Not only that, but many places will allow family members' pets to come and visit them, and you may also encounter them either outside on the premises or in the halls or patients' rooms. The main reason is so that you cannot be considered a liability in the chance that you DO encounter another dog while doing a therapy visit and your dog attacks that other dog (or that other dog attacks YOUR dog). Plus, if your dog is seen fighting with another dog, many people do not want that dog near them because they fear it will attack them as well.

Gypsy had some small issues with other dogs when we went for our therapy test. We did pass, as she did just fine during the testing, but on our first observation we were promptly dismissed because the observer that I met at the facility had brought her dog, and he was acting like a fool (just wanting to play) and Gypsy perceived him to be a threat and went after him. I was told that we could never try again. Oh well. I KNOW she'd do fine now, because we have worked through all her aggression issues with other dogs, but it's their loss.

Thanks for the insight... I can certainly understand a facility not wanting dog fights under their noses, particularly with vulnerable people looking on.

How did you work through the aggression issues with Gypsy?

Long story short, with a prong collar, clicker, lots of praise and treats, and the fence at the dog park. If you're interested, let me know and I'll go into it a little deeper.

I had a therapy dog registered with TDI...
and was a registered tester with them.

Yes, use a flat collar. Geriatric skin is thin.
And they do dig those fingers thru the fur as they
remember their own. Let your OB be good enough not
to need the training collar.
As for haltis- they are often mispercieved as muzzles, and fear creates a whole other environment not welcome. Not to mention they can increase leash aggresion, you can't tug hard, and if dog does, they can injure their neck. A clanging tray knocked onto a hallway floor could create ugly. Skip the halti experiment from one who didn't.

And it's ironic, the lady who runs TDI does her
visiting with 2 pitbulls. Pox on the morons who encourage irrational legislation!

I found the work stressful on the dog, who would
zonk hard afterwards. Beware of that, though the dog will let you know when it's had enough.

Good Luck to you both!