Please Review all the Prep School
Information Below before registering
THERAPY DOG PREP SCHOOL
CLICK for the list of open Prep School sessions.
If you’re interested in attending one of our Prep School sessions, believe it or not our 2024 classes are already full. However, we’ll open the 2025 calendar in early September 2023.
At that time, when you register for an available 2025 term, we won’t charge you the fee until two months prior to the term start date. We’ll consider 2025 registrants who meet all requirements (such as completing a group obedience class or passing AKC’s Canine Good Citizen test; and that your dog will be at least 18 months old by the first Prep School class you attend) to be on our Waitlist to fill 2024 cancellations—these will be filled in order of date registered. Be sure to click the Waitlist box when you register (located under your phone number).
Thank you for your understanding—we hope you can join us!
PLEASE NOTE: This is a PREP SCHOOL ONLY—Pawsitive Teams does NOT include certification as part of the school.
We run our very popular, fun Therapy Dog Prep School four times a year. Each of the four sessions is made up of a series of six classes that includes activities to prepare both you and your dog for involvement as a therapy dog team. You also have the option of registering without a dog if you’d like to audit. Our Prep School is not designed to certify teams but rather to give both handler and dog the tools to become an effective therapy team and to be better prepared for tests conducted by the various programs. We spend time in each class to help you identify the best therapy program for your needs and interests, then we guide you through the process.
THE BASICS
September, 2022
We’re constantly revising our COVID-19 protocol based on local, state, and federal mandates and guidelines. In the meantime, we ask that when you enter our Training Center you:
- Are not sick
- Wear a mask if you are unvaccinated
- Practice social distancing as often as possible
WHEN: Classes are held on Tuesday nights from 7:00-8:30 p.m. for six consecutive weeks.
WHERE: Classes are held at our Training Center in the Miramar Area (7031 Carroll Road, San Diego, CA 92121) except for the 5th class which will be an off-site outing to either an assisted living facility or a children’s residential facility.
FOR YOUR ADVANCED PLANNING—REQUIRED VACCINES
All dogs attending Prep School must receive the vaccines listed below. Proof of vaccination must be submitted no more than thirty days prior to the first class.
Rabies
DHPP (Distemper/Hepatitis/Parainfluenza/Parvo)
Bordetella
Influenza Combo & Leptospirosis (strongly encouraged)
- Instruction and practice with successful therapy dog commands and behaviors
- Discussion and practice of techniques for effective interaction between therapy dog and clients
- Discussion and practice in developing better observation skills to identify signs of stress in dogs
- Assistance in helping students identify the most appropriate therapy dog programs
- Role-playing opportunities with a variety of typical therapy dog settings
- A field trip to an Assisted Living Facility during the 5th class to practice tools taught in the course
- Two classes are video taped and students are given an opportunity to study videos at home for discussion in class
- Various teaching videos are provided to students to supplement class exercises
COVID & FLU UPDATES
Due to COVID requirements, our instructors have overhauled the Prep School curriculum. PLEASE NOTE:
- We are now running full sessions, limited to ten registered students, i.e., one person per dog with no additional visitors. We keep a distance of six feet from each student/dog. Our classes fill quickly so if you’re available for an earlier session than the one you register for, be sure to check the Waitlist box.
- Prior to the first class, we require that all students read and understand a document called “Safety Steps at the Training Center.”
- We ask that if you know you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID or the Flu, or if you are experiencing any COVID or Flu symptoms, that you do not attend class that week. Classes can always be made up next session. Because we often work with immunocompromised individuals, we ask that you follow the current CDC Guidelines released August, 2022. If you’ve tested positive for COVID, we ask that you wear a high quality mask for 10 days and have a COVID test on day 5 before entering our Center.
- Masks are required if you have not been vaccinated.
- Our fifth week of class is held off-site and students should note that many facilities have very strict rules concerning visiting, including full vaccination, masks, temperature, and symptom checks, etc. We will provide you with that information as your session approaches.
DETAILS ABOUT
OUR PREP SCHOOL
Tuesday nights from 7:00-8:30 p.m. for six consecutive weekly meetings. Classes are held at our Training Center in the Miramar area except for the 5th class which will be an offsite outing.
In order to attend Week 5, participants must attend Week 4. If you cannot attend Week 4, or other classes in the term, please contact your instructor to make arrangements for course completion in a future term.
Our Training Center in the Miramar area between I-805 and I-15, one mile north of Miramar Road.
Session size is limited so early registration is recommended. All registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Payment is required in full at registration.
| Full Session Fee (one dog per handler) | $180 |
| Audit a Session (without a dog) | $80 |
OUR REFUND POLICY:
- A FULL REFUND will be issued if a dog or their handler is ill and cannot attend no matter when they drop.
- A FULL REFUND will be issued up to 14 days prior to the first class meeting.
- A 50% REFUND will be issued between 13 and 7 days before class.
- NO REFUND will be issued within 7 days of the first class meeting or if you start class and decide to drop for reasons other than medical/veterinary.
Dogs must be at least 18 months of age at start of the first class meeting. We have found in the past that the less mature dogs aren’t able to settle well during lectures.
All dogs are required to complete at least one previous group training class such as Basic Obedience; OR have passed the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test. Puppy socialization classes do not count towards this basic obedience requirement. It’s very important to the success of you and your dog as a team that your dog is well socialized and well behaved in our indoor group Prep School setting.
Students will be required to submit the following dog vaccine records during the registration process:
REQUIRED VACCINES
Rabies
DHPP (Distemper/Hepatitis/Parainfluenza/Parvo)
Bordetella
VACCINES STRONGLY ENCOURAGED
Influenza Combo
Leptospirosis
All fees will be used to subsidize the mission of Pawsitive Teams. Instructors are experienced therapy dog handlers and volunteer their time with Pawsitive Teams to teach in our Prep School.
Some students prefer to attend the session without a dog as there are a lot of benefits to observing other students without having to handle a dog.
During the online registration process, you’ll be able to indicate if you would like to be placed on the wait list for an earlier session. Space in each Prep School session is reserved on first-come-first-served basis, based on registration completion.
Completion of this session will not include certification as a therapy dog. This is a Prep School designed to get you ready for certification and to give you additional information about the various programs in the San Diego area that do certify for therapy dog volunteering.