CockersOnline Forum

Cocker Specific Discussion => General Cocker Spaniel Discussion => Topic started by: bluesmum on February 14, 2004, 11:00:21 PM

Title: PAT dog
Post by: bluesmum on February 14, 2004, 11:00:21 PM: I am constantly being told how very laid back Blue is for a spaniel, and how he has such a lovely temprement, i was wondering how we would go about having him assessed as a PAT dog and what the requirements are?, he loves nothing better than a good cuddle and thrives on attention, i think Blue would absolutely love it :wink: and as i now have plenty of time on my hands i think it would be good for me too!

If anyone has any information on this i would very much appreciate it :D
Title: PAT dog
Post by: Jane S on February 14, 2004, 11:10:11 PM: Hi Maria

You can find all the info you need on the Pets As Therapy website at http://www.petsastherapy.org/ (http://www.petsastherapy.org/)

Good luck :)

Jane
Title: PAT dog
Post by: *Jay* on February 14, 2004, 11:13:43 PM: Maria,

I just read an article on PAT dogs today and sent off for an information pack as I think vegas would be suitable for it - and he loves the attention too :roll: Good luck with Blue if you decide to go ahead :D
Title: PAT dog
Post by: tracey on February 14, 2004, 11:27:24 PM: I hope you find the link Jane provided helpful.

Two dogs I have bred have gone on to become PAT dogs, both owned by the same dedicated person :) I know they have a lovely time on their visits and bring such joy to the people they visit.
Go for it if you think you and Blue would enjoy it :wink:
Tracey
Title: PAT dog
Post by: PennyB on February 14, 2004, 11:55:24 PM: I think you have to wait until they are about 9 months old (you have to have had them for at least 6 months). Wilf's laid back but I think I'll have to wait a while as he's turned into a naughty teenager for now until he settles down.
Title: PAT dog
Post by: bluesmum on February 15, 2004, 12:10:20 AM: :D Thank you all so much for your replies :D ,

The web site you recommended did supply me with everything i needed to know and from the information given hopefully Blue should be suitable :wink: , i've just sent for my application pack but was informed that it could take up to two weeks before i receive it :( worth the wait though dont you think!! :wink:
Title: PAT dog
Post by: Magic Star on February 15, 2004, 02:04:05 AM: :D Hi Maria

Blue would certainly make an excellent PAT dog in my opinion anyway. He is very well mannered and as you say soo laid back 8) You go for it :D
Title: PAT dog
Post by: Pammy on February 15, 2004, 07:51:30 AM: I know a lady who's cocker used to be a PAT dog - they both got an awful lot out of it - let alone the people they helped. Good luck, hope it works out :)
Title: PAT dog
Post by: bluesmum on February 15, 2004, 12:45:27 PM: Quote
Maria,

I just read an article on PAT dogs today and sent off for an information pack as I think vegas would be suitable for it - and he loves the attention too :roll: Good luck with Blue if you decide to go ahead :D

:D good luck with Vegas too Gill. x :D
Title: PAT dog
Post by: padfoot on February 20, 2004, 06:31:32 PM: I've sent off too (was it "your dog" you saw it?), but for Millie my setter. It sounds like it would be great for the dogs as well as the patients.
Title: PAT dog
Post by: *Jay* on February 20, 2004, 07:13:50 PM: I saw the advert in Your Dog too :wink: Good luck with Millie :D I know its something Vegas would love - just have to hope he passes his assessment :roll:
Title: PAT dog
Post by: stueymac on February 20, 2004, 10:02:41 PM: When we had Sweep as well as Libby we were told not to apply for Libby to be a PAT dog as we had two dogs. The lady said that because we had two there's a sort of 'pack' system between the two thus making her unsuitable. Don't know if the rules are different now, this was about three years ago.
Title: PAT dog
Post by: Jane S on February 20, 2004, 11:31:46 PM: That's odd Stuart - I used to know someone with a Rottie & several Pomeranians & all were PAT dogs (that was a few years ago) & I know Linda W goes PAT visiting with her Pippa & she is a multiple Cocker owner :lol: I'm sure Linda will be along later to confirm whether this "rule" exists or whether it was just someone being over zealous in your case :wink:
Title: PAT dog
Post by: PennyB on February 21, 2004, 12:01:30 AM: Could it be an individual assessor and their bias. I know others who've had more than one dog to be successful.

Am curious to know what the woman meant by pack system. I would've have thought the dog would be assessed on their merits (and a health check from the vet).

I want to eventually put forward Wilf to be a PAT dog but not Ruby—Wilf is the more laid back of the two.
Title: PAT dog
Post by: LindaW on February 22, 2004, 10:39:03 AM: Two of my dogs that I own and have bred are registered PAT dogs - Pippa and Daisy.

I cannot understand why Stuart was not allowed to have a second one. There are no rules that I am aware of about this. It may depend on the establishment that you are visiting whether they will allow one handler with 2 dogs but there is nothing to prevent you having more than one PAT dog. I plan to get more of mine registered when I have time.

I have been picked to attend the PAT dog parade at Crufts with one dog (they do say one dog and one handler for that event). I am taking Pippa as Daisy is on maternity leave!
Title: PAT dog
Post by: stueymac on February 24, 2004, 04:32:20 PM: I know we thought it rather odd too, as we've seen people in old folks homes etc with more than one dog.
I can't recall who the lady was now, it was Joanne (the wife!) who spoke to her at some function or other we were at, we'd filled in the paperwork and everything but after what we were told we decided we had best not put Libby forward for consideration.
I'll ask Joanne, see if she remembers the conversation she had with the PAT lady.
Title: PAT dog
Post by: LindaW on February 25, 2004, 09:32:24 AM: I certainly would pursue it Stuart. My second PAT dog Daisy was assessed by our vet as there are no assessors in North Wales. You are really left to organise your dogs how you want once they are temperament tested and insured so I can't imagine what this person was on about. :?

Another good reason for having more than one PAT dog is if for some reason, one of them can't go one week (in season perhaps) you have another one to take. Go for it :P
Title: PAT dog
Post by: stueymac on February 25, 2004, 10:11:26 PM: I'm sorry guys I'm such a fool! Well I did say it was ages ago!
The lady wasn't the PAT rep at all! She was from the RNIB! We'd thought about assisting by taking the puppies in for socialising before they go for guide dog training as we'd heard there was a shortage of puppy socialisers in the North East, anyway, as we had two dogs already we were told that they don't like you to have more than one as the puppies should be prevented from getting into any sort of 'pack' structure/pecking order type situation.
We did later look into getting Libby into doing the PAT service but decided against it as she's mad!! :lol: Not litterally! Just she was a bit hyper back then.
My bad memory again! Sorry!
Title: PAT dog
Post by: LindaW on February 26, 2004, 06:03:39 PM: Mystery solved then Stuart :D I'm glad we got to the bottom of it.
Title: PAT dog
Post by: padfoot on February 27, 2004, 11:26:22 AM: Maria,
Have you got the pack yet? Mine still hasn't arrived :cry:
Kelly x
Title: PAT dog
Post by: bluesmum on February 27, 2004, 11:50:15 AM: No Kelly i havent, but was told it could take up to two weeks before i recieved it. :( (that would be the 29th for me)

I'm sure we'll get them soon though :wink: :D
Title: PAT dog
Post by: LindaW on February 27, 2004, 03:51:42 PM: Hi Maria and Kelly,

I think the PAT dog staff are up to their eyes in organising the Crufts parades and collections at the moment. :roll: It is a lot of extra work for them so the packs might take a little longer to arrive.

It is nice to think that there are more cockers possibly going to join. 8)
Title: PAT dog
Post by: bluesmum on February 27, 2004, 04:13:16 PM: :D No worries Linda, thanks for letting us know. :D