Children & Dogs Specialist Program

Description

Join Children and Dog expert, Debbie Lucken as she takes you on a journey through the fascinating world of Children and Dogs. 

Program Overview

This Children and Dogs Specialist Program will equip you with the necessary skills to to create safe, engaging, and therapeutic environments for children and dogs, making a positive impact on both their lives.

Assessment 

In order to pass this Specialist Program, you will need to complete all the lessons, tasks and pass the Final Assessment. Upon successful completion, you will be recognised as a DTC Children and Dog Specialist and will receive a printed certificate in the post. You will also be able to use a digital Children and Dog Specialist digital badge. 

Curriculum

This Specialist Program comprises of 76 lessons, including practical demonstrations and a Final Assessment.

Module 1 - Introduction & aim

• Introduction
• ‘The involvement of dogs in paediatrics’ | Melissa Winkle (webinar)

Module Two - Why families with children adopt dogs

• The kids want a dog
• The kids are lonely
• Mental health
• Safety
• The kids are growing up
• The parents
• Life changes
• FOMO

Module Three - What makes a suitable family dog?

• Health
• Natural traits
• Hygiene

Module Four - Puppy from a breeder or rescue?

• Breeder or rescue centre?
• Rescuing from abroad
• What you can do to help

Module 5 - The practical issues with having dogs in a family with kids

• Get the kids involved
• Health of the family
• Time and the lack thereof
• Money
• Environment
• The family unit and friends
• When the parents split up
• A little about the fear of dogs

Module 6 - Pregnancy, adoption and the first few days with a newborn baby

• Expectations
• Prepare the dog
• The birth
• Adoption
• The baby is home

Module 7 - Developmental stages of kids

• The four domains of development
• Newborn (0-3 months)
• Infant (3-12 months)
• Toddler (1-3 years)
• Pre-school age (3-4 years)
• School age (4-5 years)
• How to get the kids involved
• Basic things to teach the children
• Supervision, supervision, supervision

Module 8: How can a suitable environment be developed?

• Problems with the dog
• Change the environment
• The ‘dog nook’ training
• But the kids want to play with the dog

Module 9: Dog body language

• Learn canine body language
• How to observe canine body language
• Components | Eyes
• Components | Ears
• Components | Mouth
• Components | Tail
• Components | Coat
• Components | Posture
• Ladder of Aggression
• Displacement Behaviours
• Calming Signals
• You are not your client
• Innocently mistaken

Module 10: What should a family dog be trained to do?

• Training behaviours
• Training: Recall
• Training: Loose Lead & Prams
• Training: Sit
• Training: Stay
• Training: Take it
• Training: Go to bed
• Training: Down
• Training: Hand Touch
• Training: Leave it

Module 11: What to do if a child is scared of dogs

• The KAD protocol to overcome the fear of dogs
• What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?
• What is the fear of dogs and why it develops
• What parents should do if the child is scared of dogs
• A family without dogs but a child who is scared of dogs
• A family with dogs and children who are fearful of dogs
• Final words on overcoming the fear of dogs in kids

Module 12: How to help kids with the loss of a dog

• Understanding of death at different ages
• How to tell the children
• How the parents might feel
• Keep the memory alive

Module 13: Conclusion

• Conclusion
• Final Assessment

This Specialist Program as well as other Specialist Programs are all included within our Membership.