Have you wondered what’s a therapy dog? Like your dog, my dog has always been my therapy dog. He helped me get through lockdown & handle the stress of teaching. I could count on him to always made me laugh when I was feeling down.
My hope in training him to become a therapy dog was to bring this same joy to others. The only thing stopping me was that I didn’t know how to go about it. I didn’t know anyone with a therapy dog so I was confused about what kind of training my dog needed to become a therapy dog, the skills he needed to know to pass the test, and where to go to get his certification.
So if you are feeling confused, or overwhelmed about the therapy dog certification process, I’ve got you! Let’s start with the basics of what’s a therapy dog.
What's A Therapy Dog?
(What therapy dogs are not).
Therapy Dogs are not Service Dogs
Therapy Dogs are not Emotional Support Animals
Service animals are highly trained animals that assist their owners with a disability. Guiding them through crowded areas, alerting them to important sounds, and providing emotional support are a few. Service animals can accompany their owners in public places, including restaurants, stores, and other businesses. While working, service animals should not be petted.
Emotional support animals are a type of animal that provides comfort and support to individuals who suffer from mental health conditions. These animals are not considered service animals and do not share legal access to public space for service dogs. A precious resource for those in need, emotional support animals can be any animal, from dogs and cats to birds and reptiles, and mental health professionals often prescribe them as part of a treatment plan. The companionship of an emotional support animal alleviates symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders.
Therapy Dogs are..
Therapy dogs accompany their owners to volunteer in settings such as schools, hospitals, and nursing homes. From working with children learning to read to visiting seniors in assisted living, therapy dogs and their owners work together as a team to improve other people’s lives. Therapy dog teams have undergone extensive training and evaluation through a reputable therapy dog organization. Are you looking for a therapy dog organization in your area? Here’s a comprehensive list of AKC-recognized Therapy Dog Organizations.
How to Become Therapy Dog Certified
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Therapy Dog Team Life
Certifying your dog to become a therapy dog is something you will never regret because therapy dogs never fail at lifting people’s spirits wherever they go. We can all agree the world needs more positivity. Once you become a certified therapy dog team, there are so many places you can work to spread this pawsitivity: hospitals, schools, airports, retirement communities, fire stations, and many more. No matter what place you choose, you want to make sure you have the right gear, tools, and information. That’s why I created this Therapy Dog Team and Tools & Resources section. This is the place where you can grab a free template to make your therapy dog trading cards, find out how to make inexpensive therapy dog stickers, and cool resources to bring on your next therapy dog visit.
Therapy Dog Team Tools & Resources
