The profound health benefits of dogs for humans are increasingly recognized, leading to a surge in public interest surrounding therapy dogs. These dedicated canines provide crucial relief in anxiety-inducing situations, offer comfort to those experiencing grief or loneliness, and extend affection to individuals within institutional settings like hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. If you are an owner with a friendly, well-behaved dog that thrives on human interaction, you might be wondering about the process to Train Your Dog As A Therapy Dog and enable them to bring joy and healing to others.
What Is a Therapy Dog?
A therapy dog’s primary role is to provide comfort and affection to people, typically in a facility-based environment or through individual visitations to address specific physical or emotional needs. It’s crucial to distinguish therapy dogs from other types of working canines. They are not service dogs, who are specifically trained to perform tasks for individuals with disabilities and are granted full public access under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Similarly, therapy dogs are different from emotional support animals, which require a prescription from a mental health professional but do not need specialized training or certifications to perform their function. Understanding these distinctions is the first step in deciding to train your dog as a therapy dog.
Why Train a Therapy Dog?
The positive impact of therapy dogs on the humans they visit is extensive, encompassing numerous physical and psychological benefits. These include helping to lower blood pressure and heart rate, reducing patient anxiety, and increasing levels of beneficial endorphins and oxytocin. However, the benefits are not one-sided. Research indicates that therapy dogs also gain from their work, with studies showing higher levels of endorphins and oxytocin in therapy dogs compared to average family pets.
Linda Keehn, a CPDT-KA certified therapy dog trainer, evaluator, and handler, and owner of Positive Canine Training and Services, notes that “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.” This demonstrates the wide-ranging opportunities for a therapy dog team to make a difference. However, taking your dog to visit someone in a facility isn’t as simple as showing up. Therapy dogs require certification and registration with a reputable national organization. This certification marks the culmination of a thorough process that typically includes a temperament assessment, dedicated training, and more.
Therapy dog undergoing a testing evaluation with a handler
Can Any Dog Be a Therapy Dog?
While your dog undoubtedly offers unconditional love, this alone doesn’t necessarily qualify them for therapy work. Likewise, possessing empathy yourself doesn’t automatically make you an ideal partner in a therapy dog team. So, what specific qualities define a good therapy dog, and how does one become an effective therapy dog team?
Most organizations require therapy dogs to be adults, typically not allowing puppies under one year old. Furthermore, many require dogs to pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test for obedience, while others mandate a therapy-specific test. Keehn, who conducts both CGC and therapy certification evaluations, stresses the importance of these elements for public interactions. A dog unable to follow commands like “leave it” or interact harmoniously with children will face challenges. Basic obedience is fundamental when you aim to train your dog as a therapy dog.
Beyond these requirements, age and breed are generally not significant barriers. Keehn has successfully evaluated dogs ranging from a four-pound Yorkshire Terrier to a 13-year-old Beagle, both excelling in their CGC tests. To ensure impartiality, Keehn only evaluates teams she hasn’t personally trained. Crucially, in addition to basic obedience, a therapy dog must possess a naturally social temperament, not be overly young or excitable, and genuinely enjoy the work. “Most dogs love jobs,” Keehn explains. “Your dog’s job may just be hiking alongside you, or something else. But most dogs like some kind of job and this is a wonderful job for them to have. However, it’s not fair to give a dog a job that it doesn’t want.”
Dog handler with a therapy dog, showing the impact of handlers
Would Your Dog Make a Good Therapy Dog?
To objectively assess your dog’s suitability, Keehn recommends observing their true temperament dispassionately. The most crucial question to ask yourself is whether your dog genuinely enjoys affection from people other than yourself.
“Does the dog really enjoy interacting with new people in different scenarios?” Keehn prompts. “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.” Essentially, strong therapy dog candidates are inherently calm, friendly, and outwardly affectionate towards strangers. They are also proficient in basic obedience and readily adapt to new noises, locations, smells, and equipment. Most therapy dog organizations also mandate that dogs be healthy, well-groomed, and have regular health and wellness check-ups. To ensure your dog is well-behaved around new people, consider training concepts like how to get your dog to stop jumping on people which are essential for calm interactions.
Would You Make a Good Therapy Dog Handler?
The journey to train your dog as a therapy dog can be a transformative experience for both you and your canine companion. It broadens your dog’s horizons, and as a team, you contribute positively to your community. Keehn advises joining a national or local therapy chapter to foster social connections for both you and your dog. She emphasizes that therapy dog work is as beneficial for the handler’s mental and physical health as it is for the dog. However, handlers must be prepared for unforeseen responsibilities. “Getting out of yourself and giving back to the community can improve your own mental and physical health,” says Keehn. “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. It may be helpful to take a cognitive dog training course.”
Other valuable advice for aspiring handlers includes mentoring with an experienced therapy dog handler. Consulting a reputable trainer can also provide additional background and expertise. Keehn adds that most therapy dog organizations offer extensive printed materials or website resources for preparation. Furthermore, you often have the flexibility to choose your work environment. If your dog thrives around children, visiting schools or libraries might be ideal. Conversely, if that’s not a good fit for you, home visits with the elderly could be a more suitable option. Effective communication and control are vital, and learning how to train a puppy to come on command can be a foundational skill.
Australian Shepherd acting as an emotional support dog for a senior owner
How Are Therapy Dogs Trained?
You have the option to train your dog as a therapy dog independently or seek professional assistance. Keehn, who guides owners in preparing their dogs for therapy work, advises seeking out formal organizations that feature well-educated trainers on their websites to support your journey. These professionals can provide structured guidance and valuable insights into the specific skills and temperament required for therapy work.
If private training proves to be too costly, Keehn suggests reviewing the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test, which outlines ten fundamental commands. Complement this by watching instructional videos on YouTube for practical tips. Enrolling in a group CGC class is another excellent alternative, potentially followed by more specialized and targeted training sessions. While mastering these ten commands is essential to pass the CGC test, the underlying training, particularly when executed through positive reinforcement methods, offers invaluable benefits that endure for a lifetime.
“Every time you interact with your dog, your dog is learning something,” Keehn confirms. “Reinforce the behavior you want. 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 emphasizes consistent, clear communication and rewards desired behaviors, creating a positive and effective learning environment. Learning to teach a dog to walk on a leash without pulling is another practical skill that will benefit any aspiring therapy dog.
Tips for How to Train a Therapy Dog
Undertaking the task to train your dog as a therapy dog is a significant commitment, demanding considerable effort from both the dog and the handler. It’s a journey where natural temperament plays a crucial role; some of the most highly trained dogs may never be suitable for therapy work due to inherent personality traits. Conversely, certain dogs that are initially challenging to train can flourish with the correct training methodology, potentially becoming exceptional therapy dogs. The information above offers an in-depth look into the intricacies of how therapy dogs are trained, but to distill it to the core essentials, here’s a fundamental starting point:
- Assess Temperament: Honestly evaluate your dog’s natural disposition. They must be inherently calm, friendly, and enjoy interacting with strangers.
- Master Basic Obedience: Ensure your dog is proficient in commands like sit, stay, come, down, and leave it. The Canine Good Citizen test is an excellent benchmark.
- Socialization is Key: Expose your dog to various environments, people, noises, and objects to build their adaptability and confidence.
- Positive Reinforcement: Always use reward-based training methods to build a strong, trusting bond and encourage desired behaviors.
- Handler Preparedness: As a handler, be ready to engage with diverse individuals, possess strong communication skills, and understand the emotional demands of the role.
- Seek Guidance: Whether through formal classes, a professional trainer, or mentoring from an experienced handler, external support can be invaluable.
- Prioritize Health: Ensure your dog is always healthy, well-groomed, and up-to-date on all veterinary check-ups.
- Enjoy the Process: This journey is about partnership and giving back. Embrace the experience and the unique bond you’ll build with your dog.
Remember, the goal is to create a well-adjusted, confident, and loving canine ambassador who can bring comfort and joy to those who need it most. If your dog struggles with specific behaviors, explore resources on how to train a dog to help with anxiety which can address underlying issues.
