Buying a therapy dog vest?

Question

I need to buy a therapy dog vest in order to train my dog to be a therapy dog. All the vests are sized by the dog's "girth". I feel kinda stupid asking this, but what is the dog's "girth" and how is it measured?

Answer 1

Putting a therapy vest on a non-certified therapy dog is a huge doggie no-no.  You don't get to buy the vest (even though there's websites where you can) until you have a certified therapy dog.

Get your dog started on training, and which ever establishment you work through will have "therapy dog in training, please do not pet" vests.

It's a huge pet peeve of mine when people abuse the vest to pretend their dog is allowed in public transit, in grocery stores, on airplanes, just because they don't want to follow the rules.

You don't buy the vest, then train the dog.  You train the dog, then EARN the vest.

Answer 2

Vests are not needed in order to train a therapy dog.  Honestly, it sounds like you're trying to pass your therapy dog off as a service dog in training so you can take it into stores where pet dogs are not permitted.

A person with a therapy dog has no more rights than a person with a pet dog.  The difference is that therapy dogs are individually tested, certified and insured so that hospitals and nursing homes may have some assurance the dog is safe before inviting it to participate in pet therapy programs.

I know of no legitimate therapy dog program that requires or even recommends therapy dogs be vested.

The same is true of emotional support animals, which are used in home only, not in public.

Be aware that many states have statutes making it illegal to cape a dog and take it into businesses unless it is in training with a recognized service dog program.  Your own state's Attorney General can advise you whether your state is one of these.  Until a dog is fully trained to meet the requirements of the ADA, state laws rule public access.

Answer 3

Once your dog has finished his training and is certified, you can order the vest from the organization where you were certified... For example, Delta Society and TDI - Therapy Dogs International...

They will help you measure properly and get your dog the correct vest. However, you cannot get a vest for your dog unless it is already certified.

That's like a person saying they are a doctor and getting the white coat before they finish medical school.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Sorry but you cant get get a vest and call your dog a therapy dog.  It takes proper training and certification.

There steps to be taken able to call a dog a therapy dog.  Unless your a certified therapy dog trainer then you cant be allowed to call your dog a Therapy Dog or be able to correctly wear a therapy dog vets either.    

Answer 5

Google is your friend:) Just did a search on "how to measure dog's girth" and posted one of the links below for you.

Answer 6

One of my dogs is a trained therapy dog. He is licensed so as he can visit hospitals, hospices retirement homes etc. We did our course through St Johns Ambulance Service in Canada. You don't just do the training on your own. He does not have a vest but a bandanna. He did not get this until he was fully licensed. Whether they get a vest or a bandanna they never get it until training has finished. Some as someone else pointed out get nothing at all apart from their certificate, but again this is not issued until all training is complete and the animal is a certified therapy dog.

Answer 7

Girth is the measurement around the dog's ribs, behind the front legs.  

If you want to train your dog to do therapy work, I recommend finding a delta society class in your area.

deltasociety.org

Answer 8

You may not need a vest.    My Therapy dog is licensed with Therapy Dogs International (TDI).

They do not allow their dogs to wear a vest while working.   They do not want the dogs covered with a vest ---- it defeats the purpose of being a Therapy dog if the people can't pet the dog everywhere(because of the vest covering its fur).

Service dogs typically wear vests - with patches on them telling the public to - please do NOT pet-  .... the dog is working.

You need to get your dog certified for Therapy dog work before you worry about what you are going to dress it with.

If you are wanting to get a vest for your dog thinking that it will give you access to public buildings, resturants ... etcs - it won't,   Therapy dogs do not come under the classification for service animals.    To dress a dog in a Therapy or Service dog vest when in fact your dog isn't certified as one - is fraud.