Developing Your Therapy Dog Team.
Start Date: July 12, 2025
Time: 11:30pm - 12:30pm
Cost: $225
Therapy animal work is teamwork. In this 6-week class we will cover dog behavior for successful Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) as well as skills the human handler will need to bring to the team. We teach how these two partners can work together to best achieve the goals, and best practices, associated with AAI.
Classes will include a variety of medical equipment, “friendly strangers” (including children), practice sessions, “stranger” dogs and props, for the team to practice with and navigate as they learn about AAI and themselves.
This class is taught by Robynn Harris. Robynn has over ten years of experience in the AAI world having volunteered in schools, libraries, prisons, medical clinics, hospitals, and a variety of other facilities. She continues to work in AAI as a Volunteer Instructor with Pet Partners, a Team Lead with HOPE Animal Assisted Crisis Response, and the Lead AAI Volunteer at Legacy Mt Hood Medical Center.
Prerequisites:
*Dogs must be at least one year old
*Dogs must already have strong “sit,” “down,” “come,” and “stay” cues as well as basic manners
*Dogs will work with a standard 6’ leash and either a flat collar or harness
*Dogs must be able to work in a small classroom with other dogs
Olfactory Fun Level 1: Turning your dog’s nose on - Registration is OPEN
Start Date: April 19th, 2025
Time: 12:30pm
Cost: $200
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.) In this foundation 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 3: Advanced and personalized for continuing students - FULL
Start Date: April 19, 2025
Time: 2:00pm
Cost: $200
Level 3 of Olfactory Fun is about creating a wholly unique experience on the snufflen course for each dog. Class size is capped at 3 students so each dog will get extended time in the classroom. We have hundreds of items for the dogs to interact with physically and olfactorily. Each week the classroom will be set up differently to provide each dog with an optimal experience considering their unique needs and desires.
Pre-requisites:
- Completion of Olfactory Fun level 2 or Instructor approval
- 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.
Fitness Fun level 1: Introduction to canine fitness - Off Leash -FULL
Start Date: April 19, 2025
Time: 3:30pm
Cost: $200
Before a dog starts any kind of an exercise program they need to learn the basics to keep themselves from getting injured.
Fitness Fun level 1 will introduce students to the basics of canine fitness and conditioning. Exercise is important to help our dogs maintain healthy weight, strengthen muscles, improve mobility, and prevent injury throughout their lives. A fit dog is a healthy dog and healthy dogs live longer.
Fitness Fun level 1 will provide instruction on how to use a variety of equipment (brand named manufactured and items from home) safely to achieve the best results of fitness and conditioning for your dog. We will emphasize having fun with our dogs throughout their fitness journeys.
Prerequisites:
- Dog(s) must be at least one year old
- Dog(s) cannot be “reactive” and must be able to learn in a classroom environment
- Because this class is taught off leash, dogs need to be able to stay focused on their handler while working around other working dogs
- Dogs with prior injuries or physical challenges need approval from their veterinarian before class starts
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
June 21, 2025
9:00am - 6:00pm
Gresham, OR
$150 (snacks, drinks, & lunch included)
You are REQUIRED to register for this class via the Pet Partners website and course catalog.
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.
March 29th, 2025
2:00pm
FREE
Gresham, OR
Classes Coming Up Further in the Year.
We teach a limited number of classes to financially support our free end-of-life services. To accommodate the needs of those who are walking their end-of-life journeys many of our classes are only taught a couple of times a year. You are always welcome to contact us if there is class you are interested in, but is not currently on our calendar, to let us know.
Olfactory Fun level 1: Turning Your Dog’s Nose On
Start Date: TBD
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: TBD
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
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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