Pet Partners Therapy Animal Handler Course - In Person
For prospective volunteers in the U.S. and Canada. You MUST complete this course (online or in-person) before attending a Team Evaluation.
January 18, 2025
8:30am - 5:30pm
Gresham, OR
$150 (lunch included)
You are REQUIRED to register for this class via the Pet Partners website and course catalog.
Olfactory Fun level 1: Turning Your Dog’s Nose On
Start Date: February 1, 2025
Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Cost: $200
Class size is limited. Full payment is needed to guarantee your spot.
Olfactory Fun level 1 is a six-week course open to dogs of all ages. Dog-reactive dogs can participate because all dogs will wait in a vehicle while each dog gets his or her chance to work/play with the snuffle course. (Human reactive dogs will be referred for private olfactory games.) This is a foundations class, we will be focusing on teaching the dogs: 1) The joy of using their noses. 2) To be confident while trying new things. 3) To trust their instincts and work independently from their human handlers. 4) Different search patterns that can help them while on the hunt. Handlers will be working on their observation skills and learning about their dog’s behavior.
Pre-requisites:
- The dogs will be working off leash so they must be safe around new and/or different humans. They do not necessarily need to be comfortable, but they cannot lunge or growl at people. (Barking, most likely, will be okay.)
- The dogs need to be comfortable waiting in your vehicle between searches.
Olfactory Fun level 2: More challenges for the mind and body
Start Date: February 1, 2025
Time: 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Cost: $200
Class size is limited. Full payment is needed to guarantee your spot.
Now that the dogs understand the olfactory game and are feeling more confident, we’re going to add more items to the room for the dogs to explore.
We will challenge the dogs with the addition of canine fitness equipment and other interesting objects. The olfactory puzzles will become a bit more challenging. Dogs do not have to be accurate or fast to succeed in this class, they simply need to enjoy playing the game. This play time will continue to build optimism and confidence in the dogs.
Pre-requisites:
- Completion of Olfactory Fun level 1
WE HAVE MOVED!
We have moved into our own classroom space! This will allow us the opportunity to teach classes and lessons throughout the week. We are also much closer to I-84, saving some of you a bit of drive time.
Please pay attention to the days as well as the times of group classes.
Now located at:
326 NE 219th Ave
Gresham, OR 97030
Developing Your Therapy Dog Team - FULL
This is a six-week class on Saturdays, starting the week of TBD
Class starts at TBD
Email Assembly of the Wandering Shepherd to sign up for class(es). Class size is limited - register early. Full payment is needed to guarantee your spot.
Volunteering with Your Pet
This 90 minute presentation is designed to orient you to the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program as a way of volunteering with your pet in your community. We’ll cover requirements and the process for registering with Pet Partners. If any of you who decide that volunteering with your animal isn’t a good fit for you or your animal, — we’ll also discuss other ways that you can get involved.
TBD
1:00pm
Gresham, OR
FREE
Fitness Fun in the Park
This is a six week class. TBD
5:30pm - 6:30pm
$195
Location: We will visit more than one park in, or close to, Gresham, during this class.
AAI Evaluation Prep Workshop
This workshop is an intense, one day, three hour class, where we will practice the skills and behaviors needed in AAI and at AAI evaluations.
TBD
Gresham, OR
$125 - Currently licensed AAI teams or proof of Pet Partners Therapy Animal Handler Workshop completion
$250 - All other dog teams
$50 - Audit (no dog)
Prerequisites:
Your dog must be bathed and groomed within 24 hours of the workshop.
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