Therapy Dog Training

A therapy dog lends comfort and affection to people in a facility setting or specific individuals who require visitation to deal with a physical or emotional problem. 

Therapy dogs are not Service Dogs who provide a specific service for a person with special needs and receive full public access per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They are also not Emotional Support Animals who require a prescription from a mental health or health care professional but need no special training or certifications to do their job.

NOTE: Dogs must be at least one year old to qualify for therapy dog certification. 

My dog Dixie is a Therapy Dog. I will teach you the exact process I used with her to pass the therapy dog test and get certified. 

There are 3 steps to getting a dog trained to be a Therapy Dog. After these 3 steps, you must take a test and be observed by the therapy dog organization for several public visits with your dog around people. I suggest ADT (Alliance of Therapy Dogs).  This is the organization that my dog Dixie, and I are members.

Step 1: Complete our Basic Dog or Puppy Basic Obedience Program. This gives you the foundation of basic commands, loose leash walking, and proper socialization skills. 

Step 2: Take the AKC Canine Good Citizen Test (CGC). This test consists of 10 items listed here.  We can train and test you for this certification. (The AKC CGC is not a Therapy Dog certification)

Step 3: Complete our Therapy Dog Training program. This will ensure that you and your dog are fully prepared for the Tester/Observer to meet with you for evaluations and testing. 

NOTE: We can only prepare you for the therapy dog test. We cannot test you for Therapy Dog Certification.  Once you complete our program, we will recommend a Tester/Observer in your area. Start here to be tested to join the Alliance for Therapy Dogs after your training. 

Therapy dog candidates are well-socialized from an early age. They do not bark, jump on people, or playbite. They are always well-mannered and under control by their owners.  

Therapy dog candidates cannot have any serious behavior problems such as fear, anxiety, stress, or aggression. 

Therapy dog candidates are naturally calm, friendly, and affectionate to strangers. They are also well-trained in basic obedience and easily adaptable to novel noises, places, smells, and equipment. The therapy dog certifying organization may also require that your dog be healthy and well-groomed, with regular health and wellness check-ups. Alliance of Therapy Dogs does require all of this. 

The Therapy Dog and its Handler (owner) are known as a "team."  The handler's calm demeanor is just as important as the dogs.  The handler must have a great relationship with the dog for the team to work best together. The handler must also easily connect with people and build relationships with facilities that allow therapy dogs. 

The handler should have basic dog obedience and behavior knowledge, preferably taught by a certified dog trainer.  The trainer is your mentor and coach to teach you everything needed to succeed as a therapy dog handler. 

If you are seriously interested in having your dog trained to be a Therapy Dog, you can request a FREE Phone Consultation with Dale by clicking the blue button below. Once we ask some questions to receive basic information about your dog, we can discuss the detailed training process, outline,  availability, and rates.