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About the Doggie Brigade™
Doggie Brigade’s™ Mission is to promote positive
human and animal interaction and improve the
physical, emotional and psychological health of
the patients we serve. Interaction with dogs has
proved to ease tension and occupies patients
during procedures to be distracted from the pain
of their condition and promotes healing!
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Established in 1992
General patient
population
Oncology
Burn Unit
PICU
Emergency
Outpatient
surgery waiting
area
Teams visit most of the hospital, including:
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Trading Cards
Teams pass out trading cards to patients in the
hospital. The dog’s picture is on the front of the
card and the biography is on the back; ie: name,
favorite treat, age and how long they have been in
the program.
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VOLUNTEER AND
DOG
REQUIREMENTS
Doggie Brigade™
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Commitment
to the Program Every Year
Commit to a minimum of 26 hospital visits on a regular
schedule
Attend 2 special/community events
Submit a veterinary screening
Complete a behavioral evaluation with your dog
every 2 years
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Time Per Visit
Each visit to the hospital may take approximately
3-5 hours. This timeframe includes:
Bathing/drying your dog within 24 hours of the visit
Grooming your dog prior to visit
Drive time
The visit itself (no more than 2 hours)
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Infection Control Requirements Submit a yearly vet check
Call off when you or your dog are ill or
injured
Offer hand sanitizer (provided by the
Hospital) to anyone before and after petting
the dog
Apply hand sanitizer when entering and
exiting patient rooms
Bathe your dog within 24 hours of every visit
and keep dog clean with no discernable odor
or fragrance
Dog should not eliminate inside the hospital
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Team Requirements
Register with one of the following
Therapy Dog Organizations:
1. Pet Partners
2. Therapy Dogs International
3. Bright & Beautiful
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Handler Requirements
At least 18 years old and graduated from high school
Adaptive to a busy, changing environment
Proactive, redirect your dog’s behavior when needed
Advocate for your dog’s needs, know his/her stress
signs and be ready to alter or end an interaction
Interact with your dog in a friendly, cheerful manner:
Give cues to your dog in a happy voice
Use verbal or visual cues to guide your dog
Read your dog’s body language during each visit
Stop and excuse yourself from the visit if at any point your dog
needs a break
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Handler Requirements
Follow the Akron Children’s Hospital policies &
procedures (reviewed during volunteer orientation)
Able to work with patients with various types of
behavioral or physical ailments, injuries or disabilities
Interact appropriately with children including those
terminally or chronically ill
Respect the privacy and confidentiality of patients, staff
and visitors – do not share any Protected Health
Information outside the hospital or on social media
Obtain a flu shot annually
Complete annual hospital safety training
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Dog Requirements
At least 1 year old
Lived with handler for at least 6 months
House trained
Enjoys and seeks out interactions with people, friendly
Remains calm while approaching or being approached
by people, does not exhibit uncontrolled exuberance
(i.e. jumping on people)
Responds to handler cues quickly with confidence
Does not avoid interactions or demonstrate aggressive
behavior towards animals and people
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Any Size, Any Breed
Evaluation criteria are based on
skills and aptitude only!
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EVALUATION
PROCEDURE
Doggie Brigade™
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Doggie Brigade Evaluation Tips for the Screening
1. Items you are not allowed to have at the testing include: – Unacceptable Dog Equipment (metal collars, prong or e-collars)
– Retractable leashes
– Throw chains, clickers or any other “training device”
(your dog needs to be already trained at this testing).
2. Try to predict your dog’s behavior and help him or her through any
situations that might occur. It is permissible to give a verbal or visual cue
to help your dog.
3. You will not be allowed to “jerk” on your dog’s collar or physically “model”
a behavior (for example: pushing on the dog’s rump to get him/her to sit).
4. You are welcome and encouraged to ask your evaluator questions of
clarification!
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Doggie Brigade Evaluation At the screening the dogs must be able to do the following:
1. Demonstrate that the Handler is in control at all times of the following behaviors
on cue: – Sit
– Down (lay prone)
– Walk on leash without pulling
– Stay (Sit or Down)
– Come (from 10 feet)
2. Demonstrate the animal’s ability to accept and enjoy handling and restraint in a
variety of manners and by a variety of individuals and groups of people (i.e.,
petting, hugging, touching, examining, squeezing, holding, etc.)
– The evaluator must be able to touch and hold ALL of your dog’s body parts,
including feet and muzzle (no exceptions). Not allowing contact with any
body part means the dog is Not Ready.
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Doggie Brigade Evaluation
At the screening the dogs must be able
to do the following:
3. Demonstrate the animal’s confidence
around Hospital equipment (i.e.
wheelchairs, IV poles, carts, walkers,
etc,). There must be NO aggressive,
fearful or avoidance behaviors.
4. Demonstrate the animal’s calmness
around people who look, sound, walk,
and behave differently.
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Doggie Brigade Evaluation
At the screening the dogs must be able to do the
following:
3. Demonstrate animal’s confidence and calmness
when approached by or in the presence of other
dogs. There must be no aggressive, fearful or
exuberant behavior.
4. The Handler must be able to control the candidate
dog in the presence of other animals.
5. Demonstrate that the animal is people oriented.
Animal should politely seek out interactions with
tester and/or testing assistants.
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Doggie Brigade Evaluation Evaluation Results
• If you feel your dog is not ready for this screening, we suggest
working with a positive reinforcement trainer or training program
and attend the New Team Evaluation the following year.
• Not passing the screening does not indicate that the dog is
“bad,” “not good with kids,” or anything else. It means your dog
is not ready at this point in time.
• Please note that if your dog passes the screening then you,
the Handler, must also meet the hospital requirements to
become a Volunteer.
• Thank you for your interest and participation. Good Luck!
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Acceptable Dog
Equipment
Doggie Brigade™
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Acceptable collars:
Greyhound or “limited slip” type collars (all fabric)
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Acceptable collars:
Buckle collar (nylon) Quick release collar (nylon)
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Acceptable collars:
Rolled leather buckle collar
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Acceptable harnesses:
Top and front clip harnesses
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Thank You for Your Interest!
Questions?
Call Volunteer Services
330-543-8424.