Kristen, I'm curious what TDI's reasoning is for not allowing prongs.. do you know what it is?

I've had one dog TDI certified. I was told the reason for not allowing prongs was they "look bad" to the general public, and would be upsetting to the people your dog would be visiting or working with.

When *I* asked about it, the lady told me that they did not allow prongs because children's or old people's fingers might get stuck in them or otherwise hur them while they were petting and interacting with the dog. I can see how they could. She even said that she uses one on her dogs, and has nothing against them, but because of the potential risk to the people receiving the therapy 'treatment' that the dogs could not wear prongs. I don't know why they don't allow body harnesses though.

The answer you got makes more sense. In some of my witless moments I've tangled my fingers in the prong, too. But by that logic there really isn't a collar a client couldn't manage to get hurt with, including any of the restricted slips (although the white pines version might be a little "safer").

I guess I am not understanding something. Are you saying that the orginization that you are getting your certification through allows training devices once the dog is certified, or are you talking about while you are making your initial number of visits before you get evaluated? Most of the therapy dogs that I have contact with do not use anything but a flat collar after they are certified and no training devices are allowed during the evaluation. I was lucky my Siberian has a very full coat especially around his neck so you really could not see what collar I was using LOL. As far as the excitement around children actually that is a good thing <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> That can be controlled very easy. My dog is the same way he LOVES kids <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> I just put him in a sit and then allow the kids to come up to him. Once his butt hits the floor he knows not to move untill I tell him. Again good luck to you and you will find this is a very rewarding thing to do with your dog <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

One good reason they might not allow a prong is because a prong is a training collar. By the time a dog is certified and working as a therapy dog they should be trained and able to work on a regular flat collar. If a person needs a prong to control their therapy dog, then IMO the dog isn't ready to be working yet.

You might want to double check the TDI testing rules. I just got my dog certified through TDI, and in the testing they didn't allow martingales, choke collars, head halter, prongs, etc. It HAD to be a flat collar (buckle or snap). A couple people flunked the test because they train on prongs, and when they got to the test and couldn't use them, the dogs didn't respond. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hello All,

Not only can you not use a prong collar, you are required to use a four foot lead not a six foot one. Your dog has to be clean, and have it's nails at a reasonable length, and all shots are to be up to date.

Inge (C.G.C.) and are are a Certified Therapy Dog Team, we have been one for over a year, with TDI. The insurance alone is worth the membership.

We were required to do a pre-test with the evaluator, having someone use a walker, cane, wheel-chair, do a sit, stay, and a down. We also had to take our dog up to strangers. I would also suggest that your dog knows the "Leave It" command as well. You have to be careful in nursing homes as there are medications that could be dropped and could be dangerous to your dog. That is why I would get a C.G.C. on the dog first, then go for the Therapy Dog Certification. We then had to visit two nursing homes, and one child activity. They all had to be done on different days. We chose a Cub Scout meeting for the child activity.

I teach basic obedience, and I incorporate training with a wheel chair, cane, and walker, I also have children in the neighborhood that enjoy coming down and helping socialize the dogs.

One of the most enjoyable parts of belonging to TDI for me is that I go into schools, day care centers, libraries, and churches and teach dog safety. AKC provides all of my materials that I need. Including a video, work books, coloring books and book marks. I feel that if I can teach DOG Safety and it saves one child from getting bit then I have done my job.

Hope this has been of some help.

Blessings To All,
Joyce

I guess I am not understanding something. Are you saying that the orginization that you are getting your certification through allows training devices once the dog is certified, or are you talking about while you are making your initial number of visits before you get evaluated? The organization I am getting certified through is Therapy Dogs, Inc. (http://www.therapydogs.com).

They ONLY allow slip or buckle collars (chain, nylon, or leather) including martingales, and head halters. They require either a 4 foot leash or a traffic lead (they're about 2 feet long).
The things they do not allow, both for testing OR for your visits, are prong collars, electric collars, good dog collars (they're a plastic version of the prong, pretty much), spike collars (obviously), chain leashes, and retractable leashes. It actually doesn't say anything about harnesses in their guidelines, but I was told they aren't allowed either.

Of course, what you use at home or while you are not on a visit is up to you, but when the dog is 'working', the rules are different.

Dear Kristin,

My Inge by the way is a four year old GSD, and she is just wonderful, and she enjoys her job as a therapy dog,

No by all means no, you can not take the test with any of the equipment that you mentioned, the prong, choke, and yes you must use a 4 foot lead or a traffic lead, I have both, but most of the time I use the four ft. lead. You are never allowed to use that equipment when ever you go as representive of the TDI.

Hope I cleared that up for you.

Blessings To You And Your Fur Kid,
Joyce

Some dogs just don't like other dogs. They may be aggressive, raise hackles, bark, gowl, whatever. Forget the underlying causes and what you can do to correct it. The question I have about therapy dog evaluations is this: why the need to be "polite" with other dogs? Is it simply because you may encounter other therapy dogs in the facility you're working in?

I'm assuming so, but would like some insight as I am going to go through an evaluation with my 2 year old GSD very soon. He isn't the most "polite" around other dogs. I am correcting this, but am curious.

Thanks!