Is My Dog a Therapy Dog?
Handlers 12+ (youth must be accompanied by a parent/guardian); Dogs 4+ months (must provide evidence of vaccinations)
Animal Therapy Team Prep
Reading with Rover
This class will help prepare you and your dog to successfully take the Reading with Rover therapy test (additional fee). Once you have passed the test, you will become a registered therapy team. Our teams volunteer in schools, nursing homes, hospitals and hospice (hospital and hospice visits require additional training).
Reading with Rover is a therapy dog program which started out as a community-based literacy program volunteering in the schools and libraries of the Puget Sound area. They now offer the comfort of therapy dogs at local hospitals, assisting living homes, rehabilitation facilities and are very popular college stress relievers! Visit www.readingwithrover.org for more info.
Dogs must have basic obedience skills. In the class we will practice each test exercise using role play. Teams will receive coaching, as needed, to help pass the test, and to use in future visit situations. No aggressive dogs are allowed in class.
Instructors: For the past 15 years, instructor Diana Trupiano has been an active member of Reading with Rover children’s literacy charity, where she currently holds the positions of volunteer, event coordinator, team evaluator, team protocol mentor, therapy team evaluator and therapy prep instructor.
LouAnn Hepp had a 25 year+ career in the public schools as a teacher, behavior specialist, and trainer. She left her school career to follow her entrepreneur calling, starting a business to help village women and children in SE Asia. She currently co-owns a business focusing on malaria and other tropical diseases. Missing the milieu of public education, she and her therapy dog, Ruby, have been volunteering in schools since 2015.
Bring to class: Blanket, treat pouch, treats.
Prerequisite: Dog must have basic obedience skills.
Location: South Whidbey Elementary – South Campus – Room A-2 – 5476 Maxwelton Rd, Langley (turn in at the Orca sign and parkin the bus lanes at the curb).
Schedule: Thursdays| Oct 3-17 | 6:00-9:00pm
Fee: $150 per dog**
** Additional $15-$45 for materials (optional) – Treats, pouches, leashes, training collars.
Min 4/Max 10