Would you like to share your time, love and the companionship of your dog with those who need it most?
Volunteering as part of a therapy team is a wonderful, deeply rewarding, yet responsible journey. At the PET Institute, we understand that professionalism and safety come first, which is why we carefully prepare every future volunteer and their four-legged companion for their role.
Here you will find all the key information about who can become a therapy team, what the requirements are and what the journey to obtaining an official licence looks like.
Who can become a working member and therapy team?
A therapy team consists of a handler and a dog who successfully complete the required training together and obtain a PET Institute licence. Working with a therapy dog is voluntary, but it requires a high level of commitment and professionalism.
Requirements for the dog handler:
- Personal maturity: The handler must be a mature, emotionally stable and physically healthy person with a genuine interest in and enjoyment of working with people, including children, adolescents, older people and people with special needs.
- Communication and responsibility: The work requires excellent communication skills, independence, resourcefulness and a high level of responsibility when dealing with unpredictable situations.
- Professional knowledge: The handler must acquire basic knowledge of canine behaviour, veterinary care and the specific conditions, illnesses and needs of the people they will work with.
- Understanding your dog: It is essential that the handler can accurately read canine body language and calming signals, understands their dog’s personality and reactions, and can recognise and prevent signs of stress in the dog in good time.
- Exclusive membership: If you are already a member of another organisation providing animal-assisted interventions, you cannot simultaneously become a member of the PET Institute, in order to ensure consistent professional standards.
Requirements for the dog:
- Temperament and socialisation: The dog must be well socialised, well behaved and trained, with a very high tolerance for people and other animals.
- A pedigree is not required: A pedigree is not necessary to work as a therapy dog – a stable temperament and appropriate training are what matter.
- Age requirements: A dog may take its first suitability assessment once it is at least 12 months old, provided it is physically and emotionally mature. A dog may officially obtain the title of therapy dog only once it is at least 2 years old.
- Good health: Only a completely healthy dog can work as a therapy dog. Dogs that are deaf or blind cannot perform this work.
The path to a licence in 4 steps
The training and licensing process is systematic and consists of the following stages:
1. Dog assessment: The first step is a professional assessment of your dog’s temperament and abilities. This determines whether the dog is suitable for this demanding type of work. The dog must be at least 12 months old at the time of assessment.
2. General education: After successfully completing the assessment, the handler and dog join the general education programme, which includes theoretical and practical training, full-day lectures, workshops and practical exercises. You will acquire the essential knowledge of canine behaviour and psychosocial aspects needed for safe and responsible work.
3. Practical training (internship): The theory is then put into practice. As a trainee therapy team, you must complete at least 25 hours of practical training under the supervision of experienced mentors at different partner institutions of the PET Institute.
4. Theoretical and practical examination: After completing the internship, the team takes a professional examination. The theoretical part is written, while the practical part takes place at one of the institutions where therapy teams work, where the trainee demonstrates their practical work with the dog.
Congratulations – you are now a therapy team! After successfully passing the examination, you receive an official PET Institute licence to carry out animal-assisted interventions. The licence is valid for two years. After two years, it can be renewed through a reassessment.
Health and hygiene requirements for dogs
The safety of the people we work with in hospitals, schools and care homes is our top priority. All active dogs must therefore meet strict health requirements:
Veterinary examinations twice a year: All active therapy dogs and trainee therapy dogs must undergo a comprehensive veterinary examination twice a year by a veterinarian contracted by the PET Institute. Without a valid veterinary certificate, a dog may not enter any institution.
Grooming and hygiene: Before entering an institution, the dog must be clean and well groomed, with clean skin and coat, ears and eyes, trimmed nails, clean paw pads and a clean oral cavity. Handlers must also ensure regular prevention and treatment of internal and external parasites.
Vaccinations: Dogs must be regularly vaccinated against all diseases required by law and by the Institute’s internal professional regulations.
Liability insurance: All active dogs belonging to our working members are covered by liability insurance.
Documents required for membership
When applying for membership, you must submit the following documents to the Membership Committee:
You will also need a certificate confirming that your dog is not listed in the register of dangerous dogs. Membership is subject to payment of the annual membership fee.
BECOME A PET MEMBER
Would you like to join us?
If you believe that you and your dog can bring a ray of light into the lives of people going through difficult times, don’t hesitate.
Write to us at info@zavod-pet.si – we look forward to hearing from you and embarking on this journey together!