We wanted to Mya to be a Therapy Dog after only having her one week. We have been trying to get her in to Puppy Kindergarten only because she needs proof she has attened. She is pretty well behaved but could use some improvement with "stay".
I was told by some agencies that she needed to be one year old in order to get insurance on her incase she hurt a patient. One family sued after an elderly woman was scratched. Meanwhile I felt I really needed to socialize Mya and so I take her almost everywhere and let others pat her and hold her.
She has visited seniors clubs. I have her little vest with the patch "IN TRAINING" on it. I also looked in to service dogs and most handicapped people keep the dog. The only area I saw that was new that fell under "Service" and that was on a visitation program was for people suffering from Depression. As for now I am training her. She is getting used to groupls of people, I take her to the doctor's, hospital, dentists ...all for my own visits. She is on a waiting list for formal training and then we will try out at the Therapy Dog Agencies. After that we will try for the Service Dog Certification and if I have enough energy left I will enroll her with a casting agency as an extra, as I used to do that work myself.

Cyn- I LOVE what you are doing! I think you just kind of know if your Yorkie would be a good therapy dog... Tino has a very loving nature and since he is a year old, I would love to get him involved in a program like you are talking about... therapy. There is a retirement home that is near us downtown and I LOVE taking him by there... al of the people sit outside absolutley go nuts when I take him over to see them! We just went by there Saturday! I've actually told them about the Yorkie Meetup group and a few of them want to come to play with our babies. Since Bunny is only 5 months, I don't really know how well she would do with any therapy training.

Could you PM more info on the program that you have Mya in?

p.s. I adore the saying in your signature! That is so original and I can definitely identify!!!!

A service dog "in training" is allowed access just as if they are fully trained as well, so as soon as your dog begins training they qualify as a service animal under the law allowing access. Someone was amazed that my yorkies were so well trained at such early ages, but, in reality, their training begins as soon as they are in my home and they have learned a lot by the time they are 6 months old. My dogs continue training for life and are always learning new behaviors. They love their "work" and it has definitely deepened our bond.

I have never been through the therapy dog training but it is a wonderful "job" as well. The healing powers of dogs is well documented. Unfortunately. therapy dogs are not afforded the same access as service dogs, but the law makes sense since the people benefitting from the therapy dogs are not the owners but "others".

The dog doesn't have to be doing something to assist it's owner at that particular time either when it is going into a place where the non service dog would not be welcome. The theory behind this is that the trained working dog takes his job very seriously and being separated from his owner is very stressful for him. There a tremendous bond which develops between a service animal and the person he assists.

This may be a dumb question, but can a dog become a service dog if a person does not have a disability? Do they require a dog be placed with a disabled person after the training? Just curious - Thanks!

That may be an option too. I was thinking that, all the articles I read talk about how intelligent toy breeds can be, and I would love to be able to train my pooch in helping others. It would take a lot of time & effort, so Therapy Dogs may be great too. My mom is disabled (blood disorder) and is really depressed sometimes, so I was thinking to bring my pup over to visit her lots....this may be the ticket for her spirits! :)

That's a really good question.... :confused:

Wonderful info...lots to consider...this is great - thank you :)

Sounds like this may help my mom (I posted above she gets really depressed). Thanks ! :animal-sm

Thanks everyone - this will take careful thought on my part....I really appreciate any thoughts as I'm not the smartest person, and could use any advice.

:thumbs up

Sure you can private msg me. Mya is not in an official program yet as she is to be one year old. I am training her myself and will get her formal training at a K9 school that has a very long waiting list. I have some Canadian Links for programs if you are interested.

I am glad to see that you are taking this very seriously..it would be a very serious matter to me as well if I were putting someone's life in my Yorkie's paws! Which is really what we are talking about here!

Of couse it is not dumb question and you could certainly train your dog to be a service dog if you don't have a disability. A dog that thoroughly trianed is a wonderful companion disability or not.

It would not grant you the accessibility, however under the Americans with Disabilities Act, since for the public access law to kick in the dog has to be with the person with the disability.

But, who cares, you still have a wonderfully obedient companion to help you with yoru daily activiites!

Everyone on here offers such great advice and experience. Just another reminder why this place is soo awesome!

Very true. I have to really study the subject more. I'm a newbie to this forum, and really find everyone's thoughts pretty interesting and eye-opening. :yorkietal

I agree. Tiny who is one of my dog that is a therapy dog has some level of training that would probably make him a good service dog. He is comfortable walking beside a wheel chair and has been taught to sit on someone's lap when the wheelchair is moving. He will pick up small stuffs when you point to it and place it in your hand. He is also taught to pick up things and place it in certain areas. However, since I don't need a service dog, he is my little helper. His job is to pick up all the toys laying around the house and put it in the toy box and when I'm studying and too lazy to pick up the pencil, etc.. that I dropped, he picks it up for me and put it in my hand. I really make him very dear to my heart.