Our next Therapy Dog class will begin Monday, January 15 in Smyrna.

Since October 2004, our successful Therapy Dog Foundation course has helped over 5 dozen teams reach their goal of learning more about being a successful Therapy Dog team, training for & passing their national examination, registering, and begin active participating in visiting with their dogs. Our lead instructor, Beth, brings over 35 years of Therapy Dogs & Animal Assisted Activities experience to share. She's a Therapy Dogs International, Incorporated (TDI, Inc) certified evaluator, a member of the TDI, Inc. since the mid-80's, and joined the Delta Society in 2003 with her Guinea Pig Pet Partners. Both Beth and Paul are very active in Visiting Pets / Animal Assisted Activities & Therapy in Delaware - and Beth and her team are also volunteers at the Gilchrist Hospice in Baltimore.

Our Therapy Dog Foundation course is keyed for the beginning dog & handler team as an introduction to the fundamentals of dog care, manners and basic obedience needed for future Visiting Pet teams. Emphasis is placed on developing the handler's training skills by way of the best use of positive reinforcement.

Regardless of the name, our Pre-Visiting or Therapy Dog-In-Training course is just the class for those dogs & handler teams who need, or wish, a "brushing up" on their basic skills and more information about becoming a Visiting Pet team. The goal of this course is a better working relationship between the team members, an introduction to the world of Visiting Pets, and successful completion of the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen evaluation - the first step towards registered pet visitation - which is held the last week of class.

Our Test Prep course works well for the dog & handler team who are ready to expand on their basic obedience skills with the goal of passing the Therapy Dog evaluation, registering with a visiting pet organization and beginning team visitation as a volunteer. In addition to working on perfecting the basics, our class will show you how to successfully prepare for the TDI, Inc. evaluation, the responisbilities of becoming a volunteer, and other need-to-know information for visiting various residents, patients and facilities. Therapy Teams will learn appropriate interaction with other teams while brushing up on their already known cues of sit & down, stay, come when called, and loose leash walking. We present & discuss pet visitation guidelines, general facility requirements, patients’ rights, community volunteerism, personal commitments, safety & protection of your therapy pet, and your responsibilities as a volunteer. The atmosphere is enjoyable and relaxed. The course includes booklets, handouts and the TDI, Inc. evaluation.

Beth will introduce you to the Philosophy, Principles and Playground of the Tellington TTouch Method during your 8-week group class. Throughout the session, you will be guided and coached. You will practice your newly learned TTouch skills on yourself, classmates, animal companions and our TTouch Pals, while being invited to share your thoughts and ask questions. By introducing you and your animal friend to touches, lifts and strokes, Beth teaches you how to induce a state of relaxation and increase body awareness to help build confidence in your pet. Tellington TTouch® Method can deepen the bond between you and your companion animal with this unique approach to training developed by internationally known animal expert, Linda Tellington-Jones. Using a variety of non-binding wraps, bands, head halters, harnesses and leads, combined with focus and attention, learn how you can use TTouch to reduce or eliminate inappropriate behaviors, assist with your pet's recovery, while enhancing the quality of your animal's life.

Beth holds TTouch Workshops and Consultations throughout DE and the Mid-Atlantic. She has conducted, co-instructed TTouch Workshops, and has taught privately in DE, PA, MD, NJ and Germany. For more information or to enroll in an upcoming Tellington classes or workshops, please email Beth for a TTouch Event package. Class size is limited due to the nature of TTouch.