My most vivid memory of the Delta Society Pet Partner^® testing session with my golden retriever mix, Gracie, was asking her to obey the simple command, “Come”.  This particular portion of the test required that she ignore the attention she was receiving from the evaluator (a belly rub, in this case) and actually listen to my command.  I knew I was in trouble when I said the word and Gracie, all four paws in the air, lolled her head toward with me with a look in her eyes that said, “Yeah right, and leave this??”  Much to my surprise, after a few missed beats, Gracie made a slow-motion rise to her feet and reluctant saunter my way.  The remainder of the evaluation, which included dealing with loud noises and visual distractions, basic obedience, and handling, was a breeze.  Gracie particularly loved the test during which a group of 6 people were petting her vigorously at the same time – heaven!

In the end, we passed the entire evaluation, and were approved as a registered Pet Partner^® team.   I was a proud mom and, although it might be my imagination, I think Gracie looks pretty darn proud of herself in our post-evaluation picture.  With our new title, we visited nursing homes and library reading programs.  Gracie loved the attention and chance to meet new people.  I enjoyed the special time I was spending with her and also liked the satisfaction that comes with volunteerism.  Above all, these short visits clearly made an impact on those we visited, giving them a chance to tell stories about their beloved pets, families, or anything else on their mind.  Some said nothing, but would just reach out to pet Gracie’s soft coat or receive a friendly kiss from her.

Many types of domesticated animals can be registered as part of a Delta Society Pet Partner^® team, including dogs, cats, llamas, birds, guinea pigs, and more.  Visit www.deltasociety.org for more information.  Another option for getting started – the American Kennel Club (AKC) certifies dogs as a Canine Good Citizen^® after testing to ensure that your handling skills are up to snuff and that your dog displays good manners and passes basic obedience tests.  Information for this program can be found at www.akc.org/events/cgc/.  If you have a sweet pet that is controllable, predictable, and reliable, and you have a desire to work as a team with that animal, consider volunteering with your furry or feathered friend as a service/therapy animal.

Already registered as a Pet Partner^® team or Canine Good Citizen^® and interested in taking the next step?  Call Bark Tutor at 317.259.8336 to inquire about their 8-week training program for therapy dogs.

We are very pleased with the progress we’ve seen since opening Bark Tutor School for Dogs. Students benefit from individualized training, group classes and socialization, while their families learn how to get the responses they want from their dogs. Clients have been so pleased with the relationships they’ve been able to develop with their dogs that they are asking for more!

Later this month, we will be expanding our classes to include three new group classes that focus on enhancing you and your family’s relationship with your dog. The first class is Bark Tutor Kids Club. This class is designed specifically for kids between the ages of 5 and 12. The class will be similar to our obedience classes, but will allow things to be slowed down for younger family members. The class will also cover topics that relate to building bonds between kids and dogs, and preventing problems: handling exercise, how to play properly, bite prevention and more. All students must be accompanied by an adult. The Bark Tutor Kids Club will be meeting Wednesdays at 6:30pm.

Therapy Dog Preparation is a class that more and more people are interested in pursuing, especially after they’ve experienced success with their dog’s training. This class is designed to prepare the dog and his handler for work as a therapy dog. There are many types of therapy work a dog can do, and many people are interested in enhancing the lives of others who can’t have a pet in their lives due to assisted living, hospitalization, etc. Bark Tutor’s Therapy Dog Preparation class does not certify nor does it guarantee that a dog will be certified, as each therapy facility has their own set of requirements. At the end of 8 weeks, we will facilitate evaluations with a Delta Society Evaluator for our students. All dogs enrolling in Therapy Dog Prep must have a Canine Good Citizen, which Bark Tutor also offers. This class will be meeting on Thursday evenings at 7:45pm with a 6-dog limited enrollment.

Rally O is an exciting new dog sport. We feel it’s the ideal sport for dogs and their families who have enjoyed the training process and want to continue working with their dog in a fun, learning environment. Follow this link to view video examples of Rally O at http://tinyurl.com/p7u7at. The beginner Rally class will be on Sundays at 2:00pm, with a strict 6-dog maximum enrollment. All dogs enrolling in Rally O must have completed level 3 skills at Bark Tutor and have a Canine Good Citizen.

For more information about the programs available at Bark Tutor School for Dogs, visit our website at www.barktutor.com or call the school directly at 317.259.8336.