I volunteered to help our local Pet Partners group give therapy dog tests this week. It was very interesting to participate and will help when Elliot and I do our retest next year. We passed 12 therapy dog teams and half got their complex ratings. It was great to see so many new handlers and their dogs become pet partners teams.

I enjoyed watching two Bernese Mountain Dogs. They personalities were a lot like our goldens. I recommend anyone interested in taking the therapy dog test volunteer to help with a group giving the test. It will be a great preparation for taking the test.

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Jim

Elliot (CGC, Delta Pet Partner) and Roxy (CGC)


Dolly
June 20, 1999 - June 5, 2009
We miss you sweetheart

This kind of information is helpful for those that may be interested in getting into therapy work.

I think the people that volunteered at our test site were already certified. But looking at your signature you and Elliot are also. When you mention retest next year, you're talking about the biennial re-certification? Do you know if programs other than Delta have the requirement to retest every 2 years? What distinguishes those receiving the complex rating?

People might be interested to know how many teams were tested but didn't pass and generally what problems they had.

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Zoe, Rockwall Nantucket Breeze, BN, CGC, Delta therapy dog
Zeke, our introduction to the world of Golden Retrievers

I believe Delta is the only organization that requires retesting every two years. In fact, I am torn myself...Tess and I are a Delta team, but in the hospital where I volunteer there is a TDI coordinator. When we applied for the hospital, we still had to take part of the TDI test in the hospital. And to tell you the truth, I found that more challenging than the Delta test, because that was on the premises, with people in bed and hooked on machines, all kind of things we had not encountered before. So I think I am going to join TDI and take the full test there again.

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Was the in hospital test just a requirement of that hospital? I thought many people were TDI tested by a trainer or someone else who was authorized by TDI at a site that was not a facility (hospital, nursing home etc.).

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Zoe, Rockwall Nantucket Breeze, BN, CGC, Delta therapy dog
Zeke, our introduction to the world of Golden Retrievers

I don't know. At all three hospitals where we volunteer they required an extra test, usually supervised by the coordinator. This was not really a test for the TDI certificate, but I do believe TDI requires three different settings where you have to be tested, like visiting on three different days in different parts of the hospital. But that may be just this one hospital. We will find out when we retest.

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Although our evaluation team were all Pet Partners members, I don't think it was a requirement. My role was a member of the "crowd" using a walker or crutches during the "walk through a crowd", "staggering gestures", "angry yelling", and "crowded and petted by several people" exercises. Pet Partners teams are required to be retested every two years.

The complex rating is required to visit facilities with low staff involvement, high activity, many distractions, and unanticipated interactions. An example would be visits to grade schools. The predictable or complex rating is based on the scores received during the evaluation test. Each exercise is rated NR (not ready), 1, or 2 by the evaluator. The team must receive a score of 2 on nine specific exercises out twenty to receive the complex rating.

I glanced at the summary sheet for the Pet Partners exam and one team rated "not ready", one took the test for practice and would have passed, four retested and passed, and four new teams passed. I was impressed at the competence demonstrated by the new teams.

The Pet Partners test is designed to simulate an institution environment with people using crutches, wheelchairs, and walkers with noises and distractions. Before we were approved for hospital visits, the Pet Partners hospital coordinator evaluated Elliot and I during our first visit at the hospital.

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Jim

Elliot (CGC, Delta Pet Partner) and Roxy (CGC)


Dolly
June 20, 1999 - June 5, 2009
We miss you sweetheart

'The Pet Partners test is designed to simulate an institution environment with people using crutches, wheelchairs, and walkers with noises and distractions. Before we were approved for hospital visits, the Pet Partners hospital coordinator evaluated Elliot and I during our first visit at the hospital.'

Interesting...maybe it is different from place to place. I have never heard of a pet partners hospital coordinator.

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Our local organization "Compassionate Canines of Central Oregon" is an affiliate of Pet Partners. They have visit coordinators for hospitals, schools, assisted living, and hospice facilities.

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Jim

Elliot (CGC, Delta Pet Partner) and Roxy (CGC)


Dolly
June 20, 1999 - June 5, 2009
We miss you sweetheart

That is very cool, that gives you a lot of possibilities. I looked on the pet partners website for my area to find a facility that was looking for a therapy dog. No schools, unfortunately, I would have loved that.

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