|
|
Coastal Therapy Dogs
Bringing Comfort, Healing and Happiness
Who we are:
Coastal Therapy Dogs (CTD)is a local Organization that provides clinics, testing, certification, and insurance coverage for members who volunteer with their dogs in the Coastal Savannah area. We are a volunteer organization of dedicated therapy dogs and handlers on a mission. We work to increase public awareness of the benefits of pet therapy by visiting special needs facilities, hospitals, colleges, libraries, nursing homes and cancer centers bringing joy and smiles to both young and old.
Our Goal
A Therapy Dog’s primary function is to brighten someone’s day whether it be for a patient, visitors or employees at nursing homes, schools or hospitals. Our goal is to put a smile on faces, make someone’s day a little brighter and sometimes bring back cherished memories.
It has been proven that through touching, petting and talking to dogs, patient’s blood pressure is lowered, stress is relieved and depression is eased.
Therapy Dog Certification: Not all dogs can be a therapy dog. Therapy dogs are not all purebred dogs; they can be rescued dogs, or mixed breed dogs, old dogs or young ones, large or small. The dog must be a least 1 year old and if it is a rescued dog then it must have been with the owner for at least 6 months prior to testing. The dog and handler must pass a two part test in order to be a certified therapy dog.
If you think your dog would be a good therapy dog then we recommend you enroll them in an obedience class to learn basic obedience and good manners.
To pass the CTD test your dog must be able to sit, stay, and down on command and they must be able to walk on a loose leash with the handler. In a heel position. The dog also must know the command “leave it” for food, bandages and pills sometimes left in the floor.
At the CTD tests the dog must wear a buckle collar or non corrective halter with a regular 4 to 6 foot leash (NO flexileads allowed). They must be groomed, clean and up to date on all their shots.
In addition the dog must not be afraid to be around wheelchairs, crutches or people using a walker.
Coastal Therapy Dog Clinics:
Several times a year the Coastal Therapy Dogs group has practice clinics where you are able to expose your dog to our experienced CTD observer volunteers to get feedback on how you and your dog preformed. Using hospital and nursing home equipment we observe the dogs in a staged environment to see what you need to work on to pass the CTD test. We give you tips on how your dog can be more at ease being around medical equipment and handicapped individuals. We expose you to various situations with difficult people, Alzheimer patients, food being left in the floor and patients who do not like dogs. WE have over 50+ years of therapy dog visitation experience in the Savannah area.
We will offer the Canine Good Citizen certification at the clinic.
For more information concerning Clinics and Testing please send an email to [email protected]
Coastal Therapy Dogs (CTD)is a local Organization that provides clinics, testing, certification, and insurance coverage for members who volunteer with their dogs in the Coastal Savannah area. We are a volunteer organization of dedicated therapy dogs and handlers on a mission. We work to increase public awareness of the benefits of pet therapy by visiting special needs facilities, hospitals, colleges, libraries, nursing homes and cancer centers bringing joy and smiles to both young and old.
Our Goal
A Therapy Dog’s primary function is to brighten someone’s day whether it be for a patient, visitors or employees at nursing homes, schools or hospitals. Our goal is to put a smile on faces, make someone’s day a little brighter and sometimes bring back cherished memories.
It has been proven that through touching, petting and talking to dogs, patient’s blood pressure is lowered, stress is relieved and depression is eased.
Therapy Dog Certification: Not all dogs can be a therapy dog. Therapy dogs are not all purebred dogs; they can be rescued dogs, or mixed breed dogs, old dogs or young ones, large or small. The dog must be a least 1 year old and if it is a rescued dog then it must have been with the owner for at least 6 months prior to testing. The dog and handler must pass a two part test in order to be a certified therapy dog.
If you think your dog would be a good therapy dog then we recommend you enroll them in an obedience class to learn basic obedience and good manners.
To pass the CTD test your dog must be able to sit, stay, and down on command and they must be able to walk on a loose leash with the handler. In a heel position. The dog also must know the command “leave it” for food, bandages and pills sometimes left in the floor.
At the CTD tests the dog must wear a buckle collar or non corrective halter with a regular 4 to 6 foot leash (NO flexileads allowed). They must be groomed, clean and up to date on all their shots.
In addition the dog must not be afraid to be around wheelchairs, crutches or people using a walker.
Coastal Therapy Dog Clinics:
Several times a year the Coastal Therapy Dogs group has practice clinics where you are able to expose your dog to our experienced CTD observer volunteers to get feedback on how you and your dog preformed. Using hospital and nursing home equipment we observe the dogs in a staged environment to see what you need to work on to pass the CTD test. We give you tips on how your dog can be more at ease being around medical equipment and handicapped individuals. We expose you to various situations with difficult people, Alzheimer patients, food being left in the floor and patients who do not like dogs. WE have over 50+ years of therapy dog visitation experience in the Savannah area.
We will offer the Canine Good Citizen certification at the clinic.
For more information concerning Clinics and Testing please send an email to [email protected]
