CALLING ALL THERAPY DOGS
Sign up now for the
2008 Therapy Dog Camp!
October 24-25-26, 2008
Valley Cottage, New York
Bring your best friend for a weekend of classes, workshops, play dates, networking, and special events just for THERAPY DOGS and their handlers.
This year’s workshops include positive training techniques, improving dog/handler communication, safe handling skills, tips for better visits, canine body language, infection control in hospitals and other facilities, responding to stress in our dogs, hands-on body work, healing crystals for therapy dogs, therapy dogs as literacy volunteers in Reading Education Assistance Dogs programs, and panel discussions on working with specific populations. The camp even features a working visit to a nursing home.
Our 5-STAR FACULTY includes Sarah Wilson (co-author, with husband Brian Kilcommons, of Good Owners, Great Dogs and other best-selling books), animal behavior consultant and animal-assisted therapy expert Elizabeth Teal, crystal specialist MaryAnn Field, clicker trainer Stacey Samela, camp director Dolores Schaub, Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) instructor Risa Hoag, health writer CJ Puotinen, and more.
Last year, the world’s first Therapy Dog Camp was a hit! Campers and faculty attended from Oregon, Florida, Virginia, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Mexico. “An incredible experience!” “Terrific food!” “Excellent presenters!” “Great workshop topics!” “My dog loved it!” “We both learned a lot!” “The small classes gave us personal instruction!” “Superb dinners!” “We made new friends!” “Wonderful special touches, like my camper T-shirt and tote bag full of goodies.” “Count us in for next year!”
The camp is small – we can accept only 20 therapy dogs and their handlers, plus a limited number of auditors – so register early!
PREREQUISITES: All dog/handler teams (one dog per handler) must be registered with a national, international, or regional therapy dog program, such as Delta Society, Therapy Dogs International, Therapy Dogs Incorporated, Love on a Leash, Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs, Dove Lewis, Angels on a Leash, H.A.R.T., etc, before they send a camp application. Dogs attending camp must be quiet, calm, well behaved, and crate-trained. All dogs must have crates. The camp is for dogs who are already registered and working as therapy dogs. It is not a camp for dogs in training to become therapy dogs. There is no prerequisite for auditors (campers who attend without their dogs).
CAMPER FEES: The TOTAL COST for dog/handler teams at this year’s Therapy Dog Camp is $595.00. This fee includes a private dorm room for you and your dog with shared bathrooms and showers, three meals per day and additional refreshments, official camper tote bag and T-shirt, all workshops and activities, plus gifts, prizes, and attendance certificates. The camp runs Friday-Saturday-Sunday October 24-25-26, 2008. Those arriving Thursday October 23 can check in early, enjoy a barbecue dinner, and spend the night at no additional charge. Those departing Monday October 27 can stay Sunday night at no additional charge. All campers with dogs are required to stay on campus. Sorry, no canine commuters.
AUDITORS attending without dogs will observe all dog/handler classes and participate fully in all other workshops and activities, plus receive all meals, official camper T-shirt and tote bag, gifts, prizes, and attendance certificate. The auditor fee does not include overnight accommodations. See our list of local hotels and motels. Commuters are welcome. The auditor fee is $425 for the full weekend (Friday-Saturday-Sunday, with optional Thursday dinner at no additional fee). One-day audits can be reserved, if space permits, at the rate of $150 Friday, $175 Saturday, and $120 Sunday. Preference will be given to auditors attending the full weekend. No early bird discount for auditors.
TO REGISTER: Download the 2008 Therapy Dog Camp application form and information from our website. Fill out the application and send it by mail with payment. Make checks payable to HVHS Therapy Dog Camp. Sorry, no credit cards, wire transfers, or PayPal payments at this time. You will receive a confirmation email followed by additional camp materials and memos.
SPONSORED BY the Hudson Valley Humane Society Visiting Pet Program, www.HudsonValleyVisitingPets.com. Need more information? Email us at
HVHSVisitingPets@aol.com or call 845-267-8795.
DOWNLOAD YOUR 2008 CAMP APPLICATION BY CLICKING HERE.
This will open a zip file with 3 PDF files in it. The camp application is 3 pages, be sure to complete and return all 3 pages, thank you.
Please click HERE here to download Frequently Asked Questions about Camp, this will download a Word document.
Please click HERE to download additional information about Therapy Dog Camp 2008! (file includes directions to camp, a complete camp description, "Is your dog ready?", overview of HVHS Visiting Pet Program and a list of nearby hotels for auditors.)
