Canine Corps
Visit JFCS clients with your trained therapy dog!
At Jewish Family and Children’s Services, we believe in the healing power of companionship. JFCS’ Canine Corps is a unique and rewarding volunteer opportunity designed to bring joy and comfort to those in need.
Our dedicated volunteers and their therapy dogs visit seniors and adults with disabilities, offering a furry friend’s unconditional love and support while forming meaningful connections with members of our community. We provide expert training to prepare volunteers and their dogs all the skills needed to bring the healing power of companionship to those who need it most.
As part of this program, you will:
- Engage in a thorough evaluation process and nine-week training course to ensure both you and your dog are well-prepared to meet with clients.
- Work with a team of expert dog trainers with decades of experience in the Bay Area’s most prestigious animal training and care programs.
- Receive AKC Canine Good Citizen certification, the gold standard for preparing service and therapy dogs.
Qualifications for your dog:
- At least 1.5 years old, with some previous training
- Current vaccination record
At completion of the course, participants will undertake AKC Canine Good Citizen testing, ensuring a seamless transition from learning to qualification.
We are currently accepting applications for the Spring 2025 cohort of the Canine Corps training program.
For more information, contact Dorit Israel, Regional Director, Volunteer Services at [email protected].
About AKC Canine Good CitizenThe AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program serves as a gold standard for evaluating a dog’s manners and obedience in everyday situations. By teaching and reinforcing core behaviors like polite greetings, controlled walking, and calmness under distraction, the CGC program encourages responsible pet ownership and helps dogs develop vital skills for good citizenship at home and in community. Beyond basic obedience, the CGC focuses on building a trusting and mutually respectful bond between dog and handler, which benefits everyone who interacts with the well-trained dog. Dogs that have achieved CGC status can be tremendous assets to their communities. These dogs are well-prepared for various settings, from family gatherings to public events, and often go on to perform valuable service or therapy work such as visiting hospitals, schools, and senior living facilities, offering comfort and companionship to those in need. In many cases, CGC dogs are the gateway through which a human-human connection can form. A common joy that opens the door to conversation that may not have happened otherwise. In this way, the CGC program not only fosters better-behaved dogs but also creates opportunities for dogs and their owners to give back, strengthening the community bond for everyone involved.
|
