SJA Therapy Dogs

Just a quick question, anyone foresee any issues with a gun dog partaking in the therapy dog program with St. Johns Ambulance?

The reason I ask, I am in the hospitals all the time and regularly see them there, as well as with DU and doing the shows, the dogs are usually there to, and I have wondered about it.

Today we were at the Great Canadian Kayak challenge, and were approached by a few of the therapy dogs and their handlers, and the head of the program here said she had been watching Maddy and I for quite awhile that morning, and she thought Maddy would make an excellent therapy dog.

She said she'd pass us right now if we wanted to do the test.

I said thank you and took a pamphlet, I don't know if I myself, would have time to do it, althought I'd like to, however my wife is very interested in doing it with Maddy.

I'm just not sure if there could be any ramifications for the duck dog (that may be an abusrd questions) but it's one I have.

Family member first.
Duck dog second.
Everything else third :)

I'm hoping maybe Kraka, 3 Black Dogs, Sharon, Burly, could chime in, and any others with experience in this.

Thanks for advance.

I can't imagine a problem. They are looking for a people friendly dog, that can withhold extreme exuberance, that is not going to be spooked by unusual behaviours or sounds. With a handler to match.
They will test the dog and handler together. Both must be certified.

My Rhodesian Ridgeback hunts birds and bunnies, tracks deer, herds sheep and races and lure courses with sight hounds. She also does therapy visits with very unpredictable children with autism spectrum disorder. Certified and/or titled in all. None of them has had a negative impact on any of the others that we can observe.
Most important is that she enjoys all of her activities.

I can't see there being any problems either. I have heard that dogs that do Schutzhund (protection/bite training)
training are not accepted as therapy dogs however, but don't quote me on that.

It sounds like a great opportunity for Maddy and your wife, TR.

We participated in the SJA program with two of our dogs who we hunted and ran hunt tests with. There were never any issues when they returned to the field after taking part in the program. If Maddy passes the test, she will have a great time .... The issue will be to control the amount of dog biscuits she gets as treats! The only reason we left the program was a move that put us too far away from a visiting facility .... The patients LOVE the weekly dog visits so you really have to be ready to commit the time for the visiting.

I think it's a great idea. Can't see it hurting the dog's desire for ducks in any way.

I found out when my JRT was 6 months old that he would not pass the test. LOL

I was outside at the nursing home visiting an old friend who loves dogs. Cole was fine with him.

A 90 year old came up and got in Cole's face and he barked nastily at her. I was shocked!!

Fortunately she wandered off laughing so I was relieved.

No Cole won't be going to the nursing home any more. :)

All of our dogs in the past were therapy dogs . They passed the test and in our area the hospital did not allow the dogs in but we visited Nursing homes for many years . We also visited the Mental Hospital in Penetanguishene. The dogs really liked the nursing homes and had favourite people . As we had visited the same place for 6 or 7 years it became hard for me . The dogs didn't notice but each time we went I dreaded to hear that another friend had passed away. The older people love the dogs to visit and tell us stories about their dogs when they were young.
When we had litters of puppies we had a wagon and took all the puppies. Sometimes it was hard to get the residents to give back the puppy they were holding . Besides St john's there is a group called Theraputic Paws . Their test is almost the same as St John's and they have Insurance coverage for all the dogs that visit . You will be rewarded everytime you visit the hospital, nursing home , Women's shelter or Handicap Center. Theraputic Paws also has dogs go into public schools and younger children who have reading difficulties and are afraid to read aloud are given time one on one to read to the dog . They are very brave as the dog lays beside them . It brings a smile when they show the dog the pictures that go with the story.
If you have time get involved.

Thanks for the feedback everyone, with the information provided, and after discussing it with my wife, we contacted SJA and will be going ahead with things.

My wife has a soft spot for children with special needs, as that is her background (and probably why she married me ;) ) so when she heard they bring the dogs to the centres she was sold. She doesn't thinks he could do the nursing homes etc, for reasons as to which you described Wood Witch, and that's where I'll step in and do that tour.

Looking forward to it.

ROFLMBO Your sense of humor kills me.

There are quite a few Small Munsterlanders that are certified therapy dogs in the US.
I am not sure what kind of problems are you asking about...

The therapy dog programmes are great just make sure that the one you becomes involved with is well insured. I know that the dogs involved are very stable but in this day and age you can never have too much insurance. Things do happen.