Great news!

I'm super excited. For years I've wanted to get Zoe CGC certified and we are finally doing it!

I was at Petco the other night and mentioned it to the girl at checkout. My schedule has been the biggest obstacle. Well, she said she was the one who did the training and when I asked when the class was she said she'd do it around my schedule. Yay! So our first class is tomorrow. It's 6 weeks and someone else has to come in to do the certification test.

Zoe absolutely adores kids and I'm hoping we'll have a chance to visit some children's hospitals. Sounds kind of hokey but I feel like this is her purpose.

Wish us luck!

That's so awesome, Mel! Zoe will be a wonderful therapy dog, and getting her CGC will be an accomplishment you will be so proud of!

I take Marlee once a month to an assisted living facility for seniors. It's arranged through the shelter where I work, so she doesn't need her CGC, but had to pass our behavior specialist's test. We go mainly for my 7-year-old niece, who enjoys the seniors so much. You feel so GOOD afterward.

Keep us posted on the class!

Good for you!

That's awesome. Aggy is to old and Izzy is to bad but I have dreams of someday getting a dog CGC certified then getting into a therapy program to visit nursing homes or hospitals.

Excellent! Good luck!

LisaIzzyAggy wrote:That's awesome. Aggy is to old and Izzy is to bad but I have dreams of someday getting a dog CGC certified then getting into a therapy program to visit nursing homes or hospitals.

Haha, this is exactly what I was thinking. I would love to have a dog that has all the right characteristics to be a therapy dog.

Congratulations! I think that is wonderful. Zoe wil be great.

Sometimes I think my old guy Ty is a therapy pug. I now live in senior houseing and because Ty walks so slow I mostly take him to the elevator and down and outside in his stroller. Many, many of the residents here ask to pet him. They always comment on what soft fur he has. Ty just sits in his stroller and does not move one bit. He is such a good boy. As you might remember he sees only shadows and is deaf a stone.

That is wonderful, Mel! Can't wait to hear updates.

Outstanding! Good for you, and good for Zoe!

Congrats to both you & Zoe!! I can honestly say having Lilo complete the CGC has been one of the most rewarding experiences I've had. I so wanted to do it with my Graceland but she passed and we never got to do it. When Lilo came along I knew that was the one thing I would accomplish with her and I did.

You guys are going to have so much fun and the bonding experience is amazing!!!

My daughter does this with her 2 Rhodesian Ridgebacks and 2 Min. Schnauzers. She had to get certified. I went with her once (she doesn't live near me) and the residents were so thrilled to see them. She's also taken them to the library for some childrens' activities. I think it's wonderful and gives the dogs a purpose to life. If I were a patient at a nursing facility, I know I would be super anxious to be with the visiting dogs. If we ever go to an assisted living place, I'd be torn about taking my present dogs. One is a barker and one doesn't particularly like 'outside' people.

Go for it - I know you guys will do well!

Stubby got his CGN Canine Good Neighbour (Canadian) with a host of other dogs waiting to do the same. It was fun to go through and he got a certificate and a large ribbon from the Kennel club that hosted the event. Since then he has been used as a control dog for the test to see how the dog reacts to another walking by and stopping opposite to it. His sweet and calm attitude make him a perfect subject for other dogs to NOT react to. He dozed on my lap while waiting to be called for the next candidate needing a dead calm Pug to stop beside. Enjoy the training and have fun....totally worth it

Wanted to post an update. Half way through our training, we got a new trainer. I was kind of glad as this one seemed to know more of what she was doing. Zoe's pretty well trained, but there are a few things we've never done like loose leash walking. Yes, in the 8 yrs I've had her, she's been on a retractable leash. I'm a lazy mommy! We're still working on that a bit. That and the touching of her paws. Everything else she's got down. She doesn't even require treats! (which is good since you can't use them in the exam)

Now I just have to schedule the test. I'm kind of nervous. The trainer thought she'd pass with flying colors, but I still want to work with her for a bit.

Anyway, didn't want you to think we gave up because we didn't. It just took longer than I thought.

Can't wait to tell you when she passes!

Excellent! Please keep us posted - I may give that a try with Lucy.

Mel wrote:Wanted to post an update. Half way through our training, we got a new trainer. I was kind of glad as this one seemed to know more of what she was doing. Zoe's pretty well trained, but there are a few things we've never done like loose leash walking. Yes, in the 8 yrs I've had her, she's been on a retractable leash. I'm a lazy mommy! We're still working on that a bit. That and the touching of her paws. Everything else she's got down. She doesn't even require treats! (which is good since you can't use them in the exam)

Now I just have to schedule the test. I'm kind of nervous. The trainer thought she'd pass with flying colors, but I still want to work with her for a bit.

Anyway, didn't want you to think we gave up because we didn't. It just took longer than I thought.

Can't wait to tell you when she passes!

Excited for you! Thanks for posting an update.

Way to go! I will admit...one thing that I am not good about is training with my own dogs. I could learn a lesson or two from you & Blanche