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Hi all current and future Pet Partners! I am doing some changes for 2012. I will not be providing the Pet Partner Team Training & Therapy Dog Skills Training 6 week class but instead I will be providing four weekend workshops next year. Do to health issues it has become very difficult to set up and take down all the tables, chairs, and equipment every week. It is so much easier setting everything up once on a Friday for the weekend and take it down Monday after the workshop. Please review the schedule and let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, Debbie
Introduction to the Human-Animal Bond
Animals provide many therapeutic benefits to people in healthcare facilities. These animals are called therapy animals. Most therapy animals visit facilities with their handler which we call animal-assisted activities (AAA). Some animal-handler teams work with a health professional to assist in meeting set goals which is called animal-assisted therapy (AAT), according to the Standards of Practice in Animal-Assisted Activities & Therapy.
In the past these interactions were called “pet therapy” but this term has been revised to put the focus on utilizing animals for these special activities and therapies. People often thought the term “pet therapy” meant providing therapy for the pet. AAA/T can utilize a variety of domesticated animals. There are a great many species that make wonderful visiting animals and can form a strong human-animal bond. Only domesticated animals may become Pet Partners. Examples of registered pets include:
· Dogs
· Cats
· Guinea pigs
· Rabbits
· Domesticated rats
· Horses
· Goats
· Llamas
· Donkeys
· Potbellied pigs
· Miniature pigs
· Cockatoos
· African Gray Parrots
Wild or exotic animals (e.g., snakes, ferrets, lizards) may not be Pet Partners.
These handler-animal teams must have a lot of skills to provide this type of service. The handler needs good interpersonal skills, be able to attend to the needs of the client as well as there animal at the same time. The animal must have an exceptional temperament as well as specially trained skills to enjoy having people around them, petting them under stressful conditions.
If you are interested in becoming involved in this type of program, there are several things that you should do:
1. Go to www.deltasociety.org to read and learn as much as possible about the Pet Partner Program. This will explain the steps required to becoming a Pet Partner. 2. If you have a dog that you want to volunteer with, attend several training classes, take your dog to different environments and it is always encouraged to get the AKC Canine Good Citizen Certificate. This certificate will indicate that you are ready as a team to begin training to become a Pet Partner.
3. If you have a different type of animal, then you will need to research what that animal will have to be able to do to pass the evaluation and provide AAA/T, then begin training with that animal.
4. After you have researched the topic of Animal-Assisted Activities & Therapies and you are still interested in becoming involved, you can now begin the steps to becoming a Pet Partner Team.
Becoming a Delta Society Pet Partner Team:
1. Get yourself and your animal properly trained. You need to know what is expected of you and your animal to pass the Delta Society Team Evaluation. There are two ways to accomplish this task. You can complete the Delta Society Home Study course, in which you can order online at www.deltasociety.org or you can attend a class. LynnDee’s offers the Pet Partner Team Training class quarterly. This class is six weeks long, one night a week for two hours. You and your pet partner attend the classes together. The first hour is in a classroom setting to discuss the Team Training Handbook, discussions and guest speakers. The second hour is working with your pet on the skills necessary to pass the evaluation and to prepare you for future visits as a volunteer. All dogs must have their AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate prior to the Therapy Dog Skills Training Class. 2. Complete the Delta Society Team Evaluation. This evaluates both the handler and the animal on the skills and aptitude
Delta Society Licensed Instructor: Debbie Wing is a Delta Society registered Pet Partner with “Emma” a Golden Retriever as her Therapy Dog and “Miss Kitty” as her Therapy Cat. She has had three other Golden Retrievers as her therapy dogs who are now deceased and a therapy cat in retirement. She is a Delta licensed Pet Partner Instructor, Team Evaluator, Master Team Evaluator Instructor, and AAT Applications Instructor.
Pet Partners Team Training Course (16 hrs)
This course is taught by Delta licensed Pet Partner Instructor, Debbie Wing. The 16-hour training will teach you how to safely and effectively visit with your pet(s) (dogs, cats, birds and other domesticated animals) in nursing homes, hospitals schools, treatment centers and other facilities. You do bring your pet(s) to this course – the training is for you and your pet to begin working together as a team. The training provides activities to work with your pet(s) during the course with homework assignments to practice at home. See Become a Pet Partner for animal requirements and current registration fees at www.deltasociety.org. Pet Partners Team Training Manual is included. Initial volunteer training is provided through hands-on course work. Volunteers and their pet partner are then independently evaluated for skills and aptitude by Delta-licensed Team Evaluators. Theses evaluations are usually scheduled within a couple of weeks of the completion of the Pet Partner Team Training class.
Prerequisite:
· Participants must be at least 10 years old. Children between the age of 10-16 must be accompanied by an adult during class and visits.
· Dogs must have beginning obedience and be well socialized.
· Other animals must have good manners and demonstrate good handling skills.
Team Evaluation of the Pet Partners Skills & Aptitude Screening
After the Pet Partners Team Training Course, volunteers and their animal complete the screening. Individual screening of person-animal teams is administered by Delta licensed Pet Partner Team Evaluators. Teams are evaluated on their skills and aptitude for participation in visiting animal programs. Teams who take the Team Training Course and pass the screening can register to be Pet Partners.
Delta Society Licensed Team Evaluators for Pawsitive Outreach: Karen Hathaway and Debbie Wing
Other Delta Society Courses Available at LynnDee’s Training Center:
Pet Partners Team Evaluator (8 hours)
This course is taught by Delta licensed Team Evaluator Instructor, Debbie Wing. Learn how to screen person-animal teams for appropriate behaviors and skills to become Pet Partners. Team Evaluator Practicum Student Guide included.
Prerequisite:
Minimum 2 years’ experience as a registered Pet Partner, Team Evaluator Home-study portion and exam must be completed prior to registering for the course. Be sure to bring your Team Evaluator home-study and policy & procedure manual to the course.
Pet Partners Team Evaluator Instructor
(8 hrs)
This course is taught by Delta licensed Master Team Evaluator Instructor, Debbie Wing. Learn how to teach people to screen person-animal teams for appropriate behaviors and skills to become Pet Partners. Team Evaluator Instructor Guide included.
Prerequisite:
Two years Team Evaluator experience and two years Pet Partner experience. Be sure to bring your Team Evaluator policy & procedure manual to the course. Before registering for this course you must have completed the pre-test and have approval from the Delta Society to begin.`
AAT Applications I Course (4 hours)
This course is taught by a Delta licensed AAT Applications Instructor. Healthcare professionals learn how to incorporate animals into client treatment plans to enhance care and achieve measurable goals for improved client function. AAT Applications I Student Guide included.
Prerequisite:
You must be credentialed as a health or human service professional.
Pet Partners Team Training Skills Course
(Handlers Only Class)
The Pet Partner training course is taught by experienced licensed Delta Society licensed Instructor DebbieWing, #57300-VI. This class provides the fundamental information needed to succeed as a Pet Partners team.
· To provide handlers the knowledge of the Delta Society Pet Partner Program.
· Participants will benefit from group discussions, interactions with classmates, videos and role playing.
· To provide information of various facilities and programs in our area.
Cost: $60 for six classes plus $35 for the Pet Partner Manual
Therapy Dog Skills Training Class
(Other animals are welcome to this class)
These classes are to prepare both the handler and the pet. Handlers will attend six, 1 hour class sessions. This hour will be spent in the training room with handler and pet brushing up their obedience skills, role playing and working with adaptive equipment to prepare each team for their evaluation.
· To prepare handlers and their pet for the Delta Society Pet Partner program for potential future volunteer opportunities in animal assisted activities and/or therapies.
· To help the pet partner teams identify the appropriate facility to match the team's strengths and interests.
· To provide on hands training with adaptive equipment and situational training.
· To prepare the pet partner teams for their skills and aptitude tests during the evaluation.
Cost: $60 for six classes
Combination Class
For those wishing to take the Pet Partner Team Training Class and the Therapy Dog Skills Training Class together, the classes have been scheduled to follow one another, so you can attend the 90 minutes of the Pet Partner Team Training Class, then stay for 60 minutes of the Therapy Dog Skills Training Classes. The team evaluation date will be determined in the first class.
Cost of the Combination Class: $100 plus $35 for the Pet Partner Manual
Additional Fee: There is a $50 fee for a second handler sharing a pet.
Pet Partner Team Evaluation
This is for those who have either taken the Pet Partner workshop or the Pet Partner Home Study course and now need the Team Evaluation. Each evaluation is by APPOINTMENT ONLY and takes approximately 30 minutes. In order to be evaluated the handler must bring with them the completed Handler Questionnaire (in the registration packet), the signed Indemnity Form, a brush, small treat and the animal's current Rabies certificate (tags are not acceptable).
Cost: $15.00 per handler/animal team-Payment made to Pawsitive Outreach
Please plan ahead and get scheduled early for your evaluation! For renewing teams there are no longer any extensions.
To register for the next Team Evaluation please contact Debbie Wing at dlynndees@aol.com .
Evaluation Site
LynnDee’s Dog Training Center
N. 2704 Colville Rd., Spokane, WA 99224
Pet Partner Team Training & Therapy Dog Skills Training
Weekend Workshops are available for handlers and the animals to gain a complete understanding of animal-assisted therapy through lecture, group discussions, videos and practicing the needed skills with their pet.
Next Scheduled Weekend Workshop:
LynnDee’s Dog Training Center, Spokane, WA August 2011-TBAA
PLEASE NOTE: Delta Society’s Evaluator Practicum offered May 21, 2011 & November 19, 2011
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