I have got a one year old BC who would make a fantastic PAT dog. He came from battersea 4 months ago. He has been tried and tested on my Mum's ward and she said he was better behaved than the PAT dogs she sees. He is a bit wiggly but is small enough to get away with it. He loves everyone and unlike my other collies, isn't at all phased by wheelchairs or people behaving in odd ways. Anyway, I tried to register him today and was amazed to find you have to have had them for at least nine months! They reakon you won't have bonded with them before then. :rolleyes: I am training him for agility and he does flyball. I certainly think I have bonded with him. Also, they do accept homeopathic methods of vaccinating but it appears they insist on it being done through them. Then they charge you £19 a year for the privilege of volunteering your dog and your time. In the following paragraph they complain not enough people do it!

Anyway, I was just wondering if any of you lot have PAT dogs and what you thoughts were on the subject. It is something I have always wanted to do and now I have a dog capable of doing it, they just don't seem to make it very inviting. :-)  

I looked in to this for my bitch as she loves people and will sit and have a love all day long howerver they also have to be 100% sound with other dogs, she is not that bad but she is not that great either, I did not realise there would be more than 1 dog at the particualr centre you would visit but I guess I can understand, I was just dissapointed because she has so much love to give :( Maybe I will try with my boy when he has chilled a bit more LOL! 

Oh I didn't know that either, but then it's not a problem because he really is in lurve with the world...and it's wife...and it's Poodle...and the fluffy kitten...and...well you get the picture! :p

PAT dogs do not simply have to be good around other dogs and people, They have to be absolutely 100% bombproof. Each given test is graded 1-10 and in one of the test an object has to be dropped without warning out of sight of the dog but close by, A walking stick was dopped just by Tia's tail. she looked round and ignored it, just a the same time a tea lady dropped a tray complete with cutlery, sugar bowl etc about 3ft from her, Tia turned round checked the fallen items and ignored. Which on its own was excellent, but with many other tests taken into consideration it will still be around 3months before I know if she has been passed and accepted. All my other dogs are very quiet and I have full control, but I know that in a chaotic situation, they would never be as steady as Tia. Tia was faulted on the demonstration -  control with dog whilst holding a conversation, There are only two grades, good and poor, but the examiner had to write and extra piece in, (fair - inquisitive), this was simply because Tia nudged my hand occasionally.

Its not a case of not making it very inviting, but for obvious reasons, the quality of control that you have with your dog is paramount.

Please do not be put of by this, please do go for the assessment when the time is right.  I have spoken to a few people who have PAT dogs, and they have said it is one of the most rewarding things they have ever done.

I was also wanting Kizzy to become a P.A,T, dog before I had had her 9 months she was actuly only7 months herself but when we took the exam I found out why. We had a couple meet us in the car park of a very large supermarket, not only were we accesed on sudden noises, control and lead work but as we were walking, at a given signal I had to grab Kizzy anyway I could to stop the (non existent) car that was swirthing out of control hitting her. My choice was just to grab her up quickly into my arms. I think this rule is made  mainly for rescue dogs as you do not always know thier past history. We noe do patting at a residaental home for the mentally ill, and to tell you the truth the first few times we went I didn't feel completly at ease. Luckely Kizzy showed me how to take it all in my stride and we now really enjoy going. Pleaes dont let this age thing put you of as it is such a good feeling when one of the staff tell you what a differance your visit's have made to certain patents. If you wish to pmme please do. Viv & Kizzy

My collie x used to be a therapy dog.  There is another charity that does it called canine concern but I don't know if they are limited to Scotland.  I think they have a website or, if not, I think you can find them on SKC website!  My collie x loved it but she loved the dropped biscuits more!

Annie

PS:  Our test wasn't a stringent as the ones you describe.  It was a few years ago now though so things may have changed. 

Spy has so far proven to be bomb proof with everything so I don't think the tests should be a problem. I will have to wait the next 5 months out till he has been with me for the full 9 months and then we will see. I have ordered a pack so that will give me more information and hopefully enough details that I can introduce him to anything he needs to be tested on beforehand. Tonight he was charged at by a horse who stopped inches from him. The other dogs all freaked out and my little lad licked the horses nose. Not sure who was more surprised, myself or the horse! The people we may meet don't bother me; I grew up around special needs children and adults, which is why I have never taken my other dogs anywhere near them. I know how erratic and unpredictable they can be. Spy thinks they are playing the fool and loves them all the more for their different ways, bless him. :-)

Thanks for you thoughts, I'll definitely look further into it.

I have a PAT dog and you do not have to have homeopathic nosodes administered by PAT.

The £19 is for insurance.

As these dogs will be mixing with extremely vulnerable people ie the old, frail, weak, ill, mentally and/or phsyically handicapped and children it is only right and proper that all possible measures are taken to protect them from ill prepared dogs.

It is not really a case of bonding but making sure that you have sufficient knowledge of your dog and how it will react in various situations and if your dog is very young they go through many changes before they are stable enough to test.

This rigourous testing is for your protection too.........

If the £19 is for insurance, fair enough, but why don't they tell you that rather than it being for membership.

It is also they themselves who say it is because of bonding that they make you wait 9 months. But it is no real bother, we will wait. He is only just a year old so he has plenty of time to do his bit.

My eldest dog is currently being borrowed for agility by a ten year old boy who is in foster care and has serious emotional problems but is dog mad. I pick him up once a week and the dog trains the boy. ;-) They both love it and his foster mum has noticed a huge difference already. I gave him a picture of the dog which he keeps by his bedside at night to protect him from the nightmares and on his desk at school to help him with his SATS. Next month they are going to a fun show together so he can win his very own rosette. I'll put Spy in a couple of classes too so he doesn't get jealous. Number two dog can stay in the car so he doesn't eat anyone!

Lily - my Groenendael bitch, is a PAT dog, she has the steadiest, gentlest, kindest temperament and her fantastic nature was apparant from when she was a very young puppy BUT she did not begin her PAT work until she was 4 years old as I had to be completely certain that she was mature enough mentally to cope with the work. She now is my local special schools 'pet dog' and comes with me every Friday to spend the day with the kids. She is used as an integral part of the therapy programmes for children who need sensory input and for some Autistic youngsters who have developed agoraphobia.

I wanted to breed from her as she is such a wonderful dog but heartbreakingly her mother started to fit at around 5 years old and although Lily never has, I cannot take the risk of passing Epilepsy on :(. She is the last of my old line ( From Magician van de Hoge Laer Teri ;)) and my young dogs although lovely do not have the same outstanding temperament so will not be taking over from Lily when ashe retires.

Yvonne 

Ah bless. Nice to hear of more BSD's with fantasic temperaments. :-)

I wouldn't exactly describe Spy as steady! LOL But then not many young BC's are. You are right tho, it will probably do him good to grow up a bit, it certainly wont do him any harm. :-)