As far as I know the TDI registration is given when the required tests are passed. I wasn't aware they had different levels based on # of hours.

Tooz may have not yet been mature (Skye took longer, my goofball) and you are probably right on the mark that it was not the right type of work. Tooz might have been great working in OT where a client might throw a ball over and over for the dog to return.

My two dogs are totally different in how they work and what they enjoy.

Again, to those who intended to work, I understand fully. Hopefully that is still something you may be able to do some day. My confusions was only with those who had no intention of doing AAT.

At the time that Delta Society made the rule that no raw fed dogs were allowed, they had a Purina executive on their Board of Directors. I looked it up at that time and she was listed. Many people think that's why the ruling came across, NOT because they're truly worried about diseases being passed. In addition, I looked up the "case studies" done at that time and I really questioned the validity of the information being bandied about. The case studies I saw were very much open to interpretation, and didn't have much control to them.

I'm on immunosuppressant drugs (due to my rheumatoid arthritis) for seven years now and have fed raw for much of that time. NEVER a problem with bacteria, etc. even when I was on corticosteroids or Enbrel. Granted, that doesn't prove anything, but I honestly don't worry about it. And when it comes to the therapy dog stuff, I questioned why the dogs could travel from room to room and be petted by sick people and yet not have to have any sort of cleaning before they go to the next room. Seems like that's much more of a risk than the remote possibility some bacteria may escape from your newly-groomed (including mouth cleaning, as per Delta rules) dog during a typical therapy dog visit.

Ill people benefit SO MUCH from a pet visit, and I hate to see limitations getting bigger and bigger on those visits. Have any of you actually seen or been involved in a pet-transferred illness related to a therapy dog visit?

Melanie and the girls

I have wondered if I brought something home to Max that caused a secondary infection for him due to his already weakened and compromised immune system. Mom was in ICu and then a rehab facility, after having a masty infection that she lost her colon to.

Both dogs got sicker after that, may be coincidence, but since Max appears to have different types of infections in him (as observed by his response to different types of abx), this thought has crossed my mind. Indy did make at least a couple visits to the rehab facility.

I know that you weren't think of the dog getting sick - I do think there are studies of dogs getting sick with a sick human in the house, found one regarding e.coli. When looking a long time ago.