We Did It! Ike's a Therapy Dog!
How do you become a therapy dog? Well, just ask Ike. Because he's proud to announce..... We did it! Last Saturday was Ike's big test. Oh, and one point to make is you are testing as a team. It's not only the dog's behavior that is being tested, but both dog and handler must be of good character. It's good to remember that we are both representing Therapy Dog International when we work. So, for the test, Ike had to demonstrate he could do everything he learned in class. Here are some of the things he had to do to pass the test: 1. Demonstrate he was calm and even around people, other dogs, a wheelchair and a walker, sudden noises, and a child playing with a ball. 2. Demonstrate he was calm when being touched, patted, groomed, his feet touched, etc. 3. Demonstrate he was calm when left alone with a stranger, and when meeting a strange dog. 4. Demonstrate he was obedient. This included sit, stay, down, down-stay, recall. Here's Ike on his down-stay during a pract...