People have been emailing me for the past two months wondering when the next round of Therapy Dog Training Workshops would be scheduled. The dates have been set, at long last! I will hold a Beginners TD Training Workshop on Sunday, February 5th, from 10:00-12:00. The following Sunday, February 12th, same time, I will conduct an Advanced TD Training Workshop. The Workshops are held at True Blue Dog Training at the Brassworks on Rte. 9 in Haydenville.
If you’re able to take both, you will be well-prepared for your Bright Spot therapy dog evaluation.
Here are the Workshop Descriptions:
The BEGINNERS WORKSHOP covers topics such as: what makes a good therapy dog, how to work with your dog as a “team” and what types of facilities and programs are visited. The basic skills and techniques necessary to begin therapy dog work will be introduced and there will be training time to learn proper greeting methods, as well as an introduction to various hospital or nursing home equipment. In addition, there will be ample time for Q&A and all attendees will receive handouts and learn what steps to take next to become a certified therapy dog team. If you have ever wanted to train your dog to be a therapy dog, or if you have ever wondered what the work entailed, please come join us for this fun and informative workshop.
The ADVANCED WORKSHOP builds on the skills covered in the BEGINNERS WORKSHOP and introduces techniques for handling specific types of patients and situations. Advanced skills and training commands are introduced and practiced in class. Time will be given to address questions and concerns that may have come up in your visits or while practicing. All attendees will receive handouts with tips and techniques for further practice.
Workshops are kept small to allow ample practice of the skills and techniques taught in the class. To register, go to the True Blue Dog Training site for instructions. I hope to see many of you there. (P.S. Attendees have traveled from Connecticut and as far away as Maine to attend these helpful – and enjoyable – Workshops.) You and your dog will have a great time and be ready to become a certified therapy dog team!
We will be in Williamstown this summer and would like to evaluate/train Oscar (2 yr old labradoodle-one of Sunny’s) to be a therapy dog> will you have classes this summer?
Hi Cathy – typically, I don’t schedule workshops in July and August due to summer vacations. It seems that many people take these months off from going to training classes. However, if the demand is there, I will add one to the schedule (must have 5 people registered to run the class). In addition, I do give private instruction which I hold right in an actually nursing home facility. This is very effective because the skills and techniques taught are applied in the actual setting rather than simulated in a class setting. Private instruction can be set up pretty much any time. I can be reached at hinckleycj@gmail.com to explore these options. I look forward to meeting you and Oscar (there is another 2 yr old Oscar from Sunny that has taken my workshops and is now a Bright Spot Therapy Dog. He’s from a Pearl/Carson litter)