Hearts of Gold Therapy Teams are making a difference in the lives of both the young and young-at-heart!
Our 2024 2nd quarter Central screening is scheduled in Orlando for teams interested in joining our GRRMF Hearts of Gold program.
If your pup and you are interested in becoming a GRRMF Hearts of Gold handler team and attending this screening event, complete this request to become a handler team. Our coordinator, Terence Hickey, will contact you.
GRRMF Hearts of Gold therapy team consists of dogs who have a stable temperament, canine good manners and a friendly, easy-going personality. We will introduce your pup to medical equipment, give you one-on-one helpful tips, and practice different testing stations to help you and your dog prepare for assessment as a therapy team. Those that pass our screenings may join Hearts of Gold as a therapy team after completing three supervised visits with an evaluator. Your area coordinator will contact you by email and share a list of facilities requesting monthly scheduled therapy visits.
Your dog should display the following:
1. Possess a physical calm – no barking, pawing or jumping when greeting others
2. Friendly – willingness to meet new people
3. Canine good manners – basic obedience commands, sit, down, stay
4. Cleanliness – bathed, brushed, nails trimmed
Testing stations will evaluate your dog’s reaction to different situations and how you work together as a dog/handler team:
1. Leash behavior – loose lead, heels, responds to gentle corrections
2. Medical equipment – response to wheelchair, walker, cane
3. Social behavior – response to crowds, other dogs, coughing, loud noises, hand movements
4. Leave-it command – can walk past food / treat
5. Examination – allow stranger to touch head, ears, tail, feet
6. Handler evaluation – positive attitude, appearance, ability to oversee/maintain control of dog
