Delta Society is not a dog training organization. People think when you register for a Pet Partners Workshop you will be training your dogs and are always surprised to learn that you attend without your animal.
It is the Handler Delta teaches in the Workshop. The Workshop teaches how to become a safe, expert human at the end of the leash capable of inspiring confidence in their dog and own skills.
So it’s a good idea to take all your solid training beforehand with your dog so you are ready as a team.
The best way to prepare to take the Delta Pet Partners Workshop is to begin with positive training methods to get your dogs’ obedience down pat. Make sure your dog really wants to do this and enjoys being with new people, new places, small spaces, around all other animals and all types of situations.
Meeting with the Delta Instructor / Evaluator is a good idea to assess if you are suitable for their program and your dog has what it takes. Then you can begin classes to get in shape for the Workshop!
The best classes to take are those held indoors, on leash and that concentrate on positive reinforcement, without using food as the reward.
The dog should work for attention, love, pride and joy.
Having the American Kennel Club Good Citizenship Certificate (CGC) is not a requirement for Delta Pet Partners. While it is often a good indicator that the dog has some basic obedience training, it really depends on whom, how and where the test was administered. So it is nice to have under your belt but not a pre-requisite.
Often it takes a Beginner and Intermediate class and then a properly taught Therapy Prep Class to be ready for the Delta Workshop and Evaluation. The time spent not only reinforces your dog’s behavior, but your relationship and understanding of your dog’s signals and stressors.
Don’t rush. Be sure this is a team activity that both ends of the leash want to excel at. Don’t push your dog because you want to do this. Don’t stress your dog by teaching too quickly.
It is really very evident which dogs are born to be therapy dogs and which are being squired around by well-meaning owners and being stressed into an activity they are not suited for, or at the very least, ready for.
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