Dear Spot:
Ok. Here is the whole sorted tale.
My male, 3 year old, Clumber Spaniel became certified by a certain therapy dog non-profit organization last year. Our volunteer work includes hospitals, nursing homes, children’s reading programs, etc. Their certification course handbook states that your dog must be able to take treats in one of two different ways; one from the flat palm of your hand and the other with the thumb and forefinger. When me and Henry went to be recertified, a yearly requirement, the trainer (who was not our original trainer) gave him the “treat test” by using the second method. Henry was never trained that way and he does not take treats in that manner without the treat giver feeling his teeth. He was trained to take treats from the flat palm. At the recertification the trainer said it is not acceptable and he must take a treat by the two finger method. Even after pointing out that the organizations own course handbook states the flat of a palm is an acceptable method and that Henry does this correctly, the trainer continues to insist on the other method.
Henry is very food motivated and I have not been able to re-train him to this method. I have appealed to the organizations Founder and proposed a solution which is as follows: I am not a trainer. If the organization is insisting on this then I feel they should train Henry to do it. I have not had a response to my proposal after speaking directly with the Founder. I have also sent an email requesting a response. Over 10 days have passed since my discussion with the Founder.
Here is my issue: I feel that we are being singled out for some reason. I know for a fact that many dogs within this group can only take treats the way Henry does. They have not tried to help us nor have they ever published revisions of this particular task to the volunteer group. I know it may seem crazy but I am very upset about this and want to find out if I have any recourse. Henry is not an aggressive dog by any means. He has not changed his manner since our first certification. Can they arbitrarily discriminate in this way as I believe they are doing? Can they require a dog do something without proper notification of a policy change?
We liked being part of this program and would like to continue. We worked hard to become part of this organization which, by the way, cost about $400 for the training certification. Shouldn’t an organization such as this (and believe me it is high profile) be more responsive to it’s constituency and not ignore a problem of this nature? For these reasons I am not willing to just drop the issue. If you think I’m nuts for pursuing this I will understand. But I kind of feel like I am fighting to vindicate Henry.
Thanks for your help.
Kathy
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Hi Kathy and Henry,,I don’t know what organization you belong to, but this sounds very offhanded especially by the trainer..I have been involved with three organizations in therapy work in the last ten years..and presently am associated with TDInc..before that it was TDI and before that it was Delta..they all have different rules about treats and even if treats can be given while visiting..but how treats are given were never even broached..
If you are not able to get an answer to this delima even from the Founder my suggestion is you change your affiliation..
Therapy dogs are so needed in this world especially in these days ..for something like this to stop what sounds like a wonderful represenative is tragic..
If I can help in any way let me know..I am without a dog partner..I lost my Magic last July..and have a new pup William that I have high hopes for and plan to register him in a year or so when he is ready..
Tricia
Dear Kathy;
What you have ran into is the problem with any kind of certification. Because there really isn’t any rules by which these so called certifiers are certicfied. Certification from one organization means one thing and from another organization means another. A lot of it is nothing more than a scam to try and get you the owner to pay for arbitrary training the certifier says your dog needs to continue certification. I’ll bet if you checked into the background on this certifier they have a very high rate of rejections leading people to fork over money. As with Service dogs go this why the ADA does not require any certicfication. Because it will only lead to corruption and greed.
John B.
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