Canine Good Citizen and Pet Therapy

Melissa PASSED!! She passed the Canine Good Citizenship and pet therapy dog test today.

What does this mean? She will be able to visit at local hospitals and nursing homes as a pet therapy dog just like our other dogs do on a weekly basis. She will be able to participate in school and library educational programs. Passing the test demonstrates that we work together as a team and Melissa is able to follow my cues to sit, down, stay, come, being left alone with a stranger, being around medical equipment, people walking with crutches and walkers, along with being able to be in close proximity of distracting items. The distracting items: very close to other dogs, people leaning over her with floppy hats and dangling things from their neck, and several choice pieces of treats on the floor. For a more detailed overview of what the test consists of please see the Therapy Dog International website: http://www.tdi-dog.org/HowToJoin.aspx?Page=Testing+Requirements

The American Kennel Club's CGC program is a certification program that rewards dogs for good manners at home and in the community. For more information: http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/training_testing.cfm

We will need to mail the necessary paperwork, but in a few weeks Melissa will be visiting as a pet therapy dog. For now she is cooling off in her kiddie pool........