About the Doggie Brigade™

Doggie Brigade’s™ Mission is to promote positive

human and animal interaction and improve the

physical, emotional and psychological health of

the patients we serve. Interaction with dogs has

proved to ease tension and occupies patients

during procedures to be distracted from the pain

of their condition and promotes healing!

Established in 1992

General patient

population

Oncology

Burn Unit

PICU

Emergency

Outpatient

surgery waiting

area

Teams visit most of the hospital, including:

Trading Cards

Teams pass out trading cards to patients in the

hospital. The dog’s picture is on the front of the

card and the biography is on the back; ie: name,

favorite treat, age and how long they have been in

the program.

VOLUNTEER AND

DOG

REQUIREMENTS

Doggie Brigade™

Commitment

to the Program Every Year

Commit to a minimum of 26 hospital visits on a regular

schedule

Attend 2 special/community events

Submit a veterinary screening

Complete a behavioral evaluation with your dog

every 2 years

Time Per Visit

Each visit to the hospital may take approximately

3-5 hours. This timeframe includes:

Bathing/drying your dog within 24 hours of the visit

Grooming your dog prior to visit

Drive time

The visit itself (no more than 2 hours)

Infection Control Requirements Submit a yearly vet check

Call off when you or your dog are ill or

injured

Offer hand sanitizer (provided by the

Hospital) to anyone before and after petting

the dog

Apply hand sanitizer when entering and

exiting patient rooms

Bathe your dog within 24 hours of every visit

and keep dog clean with no discernable odor

or fragrance

Dog should not eliminate inside the hospital

Team Requirements

Register with one of the following

Therapy Dog Organizations:

1. Pet Partners

2. Therapy Dogs International

3. Bright & Beautiful

Handler Requirements

At least 18 years old and graduated from high school

Adaptive to a busy, changing environment

Proactive, redirect your dog’s behavior when needed

Advocate for your dog’s needs, know his/her stress

signs and be ready to alter or end an interaction

Interact with your dog in a friendly, cheerful manner:

Give cues to your dog in a happy voice

Use verbal or visual cues to guide your dog

Read your dog’s body language during each visit

Stop and excuse yourself from the visit if at any point your dog

needs a break

Handler Requirements

Follow the Akron Children’s Hospital policies &

procedures (reviewed during volunteer orientation)

Able to work with patients with various types of

behavioral or physical ailments, injuries or disabilities

Interact appropriately with children including those

terminally or chronically ill

Respect the privacy and confidentiality of patients, staff

and visitors – do not share any Protected Health

Information outside the hospital or on social media

Obtain a flu shot annually

Complete annual hospital safety training

Dog Requirements

At least 1 year old

Lived with handler for at least 6 months

House trained

Enjoys and seeks out interactions with people, friendly

Remains calm while approaching or being approached

by people, does not exhibit uncontrolled exuberance

(i.e. jumping on people)

Responds to handler cues quickly with confidence

Does not avoid interactions or demonstrate aggressive

behavior towards animals and people

Any Size, Any Breed

Evaluation criteria are based on

skills and aptitude only!

EVALUATION

PROCEDURE

Doggie Brigade™

Doggie Brigade Evaluation Tips for the Screening

1. Items you are not allowed to have at the testing include: – Unacceptable Dog Equipment (metal collars, prong or e-collars)

– Retractable leashes

– Throw chains, clickers or any other “training device”

(your dog needs to be already trained at this testing).

2. Try to predict your dog’s behavior and help him or her through any

situations that might occur. It is permissible to give a verbal or visual cue

to help your dog.

3. You will not be allowed to “jerk” on your dog’s collar or physically “model”

a behavior (for example: pushing on the dog’s rump to get him/her to sit).

4. You are welcome and encouraged to ask your evaluator questions of

clarification!

Doggie Brigade Evaluation At the screening the dogs must be able to do the following:

1. Demonstrate that the Handler is in control at all times of the following behaviors

on cue: – Sit

– Down (lay prone)

– Walk on leash without pulling

– Stay (Sit or Down)

– Come (from 10 feet)

2. Demonstrate the animal’s ability to accept and enjoy handling and restraint in a

variety of manners and by a variety of individuals and groups of people (i.e.,

petting, hugging, touching, examining, squeezing, holding, etc.)

– The evaluator must be able to touch and hold ALL of your dog’s body parts,

including feet and muzzle (no exceptions). Not allowing contact with any

body part means the dog is Not Ready.

Doggie Brigade Evaluation

At the screening the dogs must be able

to do the following:

3. Demonstrate the animal’s confidence

around Hospital equipment (i.e.

wheelchairs, IV poles, carts, walkers,

etc,). There must be NO aggressive,

fearful or avoidance behaviors.

4. Demonstrate the animal’s calmness

around people who look, sound, walk,

and behave differently.

Doggie Brigade Evaluation

At the screening the dogs must be able to do the

following:

3. Demonstrate animal’s confidence and calmness

when approached by or in the presence of other

dogs. There must be no aggressive, fearful or

exuberant behavior.

4. The Handler must be able to control the candidate

dog in the presence of other animals.

5. Demonstrate that the animal is people oriented.

Animal should politely seek out interactions with

tester and/or testing assistants.

Doggie Brigade Evaluation Evaluation Results

• If you feel your dog is not ready for this screening, we suggest

working with a positive reinforcement trainer or training program

and attend the New Team Evaluation the following year.

• Not passing the screening does not indicate that the dog is

“bad,” “not good with kids,” or anything else. It means your dog

is not ready at this point in time.

• Please note that if your dog passes the screening then you,

the Handler, must also meet the hospital requirements to

become a Volunteer.

• Thank you for your interest and participation. Good Luck!

Acceptable Dog

Equipment

Doggie Brigade™

Acceptable collars:

Greyhound or “limited slip” type collars (all fabric)

Acceptable collars:

Buckle collar (nylon) Quick release collar (nylon)

Acceptable collars:

Rolled leather buckle collar

Acceptable harnesses:

Top and front clip harnesses

Thank You for Your Interest!

Questions?

Call Volunteer Services

330-543-8424.