Building and maintaining confidence and trust is the most important preparation for a team. Strong
socialization is also very important, followed acclimatization to unusual sounds, sights and odors.

HANDLER SKILLS:
The handler must enjoy being around people, be friendly and polite, and have good visiting manners.
He or she should be able to:
* Demonstrate active listening skills.
* Communicate with different populations.
* Understand and follow current rules of confidentiality.
* Demonstrate disability etiquette, wheelchair etiquette, and proper
terminology regarding people with disabilities.
* Understand infection control issues and zoonotic concerns.
* Remain aware of the dog at all times and remain in control.
* Help the dog carry out the tasks needed for the job.
* Praise the dog’s good behavior, and redirect inappropriate behavior.
* Recognize stress in the dog, be aware of ways to relieve it promptly.

HANDLER GUIDELINES:
Handlers must have control over their dogs at all time. If another team is visiting a person,
please wait until the other team has moved away from an individual before you approach with your dog.
All rules of the facility must be followed. Handlers must check in with staff or supervision when they
visit. Ask if there are any residents you cannot visit.

Handlers should avoid wearing perfumes/colognes. Residents can be very sensitive to smell.
Be mindful that some people are afraid or allergic to dogs. Keep your dog close so that you do not
surprise such people in hallways or rooms.

Always ask the resident's permission before you visit with them or bring your dog into their room.
Before entering a room, ask the resident if a therapy dog would be welcome to visit
Keep your dog close in order to avoid walkers, wheelchairs, canes and tubes. A dog entangled in
them can do harm to the resident and your dog.

Be aware of a resident's physical condition so your dog will not be put into a position that could cause
them harm. Some residents are frail and may have brittle bones and sensitive skin. Take care that
you and your pet cause no injury.

Be aware of your surroundings and potential dangers. Residents can grab collars, pinch skin or
squeeze feet/ears, etc. causing pain or discomfort for your dog.

Do not interfere with normal activity of the facility.

When visiting resident's room, limit to one dog per room at a time.

If it is necessary to move a bed table, walker, phone, chair, etc. for your dog to be patted, always put
the items back to the original place.

A handler must handle ONE dog at a time (in other words, if you have two certified therapy dogs, you
may only bring one in at a time).

Keep your dog's nose off the floor. One never knows what might be down there.

Be prepared with proper material to quickly clean up after your dog if it unexpectedly vomits, urinates
or defecates within the facility or on the grounds of the facility.

Observe the needs of your dog!! If a dog appears hot, tired or otherwise uninterested, do both of you
a favor and revisit another time.

Respect the resident's confidentiality. Do not discuss any personal or health information you may
learn about someone you visited.

Go with the resident's needs in mind; be there to listen to them. Often, asking if they have had pets is
a good way to start a conversation. Encourage residents, their family members and visitors, as well as
the facility's staff to pat your dog. Many are dog lovers who miss their own pets and would benefit
from touching the fur of a friendly dog.

Take the opportunity to educate interested observers about the value of therapy dogs to the
emotional and physical health of residents.

Always wash hands before and after visits or use handy wipes, purell, etc. This is wise to prevent
bringing something into a facility and for the volunteer carrying something out.
Whether or not to let your dog accept treats is a personal choice. However, please be VERY aware of
how gentle your dog is when doing so. If your dog has any chance of catching a finger with his teeth
or grabbing at the food in earnest, consider taking the treat from the patient to give to the dog
yourself.

When making visits, please turn off your cell phone! It is a distraction to being able to work with your
dog safely and it is a common courtesy to the people we visit.

Dogs must never be left unattended or tethered to an object without the handler present.
All dogs must be currently listed with Canines For Comfort & Colorado Service Dogs, Inc. and
handlers must have the proper identification available.

EVALUATING A POTENTIAL THERAPY DOG
When choosing a therapy dog, the dog should be relatively calm, interact well with people of all age
groups, and not exhibit any uncontrolled jumping or running behaviors.

* Breed - due to personality traits, Retrievers, Greyhounds, Collies and Newfoundlands are some of the
more popular breeds.

* Size - when dealing with younger children, there may be fears of large dogs. As well, smaller dogs need
to be handled in a very gentle manner.

* Health - The dog being considered should be in good physical health, with updated vaccination records,
and negative fecal and heartworm exams and not be on a raw meat diet.

* Grooming - Therapy dogs should be well groomed: clipped nails, free of parasites, bathed often, and
lacking ear and eye discharge.

* Temperament - The dog needs to have a stable temperament with no signs of aggression towards
people and other animals. Dogs should be able to tolerate loud noises such as yelling, as well as sudden
movements and have on-leash obedience training.

Building and maintaining confidence and trust is the most important preparation for a team. Strong
socialization is also very important, followed by acclimatization to unusual sounds, sights and odors.

CANINE SKILLS:
The dog must be willing to initiate contact with unfamiliar people and have good social skills and
manners. We require the dog be of 1 year of age.

He or she should be able to:
* Offer documentation of good health and freedom from parasites as required by the national
registry or the facility being visited.

* Reflect cleanliness and appropriate grooming including teeth and nails.

* Function well around equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers and respiratory devices.

* Demonstrate basic obedience commands in the midst of distraction:

* Sits, lie down, stay on command.

* Walks on leash without pulling.

* Greets people politely (without jumping running or mounting) and calmly accepts petting
from strangers.

* Remains well controlled around other dogs.

DOG GUIDELINES:
A Therapy Dog must be at least one year old to do therapy work,
but can enter training as young as 6 months.

Dog must be current with all vaccinations that are required by the State of Colorado.
These vaccination records will be collected annually by CSD to be kept on file.

Dogs must have a physical exam and stool check within the last twelve months.

Female dogs must not be in season when doing Therapy Dog work.

Dogs that do not feel well (ie diarrhea, itchy ears or other signs of impending illness)
should not participate in Therapy Dog work until well again.

Dogs must not be on flexi leads and chain leashes.

Dogs must NEVER be let off leash.

Prong or pinch (choke) collars are not permitted.

Dogs must be clean, well groomed and free of fleas; toenails should be short.

Dogs must not be treated with oily flea treatment within one week of a visit.
The residue could be transferred to a resident while petting.

Colorado Service Dogs, requires a vest to be on the dog out in public.
It identifies your dog as a working Therapy Dog and not just a pet visiting a facility.

Dogs should never get on a bed, lap, etc. unless invited by the patient.

Never let your dog kiss a resident or wound.

Therapy Dog Teams must conduct themselves in a professional, orderly fashion.
Do not allow your dog to play or roughhouse with other dogs while on therapy dog visits.