alexmaddy
New member
Tomorrow, Madison and I try out for a dog therapy group based in Chicago, called the Chenny Troupe www.chennytroupe.org
Maddy passed her TDI, but it took TDI months to get back to me with the paperwork, then they had a problem about the vet's signature etc... etc...I know they are non-profit, but it just seemed too disorganized for me.
So in the meantime, I searched for another group to get involved with. This test is supposedly much more difficult than the TDI (not familiar with Delta's test). I really like the group. They are extremely organized. They only test new teams about every four months. Only 20 teams at a time can sign up to be tested, and the majority of the teams actually fail. I think that on the last test, only 4 of the 20 teams passed.
Anyway -- we will see how it goes. They had a mandatory practice session 10 days ago. My biggest problems are that Madison knows hand sign commands better than verbal commands. Technically, you are allowed to use hand sign commands on this test, but it is really kind of impossible. They want the dog to sit stay and down stay while standing right next to you, facing the same direction. It's kind of hard to give hand commands when you are not allowed to put your body in the dog's sight line. Sigh. We've been practicing, and she definitely has the sit from the verbal command only, but not the down. So guess what we will be doing tonight?
Anyway - the odds are against us passing. But we will just keep practicing and try out again the next time. Actually, several teams at the practice session had already failed 2-3 times each. So it is encouraged to keep trying.
Anyway - wish us luck!
MJ and Miss Maddy
Maddy passed her TDI, but it took TDI months to get back to me with the paperwork, then they had a problem about the vet's signature etc... etc...I know they are non-profit, but it just seemed too disorganized for me.
So in the meantime, I searched for another group to get involved with. This test is supposedly much more difficult than the TDI (not familiar with Delta's test). I really like the group. They are extremely organized. They only test new teams about every four months. Only 20 teams at a time can sign up to be tested, and the majority of the teams actually fail. I think that on the last test, only 4 of the 20 teams passed.
Anyway -- we will see how it goes. They had a mandatory practice session 10 days ago. My biggest problems are that Madison knows hand sign commands better than verbal commands. Technically, you are allowed to use hand sign commands on this test, but it is really kind of impossible. They want the dog to sit stay and down stay while standing right next to you, facing the same direction. It's kind of hard to give hand commands when you are not allowed to put your body in the dog's sight line. Sigh. We've been practicing, and she definitely has the sit from the verbal command only, but not the down. So guess what we will be doing tonight?
Anyway - the odds are against us passing. But we will just keep practicing and try out again the next time. Actually, several teams at the practice session had already failed 2-3 times each. So it is encouraged to keep trying.
Anyway - wish us luck!
MJ and Miss Maddy
