. We will expose your dog to a lot of stimulus, do a "mock visit" and work on desensitization. This is recommended for dogs with "too much energy." We give tips and tricks on how to calm your dog before the excitement of a visitation. This part is 1 hour long. Following prep day, we administer both tests after this class. we give the CGC test and the therapy dog analysis in one sitting within 30 min. You only need to pass the therapy dog analysis to be a therapy dog team, cgc test determines if you are able to be a "comfort level" therapy dog team to visit hospitals and the elderly. If you don't pass, you will receive an email with advice on what to work on as well as training videos to view at home.
Option 4:
therapy dog Prep School and Exams-
Six 1 hour classes each week, $350 (bookings open 4 times per year, registration limited)
Session size is limited to 10 aspiring therapy teams, so early registration is recommended. All registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. We are currently accepting applications for our summer classes beginning in June 2023 in Chico, CA. Apply HERE
Class is at 6pm-7pm every consecutive Wednesday.
6/28, 7/5, 7/12, 7/19, 7/26, and 8/2.
The 3rd and 4th class will be an immersion in the public for desensitization. You must be present for class 3 OR 4 in order to attend class 5.
The 5th class will be a mock visit.
The 6th class will be your therapy dog and cgc exams.
We run our very popular, fun Therapy Dog Prep School four times a year. Each of the four sessions is made up of a series of six classes that includes activities to prepare both you and your dog for involvement as a therapy dog team. It will focus on Classical conditioning, operant conditioning, desensitization, counterconditioning, socialization, enrichment, integration, habituation, generalization, proofing, stimulus control, fluency, basic, mid and advanced level obedience methods.
This class will work on things such as:
• Instruction and practice with successful therapy dog commands and behaviors
• Socialization with unknown humans to encourage your dogs to listen to others commands such as a client asking your dog to sit.
• Discussion and practice of techniques for effective interaction between therapy dog and clients
• Discussion and practice in developing better observation skills to identify signs of stress in dogs and how to best respond in those scenarios
• Role-playing opportunities with a variety of typical therapy dog settings
• Interactions with friendly strangers to mimic real visits
• Desensitization to stimulus such as loud noises, crowds, new scents, and medical equipment.
• Various teaching videos are provided to students to supplement class exercises
To register, fill out the form on the bottom of this page.
Option 4:
Therapy Dog Prospects Class
Six 1 hour classes each week, $350 (bookings open 4 times per year, registration limited)
If your dog is under 10 months old, check out our "Therapy Dog Prospects class" which works on the more basic skills necessary for therapy dog work. No dog over 10 months old permitted. This class is also only offered 4 times a year and is limited on a first come first served basis. This class is recommended for puppies with a future in therapy dog work.
This class is at 430-530pm each Wednesday
6/28, 7/5, 7/12, 7/19, 7/26, and 8/2.
Work on skills such as:
Building your bond
Coming when called
Feeding by hand
Crate training
Potty tr training
Bite training
Hanling/grooming, pulling collar, yanking an squeezing
Basic commands
Sit
Lay down
Stay
Leash walking
Exposure in the public
Visit in different areas
Calm exposure to other dogs
OUR REFUND POLICY:
• A FULL REFUND will be issued up to 14 days prior to the first class meeting.
• A 50% REFUND will be issued between 13 and 7 days before class.
NO REFUND will be issued within 7 days of the first class meeting or if you start class and decide to drop