Therapy Dog Training
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What is a therapy dog?
A therapy dog is a well-trained, friendly, and calm dog that provides comfort, support, and affection to people in hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and other settings. Therapy dogs are not service dogs—they do not perform tasks for a person with a disability nor do they have the same legal protections.​​​​
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Is my dog a good candidate?
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Most dogs are not suited for therapy work.
Ideal candidates are:
Calm and friendly around strangers of all ages
Comfortable with loud noises, sudden movements, and crowds
Confident meeting new people and other dogs
Patient, gentle, and tolerant of handling
Already well-mannered, with reliable basic skills
Over 1.5 years old (more often 2+)​​
Package Overview: This program is designed for dogs who are already well-behaved or have completed previous training and are ready to take the next step toward therapy work.
Lessons may cover:
Socialization with people of all ages and abilities
Teaching skills and consistency needed for visits to hospitals, schools, or nursing homes
Handling and exposure to unusual sights, sounds, and situations
Skills to promote calm, confidence, and safety during visits
Evaluation and guidance for therapy dog certification programs
Initial Consultation
$225
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During this 60 min consult, we will go over:
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Owner Goals & Expectations
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Discuss why they want their dog to do therapy work.
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Clarify what types of environments or organizations they hope to visit.
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Review any prior training experience or therapy dog attempts.
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Dog Assessment
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Temperament & Personality: Calmness, friendliness, tolerance for different stimuli.
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Stress/Reaction Tests: Exposure to loud noises, sudden movements, crowds, wheelchairs, or medical equipment.
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Social Skills: How the dog interacts with new people and unfamiliar dogs.
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Handling & Touch Tolerance: Comfort with petting, hugs, or medical touch (e.g., brushing, nail trims).
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Skills Check: Reliability of behaviors like sit, stay, down, come, and leave it in distracting environments.
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Owner Education
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Introduce the concept of therapy dog etiquette and best practices.
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Discuss certification requirements and the process for evaluation.
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Discuss the importance of maintaining the dog’s mental and emotional wellbeing.
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Provide tips for managing stress or overstimulation during visits.
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After we meet I will write up my evaluation and suggested training plan tailored to the dog’s strengths and areas needing improvement. My plans set realistic milestones and expectations for therapy dog readiness.
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One important thing to note is that there will be dogs who just are not meant to be therapy dogs unrelated to training. It is my job to be honest with you and if I see some glaring red flags I will let you know and suggest we not move forward with the therapy dog track.
Package of 3
(50 min) lessons
$550
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This is the option for you if your dog is almost ready for taking a test but you need to polish one or two things first.​​
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Package of 6
(50 min) lessons
$1050
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Package of 6 (50 min) lessons
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This is the option for you if you have more than one or two things you need to work on, or if your dog is still young and you need more support​
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