A Facility Dog is trained to work as a “therapy dog”, but works only in one location. Full time working hours are common and generally, the owner is the trainer and handler. The question of who carries the insurance is variable.
Where Facility Dogs are common
Schools
DA Offices
Nursing Homes
Funeral Homes
Training for facility dogs
If not an established trainer, it is a good policy to consider having private lessons to achieve success
getting a facility prospect from Valaurah farms
To be considered for a facility placement, please be sure to notate your desire on the puppy application.
Individuals seeking a facility dog from us must understand and accept all of the following:
We are committed to the success of your puppy meeting your needs. This may mean it can take a few litters before an excellent prospect comes along. Your patience, communication, and dedication are an absolute must. We want you and the puppy to succeed, so making the RIGHT match is vital.
You cannot be picky about sex or coloring when discussing facility dog prospects. This is about life-saving/life-changing ability and some dogs are just not suited for therapy work (too tenderhearted, too drivey, not enough drive). If you are more concerned about looks than about ability, then you may be waiting a loooooong time for a prospect to come around that meets your needs.
We recommend you have a professional trainer who is versed in training therapy dogs. This is important for several reasons including the navigation of business tasks (like procuring insurance for your dog) and increasing the success of your dog in completing the training program. If you are looking for a trainer near you, I recommend visiting AKC’s Recognized Therapy Dog Organizations page to find a trainer near you.
Facility dog seekers are not given priority pick at this time unless explicitly stated.