The Animal Assisted Intervention and the Advanced classes have been merged because there is so much overlap.
All the skills that would normally be considered only for the Animal Assisted Interventions class should be in everyone’s toolbox as they take their dogs out into public for walks, recreation, pick up kids at the school bus, vacations, sports, etc.
Every interaction your dog has with a stranger is a moment to affect that person’s life.
If you have wanted to do the Advanced class to hone skills or prepare for the CGC – this is the class.
If you want to volunteer with your dog to do Animal Assisted Interventions – this is the class for you.
If you are already working your dog on Animal Assisted Intervention visits, this class will help you develop more broad handling and supporting skills.
If you are training your dog to do service work for you, this class will give you the tools so you can work your dog appropriately in public.
If you have questions, or are not sure if your dog is ready for this class, please email me.
The Three Dogs Training Animal Assisted Therapy, Education, and Activities class returns October 30, 2021.
In the last twenty-two years I have taught at least one AATEA class each year except for 2020. I think we all know what happened in 2020…
When we visit people with our dogs we get to experience:
Seeing someone light up with joy when your dog comes to visit them
Seeing your dog bring – voice to the voiceless, awareness to those who sometimes lose their focus in this world, or give someone a moment not thinking about their pain
Watching a child relax as they read out loud to the dog who won’t judge them.
And finding that years later that the now-college-student still cherishes the bookmark she made of her picture reading with your dog.
Boo made them all smile at Maryknoll
Many years ago I wrote this and it stands the test of time:
It is a rare thing in humans to be able to look at the face of a person whose life has so obviously been harsh or has taken a turn in that direction without visible pity and anguish. And it is a rare thing for the person being looked upon to not see the discomfort in the face of the onlooker.
However, it is the dog, the cat, and the rest of our companion animals who do not see what has been, but who look only at the possibility of and need for joy that exists in all of us. For the animals, it’s not about pity, anguish, or guilt. It is about their exceptional and majestic gift of being able to tease out the joy in all things even where there seems to be none left. And it is this that allows them to often go where no person can go to do therapeutic work.
ljedwards 2001
Boo visiting another sister at Maryknoll
If you feel it is time to share the joy of your dog with others, the Three Dogs Training AATEA class will teach you the following:
Skills you will need to navigate your visits
Skills to support and advocate for the safety of your dog
And some little tricks to make the most of the visits for everyone
Since 2000, Animal Assisted Intervention has been a huge part of my life. I have done thousands of visits with three of my own therapy dogs, taught hundreds of teams (maybe more) to go out into the world and bring joy, learning, and therapy with their dogs. I have consulted on campus therapy dog programs for two residential special needs schools. And even my best-selling book “A Dog Named Boo” was re-released this July to get us all back in the animal assisted intervention frame of mind.
This morning’s classes might be slightly delayed due to Lisa currently being stuck in traffic on her way to the church. She’ll be there as soon as possible and apologizes for the delay.
This dog training supply list includes your dog’s wearable equipment.
Many dog training tools are specific to training class but most of them will be useful in classes, at home, on walks, and more.
Your dog may disagree about what is and is not a training tool. But you will hold firm on no TP.
Collars, harnesses, and leashes.
For most of our dogs, it is good to use the same equipment for walks, hikes, or classes. Occasionally we will use a longer or shorter leash for different activities.
Collars
Flat collar – these are the basic collar everyone thinks of when they think of a collar.
Martingale collar – this collar allows the collar to close just enough to prevent the dog from squiggling out. This is my preferred collar.
I happen to be a fan of the Lupine collars linked above. They are well made (US), guaranteed (even if chewed), and they have loads of nice patterns 😊
Harnesses
Understanding the difference between a back-clip harness and a front-clip harness is critical.
If your dog’s harness has the leash clipping to a d-ring on the dog’s back, this is a back-clip harness. In most cases, this will increase pulling as it engages your dog’s oppositional reflex and they will push their chest against the front of the harness reflexively (they just can’t help it).
A Front-clip harness will have a d-ring on the dog’s chest where the leash will attach.
This is a front-clip harness. Notice the leash is attached to the harness on the front of the dog’s chest.
This will reduce the pressure against the dog’s chest and decrease or eliminate the oppositional reflex. This will stop or reduce greatly the pulling battle that often goes on during dog walks.
Here are three well made and reasonably priced front clip harnesses.
Freedom No-pull harness. This fits the best and has a secondary back clip if you want to switch between back and front clipping.
The Easy Walk Harness. This can take some tinkering to get it to fit right. But if it fits your dog, it is a good front-clip harness.
The Sensation harness. This was the first of its kind and still well made and secure.
There are many other front-clip harnesses. I find the ones that have what looks like a breast-plate in the front move side-to-side too much to be effective. The Whole Dog Journal has a nice article outlining many different front-clip harnesses.
Leashes…
There are far too many types, styles, textures, and lengths of dog leashes to list them in this training supply list.
I prefer leather or biothane leases for my own dogs. These materials sit more comfortably in my hand than cotton or nylon. For either, I like three-quarters or five-eights width. For most women, an inch width will not allow the hand to fully close around it. So, the three-quarters or half inch will allow for a more secure hold.
The length of leash will vary. For an average walk in the park, four or six feet is fine. Six will allow you the most flexibility to allow your dog to move away to eliminate. But four is easiest if your dog is playing with other dogs on leash. For hiking or playing in an unfenced area, a longer ten to twenty foot leash will allow for maximum flexibility.
Leather is the softest and sturdiest leash I have found. But it is not waterproof.
Biothane leashes are waterproof and as easy on your hands as leather (they don’t slip or burn). They come in a variety of colors, lengths, and widths.
A subset of these is the multi-leash. This is a leash that has multiple connection points to allow it to transform from a six-foot leash, to a three-foot leash, to a wrap-leash, or even a tie-out.
