The profound bond between humans and dogs is increasingly recognized for its extensive health benefits. This growing awareness has fueled a surge in public interest surrounding therapy dogs. These remarkable canines offer comfort in anxious moments, soothe those experiencing grief or loneliness, and provide affection to individuals in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and other institutional settings. If you have a friendly, well-mannered dog that thrives on human interaction, you might be wondering, “How To Train My Dog As A Therapy Dog?” This guide will walk you through the journey, from understanding what a therapy dog is to the specific steps involved in their training and certification.
What Exactly is a Therapy Dog?
A therapy dog is a canine companion that offers comfort, affection, and emotional support to individuals, typically in facility-based settings or during planned visits. It’s crucial to distinguish therapy dogs from other types of assistance animals. They are not “service dogs,” which are individually trained to perform specific tasks for people with disabilities and are granted full public access rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Nor are they “emotional support animals” (ESAs), which require a prescription from a mental health professional but do not need specialized training or certifications for their role. Therapy dogs primarily serve to provide comfort and reduce stress through their gentle presence and interaction.
The Profound Benefits of Therapy Dog Work
Therapy dogs bring a myriad of physical and emotional benefits to the people they visit. Their presence can help lower blood pressure and heart rate, alleviate anxiety, and boost levels of endorphins and oxytocin in humans. This isn’t a one-sided benefit; studies indicate that therapy dogs also thrive from their work. Research has shown that therapy dogs exhibit higher levels of endorphins and oxytocin compared to average family pets, suggesting mutual emotional enrichment.
A Golden Retriever therapy dog being evaluated during an AKC certification test, demonstrating calm behavior.
Linda Keehn, CPDT-KA, a therapy dog trainer, evaluator, handler, and owner of Positive Canine Training and Services in New York, emphasizes the diverse venues where therapy dogs can make a difference. “Therapy dogs go out to hospitals, nursing homes, libraries, schools, disasters. Essentially any venue where a clientele exists and it would be helpful for the dogs to be there,” she explains. However, becoming a certified therapy dog team isn’t as simple as bringing your beloved pet for a visit. Therapy dogs require certification and registration with a reputable national organization. This certification is the culmination of a dedicated process that includes a thorough temperament assessment, specialized training, and often, an advanced obedience test.
Is Your Dog a Good Candidate for Therapy Work?
While your dog may shower you with unconditional love, this doesn’t automatically qualify them for therapy work. Similarly, an empathetic owner doesn’t automatically make an ideal half of a therapy dog team. So, what specific qualities make a dog suitable for this important role?
Temperament is Key
Keehn advises owners to observe their dogs closely and dispassionately to determine their true temperament. The most crucial question to ask is whether your dog genuinely enjoys affection from people other than yourself. “Does the dog really enjoy interacting with new people in different scenarios?” asks Keehn. “Does it seek out attention from people and have a calm demeanor? It could be the nicest dog in your living room, but not elsewhere. Most often in a therapy situation, people just want a dog that sits next to them and lets itself be pet.”
In essence, ideal therapy dog candidates are naturally calm, friendly, and consistently affectionate towards strangers. They must also be well-trained in basic obedience and easily adaptable to novel noises, places, smells, and equipment. This adaptability is vital for navigating diverse environments without becoming stressed or reactive. Many therapy dog organizations also mandate that dogs be healthy, well-groomed, and have up-to-date health and wellness check-ups.
Age and Basic Obedience
Most therapy dog organizations require dogs to be adults, typically not allowing puppies under one year old. A significant number of organizations also demand that dogs pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test for obedience. Some organizations may have their own therapy-specific tests that replace or supplement the CGC. Keehn, who conducts both CGC and therapy certification evaluations, stresses the paramount importance of these elements for any therapy dog operating in public. A dog that cannot “leave it” on cue, or displays behaviors like excessive jumping when greeting, will struggle to succeed. If you’re looking to prevent unwanted jumping, resources on how to stop a dog from jumping or even teaching puppies not to jump can be highly beneficial for laying foundational manners.
Aside from these requirements, age and breed are generally not significant barriers. Keehn has successfully evaluated dogs ranging from a tiny four-pound Yorkshire Terrier to a 13-year-old Beagle, both demonstrating excellent obedience. She emphasizes that while most dogs enjoy having a “job,” it’s unfair to assign a dog a role it doesn’t genuinely desire. For dogs needing initial training, foundational skills such as leash training for dogs are crucial for safe public interactions.
Are You Ready to Be a Therapy Dog Handler?
Becoming a therapy dog handler opens up a world of new experiences for both you and your canine partner. You’ll contribute positively to your community, and many handlers find joining national or local therapy chapters offers a supportive social network for both themselves and their dogs. Keehn highlights that therapy dog work is as rewarding for the handler as it is for the dog, though it can sometimes require handlers to take on unexpected roles.
“Getting out of yourself and giving back to the community can improve your own mental and physical health,” Keehn notes. “When you’re bringing a dog to a veterans’ organization or hospital, you may be the only non-medical person they’re seeing. It may be the only real conversation they’ve had for days. Be prepared as the therapy dog handler to connect to the client.” She suggests that handlers might benefit from taking a cognitive dog training course to enhance their interaction skills.
A dog handler interacting with a therapy dog, highlighting the importance of team connection and dog temperament.
Mentoring with an experienced therapy dog handler is another excellent piece of advice. Seeking guidance from a reputable trainer can also provide valuable background and experience. Most therapy dog organizations offer extensive printed materials or website resources to help handlers prepare for their roles. Additionally, handlers often have the flexibility to choose where they work. If your dog adores children, visiting schools or libraries might be ideal. Conversely, if that’s not a good fit for you, opting for home visits with the elderly could be a more suitable choice. For dogs that are overly enthusiastic when meeting new people, learning how to stop puppy from jumping on guests is an important step.
Step-by-Step: How to Train a Therapy Dog
When considering how to train my dog as a therapy dog, owners have the option to pursue training independently or with professional assistance.
Self-Training vs. Professional Guidance
Keehn, who assists owners in preparing their dogs for therapy work, advises seeking out formal organizations that list well-educated trainers on their websites. These professionals can provide structured guidance throughout your journey.
If private training costs are prohibitive, Keehn suggests thoroughly reviewing the ten basic commands required for the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test. There are numerous free resources available online, such as YouTube videos, that offer valuable tips and demonstrations. Taking a group CGC class is another excellent option, often followed by more specialized and targeted classes tailored for therapy work. Mastering commands, including how to use a whistle for a dog to come, will be fundamental for advanced training.
Mastering Basic Obedience
While the ten CGC commands are essential for passing the test, the entire training process itself, particularly when employing positive reinforcement, is invaluable and fosters a lifelong bond and well-behaved dog.
The Power of Positive Reinforcement
“Every time you interact with your dog, your dog is learning something,” Keehn confirms. She stresses the importance of consistently reinforcing desired behaviors. “Keep your criteria at a level that your dog can handle. Be clear in your communication with non-verbal and verbal cues. You don’t need to touch the dog. They learn to follow their basic instincts to sit and lay down by doing what’s comfortable.” This approach builds confidence and a positive association with learning.
Essential Tips for Therapy Dog Training Success
Training your dog to become a therapy dog is a significant undertaking that demands dedication from both the canine and human halves of the team. While some highly trained dogs may never be suitable for therapy work due to their temperament, conversely, some dogs that are initially challenging to train can flourish and become exceptional therapy animals with the right training methodology. The comprehensive information above details the process of how to train your dog as a therapy dog, but to summarize the fundamental starting points:
- Assess Temperament First: Honesty about your dog’s natural disposition is crucial. They must genuinely enjoy interacting calmly with strangers.
- Master Basic Obedience: A solid foundation in commands like sit, stay, come, and leave it is non-negotiable. The Canine Good Citizen test is an excellent benchmark.
- Socialization is Key: Expose your dog to diverse sights, sounds, smells, and people in a controlled and positive manner to build their confidence and adaptability.
- Positive Reinforcement: Use rewards-based training methods to build a strong, trusting relationship and make learning a fun and positive experience.
- Seek Professional Guidance: Consider working with a certified professional dog trainer specializing in therapy dog preparation for expert advice and structured classes.
- Evaluate Your Role: Be prepared for the emotional and social aspects of being a handler, including connecting with the people your dog visits.
An Australian Shepherd providing comfort as an emotional support dog, sitting calmly beside its senior owner, illustrating the bond and support a therapy dog can offer.
The journey to becoming a therapy dog team is rewarding, offering a unique opportunity to give back to your community while deepening the bond with your beloved pet. With patience, consistent training, and a genuine understanding of what the role entails for both dog and handler, you can achieve your goal of having a truly impactful therapy dog.
References
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