[ Post a Response | Ask Cheryl Carlson ]
Posted by Carole Field
on 10/19/2009, 8:07 pm, in reply to "Protection Dog & Therapy Dog"
UKC Dog Sports Judge
There are many schools of thought on this expressed by various different sources. I can only speak for my own personal experience. I have had therapy dogs certified by Therapy Dogs International dating back to 1989. (My first two dogs were awarded such designation by then TDI president Jack Butrick of Cheyenne, Wyoming before he split off to form Therapy Dogs, Incorporated in 1990.) To date, four of my German Shepherds have been members of Therapy Dogs, International. All have visited nursing homes, as well as performed numerous community service activities while in costume (marching in parades helping Santa or the Easter Bunny hand out candy to children.) 
Each of these dogs was also fully protection trained; and all have allowed elderly, hospice patients and children to “glom” all over them without incident. And of course, you have met my dog "Nicky" several times. He too is a registed Therapy Dog. Here he is taking his turn helping the Easter Bunny in the Andersonville Easter Parade. 
To understand better, know that the original group of TDI therapy dogs organized by founder Elaine Smith was comprised of 5 German Shepherds and 1 Collie. All had advanced obedience degrees, (CDX, UD, UDT, UDTX, OTCH) and current President/CEO Ursula Kempe’s UDT dog also had a Schutzhund III degree. So, you could say, protection dogs have ALWAYS been members of Therapy Dogs International!
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