ddog's going to be a therapy dog :)

[soddinghormones]

Feeling very proud - ddog (nearly 15 months) had his assessment to be a Pets as Therapy dog today and was absolutely perfect. It'll be a few weeks before he's officially accepted but the assessor said he was a really lovely dog and he'd be happy for him to go into any setting and that he hoped he wore his yellow jacket with pride

Are there any other PAT dogs out there?

Well done to your DDog Im hoping to get Ddog into being a PAT dog. We have had to wait as you have to have them 6 months before they assess and we rescued her in Feb. Can you tell me more about the assessment?

My sisters dog is a PAT dog, he visits a brain injured man every week who loves him and gives him lots of cuddles. I seem to remember my sister telling me the assessment included having a biscuit tin dropped behind him to see if he freaked out but can't remember anything else.

the assessment was very straightforward mummylion - if you look on youtube for Pets as Therapy Robin Cousins you'll find a short film showing what happens in the assessment

ddog had to be calm while the assessor was chatting to me, we had to show he could walk on the lead without pulling, could take a treat gently, I had to groom him, the assessor had to handle him all over, I had to grab his collar and pull him towards me suddenly and the assessor dropped a metal tray on the floor without warning to see how he reacted. The assessor was also looking at how he behaved generally - did he jump up or paw either me or the assessor, did he bark or whine or demand attention while we were talking, was he generally patient and happy etc

During the assessment a toddler rushed up to ddog and started stroking him - ddog wagged his tail and turned round and sniffed him very gently which I think helped too...

Ddog is friendly and happy and takes most things in his stride which is why I put him forward. You'll know if your dog is ready :) good luck!

I think this is just lovely, you must be very proud .

We had a PAT dog visit school recently.
Very sweet but a bit fat! Too many biscuits in the hospice!
Hope he enjoys all the love.

No but my daughter has a therapy dog at her special school and she is allowed to walk it round the school if she manages to meet her timetable. She loves that dog
Congratulations to you and your doggy :)

Congratulations! DDog is giving something really precious to his PAT people - you must be v proud to have trained him so well. Hope you both have a wonderful time.

That's fantastic, well done!

Pip wouldn't pass. He'd be clinging onto the ceiling if someone dropped a metal tray behind him and he refuses to budge if you try to manoeuvre him by holding his collar.

In his favour however, he is really gentle with people young/old, big/small, takes treats extremely gently and walks beautifully on the lead.

thank you moose :)

he wouldn't have passed if the assessor had seen him today he grabbed a tissue from my friend's hand (he has a 'thing' about tissues ..) and then started pestering an old man to throw his ball

Aw, but he's still a teenager - and everyone's allowed an off day.

Pip would be consistently flighty and obstinate, it's more that his good days are few and far between than the other way around at the moment.