Online Short Courses in Animal Assisted Interactions
Online short courses offer flexible options for those wanting to learn more about animal assisted interventions and interactions (AAI), or those wanting to prepare their dogs for Certification as a Visiting Therapy Dog.
Our suite of online short courses provides students with the foundational knowledge to prepare themselves for a rewarding career working with clients and animals. Offering more choice and flexibility than ever before, our online short courses can be taken as stand alone training, or may be used as RPL for more specialised Certification in Canine Assisted Interactions.
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What Course Is Right For Me?
At Lead the Way we run a number of different courses so it can be challenging to choose the right course for you and your dog. This short course is designed to explore each of our programmes, describing who they are for and why you might want to apply for each course.
FREE!
Is My Dog Suitable To Be A Therapy Dog?
Are you interested in involving your dog at work, but not sure if your dog is suitable? Do you have clients or students who might benefit from interacting with your dog, but you’re concerned about your dog’s training or temperament? Perhaps you would like to give back to your local community, taking your dog for visits at a nursing home or hospital, but worry your dog may be too old or too young. This short course outlines the requirements for a successful visiting therapy dog allowing you to determine the suitability of your dog.
FREE!
Therapy Dogs are NOT Assistance/Service Dogs
We live in a world where there is a broad range of terminology used to describe the various roles dogs can take in our lives. The word “therapy dog” is used in a variety of ways, making it difficult to understand the differences between different roles. This course is designed to help clarify the differences between a visiting therapy dog and a service or assistance dog.
FREE!
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What Dog Is Right For Me?
There are many different roles that our dogs can take in our lives and in our communities. It can be difficult to know which role is right for you and your family. Should your dog train as a visiting therapy dog offering love and support to your clients? Should your dog train as an emotional support or service/assistance dog to support you or a family member? This short course is designed to help you firstly consider whether a dog is the right addition to your family and then to understand what might be the best role for your dog to take in your life. We will also explore how Lead the Way may be able to help you achieve this goal.
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Preparing Your Dog To Be A Therapy Dog
Are you adopting a new puppy you’d love to train as a visiting therapy dog? Do you already live with a dog who would make a great visiting therapy dog? Have you been wondering about how to start their training? If you have been looking for some guidance on preparing them to be a visiting therapy dog then this short course is designed to do just that!
This self-paced stand alone short course provides participants with the knowledge and skills to begin socialisation and training of their dog with the intention to go on to work with people. Even for those who don’t intend to work in CAI, this course provides advice on developing a great foundation for a well rounded, well socialised and well behaved canine companion.
Mode: 100% Self paced online
Pre-requisites: Nil
Approximate Duration: 4 hours
Access: You have 30 days to complete this e-course
Short E-Course Description
This self-paced, short e-course provides participants with a basic understanding of what is involved in the delivery of AAIs, their scope, benefits, and applications in a range of multidisciplinary settings. Log in at your leisure and complete the modules and associated quizzes to receive your certificate of completion.
Short E-Course Outline
Modules:
- Conceptualising and defining AAI
- Why work with animals? Understanding the human animal bond (HAB)
- Animal assisted applications; When, where and how
- Contraindications, safety and welfare
- How to know what you don’t know. The importance of training and certification
Learning objectives:
- Identify and describe the differences between various types of animal assisted interaction (AAI), including therapy (AAT), psychotherapy (AAP), activities (AAA), coaching (AAC) and education (AAE) and demonstrate an understanding of the professional (and legal) boundaries of each
- Appreciate the diverse species who may work as therapy animals
- Understand the differences between therapy and assistance/service dogs
- Describe the role of the animal handler (e.g. volunteer/professional) and how they may engage with clients (e.g. triangle/diamond)
- Understand the primary benefits of human-animal interaction with a range of populations in a range of settings, including visiting, education and allied health
- Identify common methods to successfully engage clients in AAI, and when to avoid AAI
- Appreciate the safety and welfare needs of animals and humans in AAI
- Describe the importance of certification and standards in AAI
$99 AUD (Inc. GST)
Instant access!
(ask us how to use this course as RPL for therapy dog Certification)
Mode: 100% Self paced online
Pre-requisites: Introduction to AAI
Approximate Duration: 9 hours
Access: You have 60 days to complete this e-course
Pre-requisite
You must have completed the Introduction to Animal Assisted Interactions short online course
Short E-Course Description
This short e-course is a great option for those individuals who don’t currently have a suitable dog, or who can’t join in our live Certification courses. Alternatively, this course may be completed as RPL for Certification of your own dog as a therapy dog. It consists of all of the CAI theory required for Certification, excluding only the live dog-handling workshops and training lectures. This course also includes all of the policies, procedures, standards and best practice guidelines you will need to get your programme started! These alone represent decades of experience and thousands of hours of research and development. Log in at your leisure and complete the modules and associated quizzes to receive your certificate of completion.
Short E-Course Outline
Modules:
- Canine health, welfare and wellbeing
- Introduction to canine training concepts
- AAI and CAI theory and research efficacy
- CAI certifications, standards and guidelines
- Documentation and record keeping
- Best practice guidelines and standards
- Policies, procedures and occupational health and safety
- Workplace and clinical applications
Learning objectives:
- Identify and describe the important components required for canine health, such as first aid and preventative healthcare
- Identify canine welfare, and implement strategies to improve therapy dog wellbeing
- Describe the foundations of canine learning and training
- Describe the key research outcomes for AAI and CAI in a range of multidisciplinary settings, including:
- Education
- Mental Health
- Allied and physical health
- Disability
- Describe and implement effective documentation, record keeping and standards for CAI
- Describe and implement key policies and procedures required to deliver CAI in various settings, including OH&S
- Develop an appreciation of the training and standards required for a Certified Visiting Therapy Dog
$990 AUD (Inc. GST)
Instant access!
(ask us how to use this course as RPL for therapy dog Certification)