Therapy dogs come in all breeds and sizes. A therapy dog enjoys meeting new people with a smile, a song, or a waggin' tail; can provide healing to his or her companion or family, as well as hundreds of other people in a therapeutic setting whether a hospital, a school or a retirement home.

So you want to become a therapy dog team? A therapy dog training prep course is starting Thursday, Aug. 25 at The Lincoln Home with dog trainer Jean Conte at 5 p.m. Dogs and their handlers will learn and practice skills needed to help them be successful in visiting and passing the Therapy Dog International Certification test. This six week course is offered in partnership with Spectrum Generations Coastal Community Center.

Dogs who join Jean’s TDI prep class should be people and dog friendly and have basic obedience training. Jean will build on those skills to develop a visiting team of dog and handler. Focus will be placed on team compatibility to ensure that dog and handler work well together and can navigate the 15 tasks that are required in order to pass the TDI certification test.

Therapy Dogs International, Inc. (TDI) is a volunteer group formed in the late 1970s so that dogs could be certified, insured and registered as volunteer Therapy Dogs. The primary objective of the TDI dog and handler is to provide comfort and companionship by sharing the dog with the patients in hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions and wherever else the Therapy Dog is needed. This is done in a way that increases emotional well-being, promotes healing, and improves the quality of life for the people being visited and the staff that cares for these people.

TDI's canine membership includes both purebred dogs and mixed breed dogs. All dogs are tested and evaluated for Therapy Dog work by Certified TDI Evaluators. The TDI test is based upon the AKC's CGC test, and also includes the evaluation of the dog's behavior around people with the use of some type of service equipment (wheelchairs, crutches, etc.).

Begin your journey into responsible canine ownership and a pathway to volunteering in your community, sign up today for Jeans TDI Prep course. Course Fee $80. Thursdays, August 25 – September 29, beginning at 5 p.m. For more information and to register call 563-1363.

The Lincoln Home is located at 22 River Road in Newcastle.