Professional Therapy Dog Team training and Accreditation

6-month course, 7 units

Includes:
2-day face-to-face certification in Tamworth or Castle Hill

Online Course : $1300.00 + GST 

Assessment and Certification - $699.00 + GST
Total Cost: $1999.00 + GST 

This is a blended 7 Unit online and face-to-face Professional Therapy Dog Team course and is specifically designed for school teachers, Social Workers, Psychologists, Counsellors, Doctors, Nurses and other professionals who would like to train and work with their own dog and certify as a  Canine Assisted Therapy team.  Appropriate for dogs from 4  months of age, teams can certify when your dog is 12 months old. 

*** Click the Apply Now button and complete the enrolment form at the bottom, and email it to Karen at: info@therapydogsnsw.com.au & pay for your course and we will set you up in Moodle and you can start training ****

Karen is an accredited mental health social worker, NDTF certified dog trainer and certified Trainer and Assessor.  Karen has designed this course using her knowledge of dog training and experience as a Canine Assisted Accredited Mental Health Social Worker working in private practice specialising in supporting veterans and sexual assault and other trauma survivors, as well as research and studies.  Karen has also worked with her dogs in a hospital setting during her work at Tamworth Rural Referral Hospital where she introduced a therapy dog program across the hospital, supporting staff and patients. Karen had also provided outreach therapy services to local schools in Tamworth NSW.  

Our courses are Mapped to Animal Therapies Limited's “Australian Code of Conduct for the Animal-Assisted Services Sector”.

In this course, you will learn the following:

1. Behaviour shaping including behaviour shaping,  creating a bond with your dog this is key to successful therapy dog team, consent in therapy dog work, understanding dog body language, understanding and responding to stress in your dog and yourself.

2. How to safely and successfully integrate your dog into your practice 

3. Clinical role plays to enhance your learning and much more. 

Course fee: Intinal payment of $1300.00 + GST  up front for the online learning portal access and training materials. Upon completion of the online learning you will pay the remaining $699.00 + GST for assessment and certification that is valid for a 1 year, recertification is available. 

Assessment, Graduation and Re-Assessment 

Human-canine teams will be assessed throughout the course, and those who are successful in completing the course will receive a certificate in Canine Assisted Therapy Services, valid for one year. Teams must be re-assessed yearly as part of an Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT)  best practice professional development plan, we also encourage you to participate in our professional development program or  join an existing AAT peer supervision group to provide support and professional development with other AAT practitioners. Yearly re-assessment also allows us to monitor how your canine co-therapist is coping and help you with any issues that have come up during the previous 12 months. We will also be facilitating professional development AAT courses throughout the year, for those that cannot regularly attend professional supervision. 

12 months Support 

Free consultation through your first year of certification -  email or phone us if you are experiencing any difficulties with your co-therapist and we will guide zoom or skype.    

***PLEASE NOTE:  We reserve the right not to pass any team that does not meet our high standard of certification.  We will work with you throughout the week to ensure your best chances of achieving certification. 

Reasons for non-certification:   

1.  Rough Handling  
2. Lack of confidence in handling  
3. Dog expresses fear, anxiety, aggression or disinterest in people
4. A dog bite during the assessment  

 For those teams that do not pass - dependent on the reasons (dog temperament, team dynamics), where possible will provide long-distance guidance and opportunity for re-assessment once you have completed extra training.  No refunds will be provided for teams that do not pass the certification.  We only do this in extreme cases for the safety of your dog, your clients, yourself and the reputation of Animal Assisted Therapy.