Today's therapy dog handlers recognize the need to be teammates with their dogs, not just supervisors. Teaming with one's dog involves unobtrusively providing physical and emotional support as well as respectful guidance in what to do. Being a teammate requires attention to the handler's behavior, not just the dog's. This book reminds all handlers that being conscious of what they do with their dogs increases the effectiveness of therapy visits as well as providing a more rewarding experience for all involved.Written by a nationally famous practitioner with decades of real-world experience, the book introduces the "STEPs of Teamwork" and how those STEPs fit with a Therapy Dog's Bill of Rights. These general principles free handlers to apply them in their own way to their therapy dog's individual personality and work. As the author writes, "The book explores a way of being conscious of what you do with and to your therapy dog to support him in his work. It describes functional principles of behavior you can learn and use immediately, either together as a package or independently." Using an exciting new methodology, the author guides readers to deepen their relationship with their dogs by acting consciously and respectfully.

Are you looking for a 'fast forward' button for your party plan business? Would you like to: - Get your new business off the ground successfully - or breathe some new life into your existing one? - Make more money - and spend less time doing it? - Grow your team and expand your business? - Handle challenges better? Anne would love to help you. She is down to earth, practical and her solutions to challenges you may find in your business will work. "If only I had this book 16 years ago when I first started in party plan, the road would have been much smoother." - Anne Banks, Senior Executive Director, Le Reve (NZ) Ltd "No matter what product you sell Anne can give you fun, helpful, practical ideas to grow any part of your party plan business. Anne's ideas and suggestions are motivating and inspiring. If you are serious about your business, you need Anne " - Sheree Reynolds, Senior Manager, ENJO (NZ) Ltd

Through practical, real-life examples, Assessing Handlers for Competence in Animal-Assisted Interventions provides guidance to any person working with animals in any setting. Facilities that have volunteers who work independently are in the greatest need of competent handlers, yet many of those facilities accept handlers with only proof of animal vaccinations. Other facilities accept an evaluation of the animal-handler team without knowing whether that evaluation relates to their facility or client dynamics. Both of these problems easily can be remedied with basic guidance. Howie brings more than thirty years of experience as an AAI provider, coordinator, and mental health therapist to bear on the topic of competence for animal handlers. In a friendly, easy-to-read style, she clearly explains the need for competencies while identifying broad categories currently in use. She then outlines training that addresses those competencies based on individual facility and client dynamics. She further describes one model for easily integrating competency assessment into an interview and provides a form for documenting the competency assessment. Additionally, Howie addresses how to deal with problems that can arise in program management. Anyone who reads this book will come away with the knowledge and confidence to assess handlers' competence.