My therapy dog MUST wear a COLLAR?!

[yorkiemini]

Here is a vets article. Can be transmitted to humans, however, states dogs usually have diarrhea when infected. There could be degrees of infection of course.

Salmonellosis (Canine) | Petside

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by yorkiemini

Interesting. Then why do they bother with all of those recalls on salmonella contaminated food I wonder.

Humans doing the feeding can get sick.

[Stormyw2000]

I think TDI makes it up as they go along. We showed up for our appointment and they wouldn't test my dog because he's a service dog. I told them he was a service dog before I sent the fee. They left that "rule" out until after my check cleared. I drove an hour and 45 minutes each way and they wouldn't even test us.

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by Stormyw2000

I think TDI makes it up as they go along. We showed up for our appointment and they wouldn't test my dog because he's a service dog. I told them he was a service dog before I sent the fee. They left that "rule" out until after my check cleared. I drove an hour and 45 minutes each way and they wouldn't even test us.

Ugh, I would be upset. That's been my experience. The local testers and national rule-makers don't always speak the same language.

Pet Partners (formerly Delta Society) accepts service dogs.

[yorkiemini]

Originally Posted by Stormyw2000

I think TDI makes it up as they go along. We showed up for our appointment and they wouldn't test my dog because he's a service dog. I told them he was a service dog before I sent the fee. They left that "rule" out until after my check cleared. I drove an hour and 45 minutes each way and they wouldn't even test us.

Well, that stinks for sure! Did they give you a reason why they don't?

I agree with Alaska, Delta won't have a problem with it.

[Stormyw2000]

They said a dog can't possibly do both at the same time. Benji does medical alert. He can be on the other side of the dog park playing with his pals and still fly to my side to alert me. I know he can handle multitasking. She pulled out a handbook to prove this was the rule but couldn't manage to find it.

The only reason I signed him up was that he goes to the hospital with me for my appointments and several of the nurses suggested he be certified as a therapy dog so other patients can visit with him. Everyone loves him and he's perfectly behaved. I told this to TDI when I set up the appointment so don't cha think they could have told me then, before I sent the check?

[yorkiemini]

Interesting. It is true that a well trained service dog will always put his duty to the handler first. That being said, my service dog does very well as a therapy dog. She will not leave my sight and sticks like Velcro but loves visiting the patients in the hospital and in the office. Have never had a problem. However, if something came up she would immediately cue me and stick with me. She would not jeopardize the patient we are visiting, but would disengage with them and focus on me. She has been trained to do both jobs, so I don't see the problem. The fact that they would not test you baffles me - that would demonstrate if she can do both tasks I would think. Clearly, I would work with another agency!
If it is a not for profit agency and will not refund your money I would for sure file it on my taxes as a donation.

[Stormyw2000]

Cali -
Benji is the same way. He'd disengage and stick to me until the issue is over.
I plan on calling it a donation. I'll try Pet Partners and I spoke to a local group in Boston that he can work with as well.

[yorkiemini]

BTW, Cali does agility and does not wear a collar. For the other obedience classes they do have to wear a collar. Someone did tell me that for rally they can wear a martingale but I'd check in that.

[Ellie May]

For the collar rule (dumb that it is a rule, but a non pulling, healthy Yorkie would do fine with one), use a harness and a collar. Connect leashes to both. Put a shorter leash on the harness so any pulling will be on the chest.

[Foster2Owner]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

Congrats to you & your baby for becoming a therapy dog! I would wear both, have the lead on her harness & if someone says something, switch it quick to the collar & give them a big smile & walk away carrying her. Maybe you can get your vet to write a letter to only allow harness for her...

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

For the collar rule (dumb that it is a rule, but a non pulling, healthy Yorkie would do fine with one), use a harness and a collar. Connect leashes to both. Put a shorter leash on the harness so any pulling will be on the chest.

Yeah, this. I wouldn't worry at all about using one on a Yorkie that is well trained enough to be a therapy dog. And it's only for short visits -- it's not like you have to use a collar 100% of the time in their life. They shouldn't be pulling on the leash anyway in that type of environment I would assume.

I use a slip lead or slip collar for Jackson often times for things like agility class, and future Barn Hunt events I will (it was a pain to take harness off/on while people are waiting for you to exit), and also for quick potty breaks outside in our yard on the flexi.

[chattiesmom]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

For the collar rule (dumb that it is a rule, but a non pulling, healthy Yorkie would do fine with one), use a harness and a collar. Connect leashes to both. Put a shorter leash on the harness so any pulling will be on the chest.

I agree 100%. What I don't understand is that a well trained dog has been trained to NOT pull on a leash - period. People who show dogs in AKC conformation use show leads which are essentially modified slip collars. I have seen exhibitors - both amateur and professional string up a yorkie with only it's toes touching the ground and WIN! I don't agree with this practice, in fact it makes me so angry I want to scream!

[chattiesmom]

And a huge congratulations to you on your hard work and desire to help others by become a therapy team!

[DBlain]

can I ask what you plan to do with your dogs once they have the therapy certification.

I take Lola to a nearby nursing home on a regular basis and no one every mentioned she needed to have any type of certification. Besides the command of sit and stay and come, what do they specifically teach that is related to providing therapy and besides comfort and cheer what type of therapy can a little dog give.