🐕🦺 Dog Requirements: Must be at least 18 months (1.5 years) old and no more than 7 years old (+/- 5 months). Must understand and follow commands well, be able to communicate, and eager to learn. Should be social, not afraid of people, and comfortable in public spaces. Friendly towards humans and other animals. Healthy, free from skin diseases and contagious illnesses transmissible to humans and animals. Must have completed vaccinations and parasite prevention treatments according to veterinary standards.

🙋♂️ Requirements for “Dog Owners” or “Training Participants”: Must be between 18 and 70 years old (+/- 5 months). Must be the dog’s owner living in the same household (at least 1 year of cohabitation). Owners or assigned participants must be healthy and free from contagious diseases. Must have enough time to complete the training program as specified.

The program consists of both theoretical and practical components: 1. Theoretical Training (Online): Duration: 18 hours (includes live sessions and pre-recorded videos). Flexible scheduling: Choose times convenient for you. Payment can be made incrementally based on hours attended. 2. Practical Training (On-Floor Practice): Duration: 16 hours. Hands-on training in real locations, such as Sawangkanivesh, Thailand’s first senior living condominium, special education centers, schools for children with special needs, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers. Participants will also learn how to design therapy sessions to apply techniques effectively.

FAQ - Therapy Dog Thailand

What will you learn?

Our Curriculum

“We follow the intensive and rigorous guidelines of the Therapy Dog Association Switzerland (VTHS).
The curriculum has been adapted to align with the Thai social context in collaboration with experts who work with various groups of people. This has resulted in the creation of the ‘Certified Therapy Dog Thailand Course’.”

For Dogs:

Dogs will be trained to get accustomed to various objects and equipment,
such as wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches. They will also get used to loud door-slamming sounds, sudden shouts from patients, unusual human behaviors, and more. Additionally, they will be trained to tolerate being hugged or petted all over their bodies, sometimes clumsily or not as gently as usual.

For Dog Owners:

During training, owners will learn about and understand different types of therapy recipients,
with a focus on communication with patients during therapy sessions, positioning the dog, and observing the dog’s behavior throughout the sessions.

Detailed operational procedures are introduced, covering before, during, and after therapy with various types of individuals, such as the elderly, children, patients with dementia, individuals with autism or ADHD, the blind, and the deaf. Owners will also become familiar with equipment related to these groups, such as wheelchairs, beds, and guide dogs.

Who Are the Trainers?

Since the Therapy Dog Thailand course emphasizes training both the dogs and their owners together,
the program prepares them to work in various locations, such as elderly care homes, children’s hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, or facilities for individuals with disabilities.

Both the dog and owner receive training and information from experts,
including specialists in dog training, veterinarians, psychiatrists, dementia specialists, caregivers for the deaf and blind, and experts in caring for children with special needs.

Application details

Dog Qualifications

🐕‍🦺 Dog Requirements:

Must be at least 18 months (1.5 years) old and no more than 7 years old (+/- 5 months).
Must understand and follow commands well, be able to communicate, and eager to learn.
Should be social, not afraid of people, and comfortable in public spaces.
Friendly towards humans and other animals.
Healthy, free from skin diseases and contagious illnesses transmissible to humans and animals.
Must have completed vaccinations and parasite prevention treatments according to veterinary standards.

Dog Owners

🙋‍♂️ Requirements for “Dog Owners” or “Training Participants”:

Must be between 18 and 70 years old (+/- 5 months).
Must be the dog’s owner living in the same household (at least 1 year of cohabitation).
Owners or assigned participants must be healthy and free from contagious diseases.
Must have enough time to complete the training program as specified.

Can dogs without prior training join the course?

No need to worry! Once the application is submitted, we will schedule a phone consultation at your convenience to assess the situation and guide you on how to prepare your dog for the preliminary ability test.

What dog breeds can join the training?

Therapy dog training does not restrict specific breeds, but the following criteria must be met:

Dogs must be at least 18 months old and no older than 7 years.
Must understand commands well, be friendly, sociable, and healthy.
Dogs must undergo a health check by a veterinarian to meet therapy dog standards and pass an ability test conducted by experts before starting training.

What if my dog is underage?

In the meantime, you can start preparing your dog through basic training at home or by enrolling in a dog training course. You can even use resources like YouTube for guidance.

Key Skills to Train:

Basic commands: Sit, Stay, Down, Walk on a leash – practice these both indoors and outdoors.
Outdoor command training is particularly important to help your dog focus amidst distractions like noise and movement. Therapy dogs often work outdoors, so this is critical! 😄
Allow strangers to pet and handle your dog and expose your dog to other dogs frequently.

Course details

Training Overview

The program consists of both theoretical and practical components:

1. Theoretical Training (Online):

Duration: 18 hours (includes live sessions and pre-recorded videos).
Flexible scheduling: Choose times convenient for you.
Payment can be made incrementally based on hours attended.

2. Practical Training (On-Floor Practice):

Duration: 16 hours.
Hands-on training in real locations, such as Sawangkanivesh, Thailand’s first senior living condominium, special education centers, schools for children with special needs, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers.
Participants will also learn how to design therapy sessions to apply techniques effectively.

Practical Training Details

Schedule: Weekly sessions, 2 hours per session.
Flexible group selection based on your availability.
Locations:
Training locations vary based on the session topic, ensuring familiarity for both the trainer and the dog.

Example Locations:

Elderly: Sawangkanivesh Senior Living Condominium, Bang Pu, Samut Prakan.
Deaf individuals: Setsatian School for the Deaf.
Blind individuals: Bangkok School for the Blind, Phaya Thai.
Special needs children: Central Special Education Center.
Depression patients: Srithanya Hospital, Nonthaburi.

Note: Locations may change as necessary, but participants will always be informed in advance.

What Happens After Graduation?

Upon completing the program and receiving certification as a “Certified Therapy Dog Team of Thailand”, you will:

Hold a certificate valid for 1 year.
Become a member of the Therapy Dog Association (TDA) with the first year’s membership fee waived.

This certification allows you and your dog to participate in therapy sessions at various partner facilities and join activities organized by TDA and Allfine to build connections with like-minded individuals.

Our Goal:
“To establish the Thai Therapy Dog Team as a recognized therapeutic tool, breaking down emotional barriers for those in need.”

If You Fail the Final Exam

In case the dog and owner fail the final exam after completing the course, you may retake the course in the next batch at a 30% discount off the standard rate.

Other information

Will I truly be able to help others after graduation?

Yes, the program focuses primarily on training the owner since the dog already has natural abilities.

The course teaches owners how to effectively use their dog as a therapeutic tool for different groups. Owners will also complete real therapy cases as part of the program before engaging professionally with the TDA team.

Can I take my dog to provide therapy elsewhere?

Yes, you can offer therapy services in private settings, such as for family or friends. However, these hours will not count as official service hours within the TDT system, and TDT will not be responsible for any activities conducted outside its purview. Owners must take full responsibility for such activities.

Can someone else attend the training on my behalf?

Unfortunately, this is not allowed.

The course requires the registered owner and dog to attend together. Training focuses on teaching the owner how to command and observe their dog’s behavior during tasks. Consistency is critical to achieving effective results, so the same owner must participate throughout the course.

FAQ

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