Certification Information
Paws With a Purpose accepts therapy dog teams certified by either of the national organizations listed below.
Delta Society
www.deltasociety.org
Phil Hardin
828-253-6485
Email: phillip.hardin@ncmail.net
To pursue certification through the Delta Society you will need to complete a home study, followed by an evaluation session with your dog. The home study course can be ordered through the Delta Society web site. Evaluations are scheduled in Asheville, by appointment on the fourth Sunday of each month. The session evaluates obedience skills and temperament. Delta Society offers certification opportunities to dogs and to any domesticated pet.
Cost to become certified:
- Home study $40
- Pet Partner with one animal: $75
- Pet Partner Senior with Disability $40
- Pet Partner Additional Handler(s) $30
- Pet Partner Additional Animal(s) $20
Therapy DogS Inc.
www.therapydogs.com
Linda Nash
828-696-2773
Email: 1madlab@mchsi.com
Initial Therapy Dogs Inc. screening is generally held once a month in Hendersonville, after which you and your dog are observed on at least three visits, usually in nursing home settings.
"To become certified with Therapy Dogs Inc., all dogs must pass a test and do a minimum of three observations with a certified Tester/Observer. Formal obedience training is not required. However, in order to pass the test, dogs must be able to walk on a loose lead, be under control, no jumping, no inappropriate barking or mouthing. We are looking for dogs that are outgoing with great temperaments. Aggression towards any human is an automatic dismissal from a test. We are looking for dogs that enjoy being touched by people and that are extremely well socialized. They have to be able to approach wheelchairs and walkers without hesitation, and be approached by them as well. We certainly encourage potential handlers to work with their dogs before coming to be tested. The most important thing is that the dog be loving, warm, attuned to the handler and really enjoy being around new folks.
All dogs must be current on all vaccinations, including DHLPP, Corona Virus, Rabies and Bordatella. They must be parasite free, clean and with short, smooth toe nails".
Cost to become certified:
- One Dog, one Handler $25
- Two persons, one dog, same household $30
- Additional evaluated member in same household $5
We played games. We played King-of-the-Kennel, and Wolf-at-Bay, and Look-Out-Behind, and Nip-Nip-Nippy-Legs. Those are all splendid games…
Then we had barking parties. We'd all learned to bark weeks before, but there is nothing like practice. At barking parties you try to bark down everyone else. It's glorious!
John Taintor Foote
Dumb-Bell of Brookfield, Pocono Shot and Other Great Dog Stories (1993)
