Retirement Place Reviews

How would I get my dog registered to be a service dog to go to retirement homes and give people pleasure?

I adopted a rescue dog who has yet to meet a human stranger and makes everybody smile. I would like to see about registering him as a service dog to take him to retirement communities to enrich the day of some of the residents there. How would I go about this? I live in Texas, if that helps answer this question. Kristin, I did get confused but at least the other two answerers were mature enough not to point it out. Thanks.

Public Comments

1. You could have him tested by Therapy Dogs International and if he passes the test have him registered as a therapy dog. http://www.tdi-dog.org/ Here is some info on testing requirements http://www.tdi-dog.org/tditesting.html
2. You need to get his TDI title (Therapy Dogs International). To get this, he must pass a test including temperment testing, ability to cope with new environments, etc. Once he's passed the test and has the title, you can start calling your local retirement homes or hospitals and see if they would welcome a therapy dog visit. Therapy dog work is very rewarding for all involved; I'd highly reccomend getting into it if your dog has the stuff!
3. I think you are confusing service dogs with therapy dogs. They are two entirely different things. A service dog is a dog specially trained to assist his disabled owner, such as a guide dog who guides a blind owner, or a hearing dog who signals about sounds for his deaf owner. http://www.servicedogcentral.org The kind of dog that visits nursing homes, hospitals, schools, etc to provide companionship, aid in treatment plans, and do public education on dog safety and care is a therapy dog. Therapy dogs are tested, certified and insured by special organizations such as the Delta Society, Therapy Dogs International, or Therapy Dogs, Inc. http://deltasociety.org/ http://www.tdi-dog.org/ http://www.therapydogs.com/ Each of the above organizations have created tests of temperament and basic obedience for their members, based loosely on the AKC's CGC certificate. However, in addition to all of the skills needed to pass a CGC, they also require skills like ignoring food/toys on the floor, being hugged, being around medical equipment, being around strange looking people, and so on. It typically costs around $25 per year to register your dog with an organization once he has completed testing. This fee covers your liability insurance, which most institutions, such as nursing homes, require of visiting pet therapy teams. Remember that a therapy dog certification does not make a dog a service dog or give the owner rights to take the dog just anywhere they please. They may only enter facilities, such as a nursing home, with the permission of the facility administrators. Edit: I am sorry you are so easily embarrassed by having made a mistake. You needn't be. Many many people make that mistake, which is precisely why I did point it out. I answer a great many questions about service animals in my position as a disability advocate and whether therapy dog certification makes a dog a service dog is always in the top ten. I'm glad you do know the difference. However, others reading the question and answers may not. In fact I can guarantee some will not, based on my past experience.