Description
“Selection of Dogs for Family Life & Therapy Work with Special Attention to Animal Assisted Play Therapy” Online Course by Dr.Risë VanFleet:
This is a non-CE course, but it is very useful, nevertheless, in helping therapists find, socialize, and train dogs with whom they can work as partners in therapy.
Selecting a dog as a family companion as well as for therapy work is a complex process, and perhaps more complicated than many realize. Your decision will affect your family for years. If there are plans for the dog to be involved in therapy work, and especially psychotherapy or play therapy, then it is important that the dog is suitable for those purposes as well. Not all dogs are appropriate for all families or all types of work. Most people want a friendly, calm, stable dog who will fit in well with their lifestyle. Therapists need dogs who will be able to perform and enjoy the work that is asked of them.
This self-paced online course has been developed to provide practical and up-to-date information that will help you acquire a dog who is more likely to fit well with your family and work, helping you make a more informed choice. It is designed to help you determine the attributes that you want or need in the dog, and to help you look more fully for those characteristics in the puppies or dogs being considered. Information is provided about acquiring puppies from responsible breeders as well as how to adopt dogs from rescues or shelters. The following sections are included:
- Introduction
- Lifestyle Considerations
- Dog Breeds
- Puppy Mills, Backyard Breeders, & Reputable Breeders
- Rescue Dogs
- When Should I Acquire a Dog?
- Individual Characteristics of Dogs
- Observations & “Tests” – How to Evaluate the Dog
- Observations
- Available Assessment Tools
- Creating Your Own “Tests”
- Selection for Animal Assisted Play Therapy & Other Therapy Work
- Selection Help from Canine Professionals
- Socialization & Training Considerations
- Keeping in Touch: Well-being & Changes
- Other Resources
This course consists of a PowerPoint presentation in PDF format. It has detailed information, photographs to illustrate, and links to articles, videos, and other resources that might be useful in selecting a new puppy or dog. This course is not designed as a continuing education offering, but the other courses in this catalog do offer continuing education for mental health and some for canine professionals.
This online course is offered as a stand-alone program. Registration fee includes all course materials.
Instructor: Risë VanFleet, PhD, RPT-S, CDBC
(Licensed Psychologist, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant)
Good Dog in a Box 6 Month Family Friendly Dog Training Program:
Sizes: Our sizing is based on your dog’s chest size. Please choose the size your dog is now. You want the harness to fit properly.
- Small dog is a chest size of 11.8″ to 23.5″
- Medium dog is a chest size of 23.5″ to 31.5″
- Large dog is a chest size of 31.5″
Foundation of the Program: Everything we do is positive reinforcement training with Tellington TTouch mixed in. There’s no choke chains or electric shock collars here! We promote responsibility and ownership with children toward their family dog, teamwork, and trust.
Curriculum Highlights: Jenn Merritt, CPDT-KA, our cofounder, wrote our curriculum using over 13 years of professional dog training experience, with sister Kim’s 8 years of experience homeschooling her kids. What a great combo! It teaches dog safety and dog bite prevention through the use of fun games and reward based training. Three central themes throughout program include “Loving your good dog,” “Learning about your good dog,” and “Teaching your good dog.” “I Can” empowerment statements help children build self-confidence in knowing the proper way to interact with dogs. It’s fun for the whole family!
What You Get: Everything that comes in our Good Dog in a Box subscription, but you don’t have to wait. You’ll get six months of training materials delivered in one box. Move at your own pace through the training games, online videos, and activities.
- Activity Guide 1: Treat Pouch, Dog Smart Card Game, activity booklet, training cards, stickers, access to online training videos that compliment your training cards, online games
- Activity Guide 2: Halti Harness,activity booklet, training cards, stickers, access to online training videos that compliment your training cards, online games
- Activity Guide 3: 4′ leash, 6′ leash, activity booklet, training cards, stickers, access to online training videos that compliment your training cards, online games
- Activity Guide 4: Kong stuffing toy, activity booklet, training cards, stickers, access to online training videos that compliment your training cards, online games
- Activity Guide 5: Dog treats, activity booklet, training cards, stickers, access to online training videos that compliment your training cards, online games
- Activity Guide 6: Zoom Groom dog brush, activity booklet, training cards, stickers, access to online training videos that compliment your training cards, online games
Realistic Expectations: We like to say our program is habit forming (and fun), but let’s be real, habits and new behaviors take time to learn. Each kid and each dog will learn at their own pace. We don’t guarantee that your dog will become the best behaved dog in town overnight. But if you consistently work with your kids and dogs, positive outcomes will prevail. Our program is NOT for dogs who have consistently shown aggressive or biting behavior. For that, we recommend face time with a professional dog trainer that specializes in aggression.
Delivery Method: You’ll get one big box with all your training materials. (hey Grandma…little Jimmy and Sally would love one for Fluffy!). Corresponding video training is accessible through your online Good Dog account. Anyone in the family can access learning from any computer or mobile device.
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