Raise the Bar Consulting and Training

Raise the Bar

Consulting & Training Program

Program Overview

The School Therapy Dog Consulting and Training Program is designed for educational institutions seeking to integrate animal-assisted interventions (AAI) into their school communities. This comprehensive program emphasizes the importance of safety, competency, and canine behavior, ensuring a successful and enriching experience for students, staff, and therapy dogs alike.

Virtual Assessment

Our program begins with a detailed virtual assessment of the therapy dog team. This assessment evaluates the suitability of both the dog and handler for a school setting, taking into account the unique dynamics of a learning environment.

Online Coaching and Education

Participants will engage in targeted online coaching sessions, including one-on-one guidance and group webinars. This educational component covers essential topics in animal-assisted interventions, equipping handlers with the knowledge needed to implement effective AAI practices.

Implementation Support

We provide comprehensive support for the rollout of the therapy dog program within schools. This includes assistance with scheduling, workload management, program planning, permission slips, curriculum development, data assessment, and specialized programming tailored to meet the needs of individual student groups.

Community Integration

Our program facilitates the introduction of therapy dogs to the school community, ensuring a smooth transition for everyone involved. We offer strategies for fostering acceptance and understanding of the therapy dog's role within the school environment.

Training for therapy Dogs

Handlers receive coaching on training their dogs to meet therapy standards. This includes obedience training, behavior management, and establishing routines that create a supportive home environment conducive to the dog’s work at school.

Best Practices in AAI

We educate handlers on best practices in AAI, ensuring that all interactions are safe, respectful, and beneficial for the students, the therapy dog, and the broader school community.

Animal-Assisted Interventions

What we do

Educate

Professional Expertise: Leverage our extensive background in dog training and Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI) to guide your school in implementing a safe and effective program.
Standards Alignment: Our professional learning aligns with the [AAI Standards of Practice] to ensure best practices.
Proven Success: We have successfully implemented AAI programs in over 100 schools in NYC.
Competencies in AAI:
- Program planning
- Preparing schools for AAI programs
- Lesson planning
- Data tracking and curriculum development
- Safety protocols and risk management

Advocate

Animal Well-Being: Our primary responsibility is to advocate for the health and well-being of therapy dogs involved in human-animal intervention.
Promoting Welfare: We focus on:
- Ensuring therapy dog well-being
- Protecting mental and physical health
- Preventing stress and over stimulation
- Forming a mutually beneficial human-animal bond
Guidance and Support:
- Completing therapy dog evaluations
- Providing education on basic structure management and obedience
- Assessing human-animal interactions to highlight mutual benefits or disconnect

Evaluate

Customized Evaluation Process: We offer tailored evaluations for schools implementing AAI programs.
Animal Evaluation:
- Assess overall animal health and welfare
- Evaluate preventative care to reduce stress and overwhelm
- Screen for obedience and temperament suitable for school environments
Human-Animal Evaluation:
- Assess the effectiveness of the human-animal partnership and therapy animal program
- Collaborate with stakeholders to optimize the human-animal bond
- Develop emergency action plans for therapy dogs and assess their behavior for public safety

Enhance

Elevating Programs: As experienced dog trainers and AAI specialists, we enhance your current training and intervention programs.
Goal-Oriented Approaches: Transition from traditional meet-and-greet therapy dog programs to multifunctional, goal-oriented interventions.
Strategies for Success:
- Acclimating dogs to new environments
- Advocating for dogs during sessions
- Creating connections between dogs and students
- Offering multi-level support systems for students through AAI
- Task training dogs for specific interventions