For years, I have described the PEAK Dogs and Therapeutic Education Dogs, since I carry my own personal liability insurance, which is the main benefit for getting the therapy dog certification. But I know that schools, and other facilities are used to only allowing "Certified Therapy Dogs" into their buildings, so I decided to ahead and get her tested. But I had some philosophical issues with the way some of the common testing organizations worked. No food allowed in-between exercises, very artificial set ups and the idea that no food would be allowed in actual visits...as a positive trainer, this was very against my way of working, so I looked of a testing organization whose testing techniques aligned with my way of training and working with my dogs.
So I was excited when I found an organization called
Alliance of Therapy Dogs . I was able to meet with the tester individually, and we testing in real life situations, in a pet shop, in a school, in a medical/nursing home facility...you know...where therapy dogs will ACTUALLY be working!!! Plus something that I didn't need, but thought was a great benefit, was the ability to use a "head halter" during the test and in visits... So I will be looking to ways to offer training/testing using ATD.
Now...I can simply say...YES, VIXEN IS A THERAPY DOG!!
