For all of you are think you want you Chi to be a therapy dog. I do have to tell you a few facts about them in regards to nursing homes. I was a Activity Director in very large nursing homes until I retired in 95. Therapy dogs are wonderful and the residents just love them, but I would not let anything that small in any of the homes I worked in..... WHY??? because there is a very strong chance that it would be badly damaged. Not on purpose but so many residents no longer are in a good state mentally and would really hurt it, and unless you are there everyday to know who is who and you sat your pup in the wrong lap, well it only takes a second...........
I've seen it happen to often when family members bring their pets in to visit grandma or mom, and another sweet little lady asks to hold it and then squeezes so hard she hurts it. I also hardly ever went a full week with out a bruse on one of my arms from them grabbing me. So please think twice and then a couple more times before considering such a tiny package for nursing homes. My border collie (45 pounds) was a therapy dog and had free run of the faculity I worked in and even at her size we had to keep her out of certain areas. So do think it over. Kay --- In [email protected], [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > Hi Stevie > > Have you looked into the delta society at all? I don't know about your > state, but in mine, it's getting so a lot of places want a dog certified through > the delta society to be therapy dogs. I guess this would be so a very well > intentioned person didn't bring in a dog that may be unfriendly. I think the > only requirements to get a dog started in the delta training program and > certification is that the dog is over 1 yr and has some obedience training. I > know a couple women (not well) that have their dogs certified through this > program. There is a training program involved in the certification so maybe > that is all Bunny would need? I would like to get Sophie into this program > someday. I do NOT know a lot about this program because I think the web site is > a little complicated and my Sophie needs more socialization and the obedience > training before we can even think about it=) Here is the web site it lists > states that use this. You could call a nursing home or a hospital and see if > there is a program you would need, too. > > _Delta Society_ (http://www.deltasociety.org/AboutAboutAbout.htm) > > katie > " Lets talk about our wonderful little friends! Join today! " Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chihuahuas/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
