Logan Reid
Therapy dogs provide emotional support and comfort to hospital patients, improving their healing process and overall health. They also benefit healthcare providers and staff members by reducing stress and improving their mood. To become a therapy dog, a dog must undergo basic training to ensure it has good manners, social skills, and exposure to different settings. It must also be friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and at ease in all situations, enjoying human contact and physical affection. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends that dogs pass the Canine Good Citizen test before enrolling in therapy training school. After training, dogs must complete a final evaluation to become an official therapy dog team. Therapy dogs are not considered service dogs and do not have the same access privileges.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Dog's age | Dogs must be at least one year old |
| Owner's commitment | Owners must be generous, compassionate, and have the time to visit regularly |
| Dog's temperament | Friendly, patient, confident, gentle, calm, affectionate, at ease in all situations, and with no history of aggression |
| Dog's behavior | Well-mannered, obedient, good social skills, and able to keep composure in hospitals |
| Dog's health | Up-to-date vaccinations, routine heartworm prevention, and a clean bill of health from a veterinarian |
| Owner's requirements | Pass a multi-step health and background screening, participate in training visits, and commit to visiting at least twice a month |
| Training | Basic dog training program, therapy dog training school, or therapy dog certification |
| Evaluation | A tester/observer tests the dog's behavior and handling skills, followed by supervised visits to medical facilities |
| Certification | Registered with an AKC-recognized therapy dog organization, with at least 50 therapy visits documented |
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What You'll Learn
- Temperament: Friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and at ease in all situations
- Training: Basic manners, obedience, and social skills
- Health: Vaccinations, heartworm prevention, and a clean bill of health
- Evaluation: Supervised visits to medical facilities and final assessment
- Registration: Certified by an AKC-recognised therapy dog organisation
Temperament: Friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and at ease in all situations
The temperament of a dog is the most important characteristic when it comes to therapy dog certification. A dog must be friendly, patient, confident, and gentle, and must be at ease in all situations to become a therapy dog.
Therapy dogs must be content with human contact and enjoy being petted, cuddled, and handled by unfamiliar people. They must also be obedient and well-mannered, with a calm and gentle demeanor. They should be trained to provide comfort and affection to people in need and be able to keep their composure around medical equipment and loud noises.
Therapy dogs are not service dogs and do not require specialized training to assist people with disabilities. However, they do require basic training to ensure they have good manners and social skills. They should be under the control of their handlers at all times and be comfortable in various settings.
To become a therapy dog, dogs must pass an evaluation that includes a handling portion and three supervised visits to medical facilities. They must also meet specific health requirements, including being up to date with vaccinations and having a clean bill of health.
The process of becoming a therapy dog can be challenging, but it is rewarding for both the dog and its owner. Therapy dogs provide invaluable support to hospital patients, families, and staff, improving the lives of those they interact with.
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Training: Basic manners, obedience, and social skills
Training a dog to become a therapy dog is a wonderful way to bond and spend quality time together. Therapy dogs are providers of unconditional love and affection, and they can make a positive difference in the lives of those in need.
Before starting therapy dog training, it is important to first enrol your dog in a basic dog training program to establish the fundamentals, including basic manners, obedience, and social skills. This initial training will help your dog develop the good manners and social skills required for therapy dog work. Therapy dogs should be well-mannered, well-behaved, and comfortable with meeting and interacting with people in all types of settings. They should be friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and at ease in all situations.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends that dogs pass the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test before enrolling in therapy training school or program. This test covers friendliness, obedience, and behaviour around people and other dogs. It helps prepare dogs for therapy training and certification. The AKC Therapy Dog Program recognises dogs and their owners who have volunteered as a therapy dog team. To earn the AKC Therapy Dog title, you and your dog must complete at least 50 therapy visits to schools, hospitals, or other facilities, with proper documentation.
In addition to the AKC, there are other therapy dog certification programs and organisations, such as Support Dog Certification, Therapy Dogs International, and Pet Partners. These organisations offer evaluations, home-study courses, and workshops for therapy dogs and their handlers. It is important to research these organisations and find the best fit for you and your dog, as they may have specific requirements, courses, and testing procedures.
Therapy dogs should be comfortable around medical equipment and be able to keep their composure around gurneys, wheelchairs, alarms, and sirens. They should also meet specific health requirements, including current vaccinations and routine heartworm prevention.
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Health: Vaccinations, heartworm prevention, and a clean bill of health
Before your dog can begin their therapy dog journey, they must meet specific health requirements. These requirements are in place to ensure the safety of your dog and the vulnerable patients they will be visiting.
At a minimum, your dog should have current vaccinations and be on routine heartworm prevention medication. Heartworm is a serious and potentially fatal disease that is transmitted by mosquitoes. It is important to protect your dog from this disease, especially if they will be spending time in healthcare settings.
In addition to vaccinations and heartworm prevention, your dog must have a clean bill of health from your veterinarian. This means that your dog should be in good overall health and free from any contagious or serious illnesses. It is important to note that different therapy dog organizations may have their own specific health requirements, so be sure to research the requirements of your chosen organization.
By ensuring that your dog is up to date on their vaccinations, protected from heartworm, and in good overall health, you can help set them up for success as a therapy dog and keep both your dog and the patients they serve safe and healthy.
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Evaluation: Supervised visits to medical facilities and final assessment
The process of becoming a hospital therapy dog is a rigorous one, and for good reason. Therapy dogs are expected to be well-mannered, obedient, and friendly, and to provide comfort and emotional support to patients, staff, and healthcare providers. The evaluation process is designed to ensure that dogs and their handlers are well-prepared for the challenges of working in a hospital environment.
The first step in the evaluation process is for the dog and handler to participate in supervised visits to medical facilities. These visits are an opportunity for the dog to become accustomed to the hospital environment and to interact with patients, staff, and healthcare providers. The dog must demonstrate its ability to remain calm and composed around medical equipment, such as gurneys and wheelchairs, as well as alarms and sirens, which are common in hospital settings. The dog must also be comfortable with being handled, sometimes clumsily, by unfamiliar people.
During these supervised visits, the dog's temperament and behaviour will be closely monitored by evaluators. The dog must be friendly, patient, confident, and gentle, and must not show any signs of aggression towards people or other animals. The dog should also be well-trained and responsive to its handler's commands. The handler, in turn, must demonstrate their ability to control and manage the dog effectively.
The number of supervised visits required may vary depending on the organisation or certification programme. For example, the American Kennel Club's (AKC) Therapy Dog Program requires at least 50 therapy visits, which must be documented with the time, date, location, and a signature from a staff member at the facility. Other organisations, such as Pet Partners, may have their own specific requirements and standards that must be met before a dog and handler can become a registered therapy team.
After completing the supervised visits, the dog and handler will typically undergo a final assessment or evaluation. This may involve a more comprehensive evaluation of the dog's temperament, obedience, and handling skills. The final assessment ensures that the dog is well-suited to the unique demands of working in a hospital environment and can provide the necessary emotional support to patients and staff.
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Registration: Certified by an AKC-recognised therapy dog organisation
To become a hospital therapy dog, registration and certification by an AKC-recognised therapy dog organisation are required. The American Kennel Club (AKC) Therapy Dog program recognises therapy work performed by dogs through accepted organisations based on the number of visits. The more visits a dog makes, the more titles they can earn.
The first step is to have your dog trained and certified by a qualified therapy dog organisation. The AKC does not certify therapy dogs; this is done by recognised therapy dog organisations, which are the experts in this field. The certification process involves screening both volunteers and dogs, providing educational material to volunteers, and offering liability insurance for when the dog and handler are volunteering in a therapy setting.
Dogs must be at least one year old to become therapy dogs and should have lived with their owner/handler for at least six months to be eligible for evaluation. Therapy dogs must be friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and at ease in all situations. They must enjoy human contact and be content with being petted, cuddled, and handled by unfamiliar people.
The following is a list of AKC-recognised therapy dog organisations:
- Alliance of Therapy Dogs (formerly Therapy Dogs, Inc.)
- Bright Spot Therapy Dogs, Inc. (New England)
- Canine Inspired Change (Greater Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN)
- Canine Link Therapy Dogs (Berkshire County, MA; NW Corner, CT; Columbia County, NY)
- Caring Animal Partners, Inc. (NH and VT)
- Caring Canines Therapy Dogs, Inc. (Lake County, FL)
- Caring K9s, Inc. (West Central FL)
- Certified Therapy Dog, Inc. (Palm Beach County, FL)
- CHAMP Assistance and Therapy Dogs, Inc. (Greater St. Louis)
- Comfort Caring Canines Therapy Dogs, Inc. (southeastern PA, NJ, DE, MD)
- Companion Animal Association of AZ., Inc. (Greater Phoenix, Maricopa County)
- Creatures and Kids, Inc. (Oklahoma)
- Crisis Response Canines, Inc.
- Dog B.O.N.E.S. Therapy Dogs of Massachusetts
- Doggieland Comfort Companions (Greater Madison, WI)
- Dogs On Call (DOC): An Easter Seals Program (central and southeastern Alabama)
- Dogs on Duty (Greater St. Louis area)
- Duo Dogs, Inc. (MO: St. Louis metropolitan area)
- Furry Friends Pet Assisted Therapy Services (California — San Jose and Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties)
- Furry Friends Therapy Dogs, Inc. (Coos County, OR)
- Gabriel’s Angels Therapy Dogs (Central & South AZ)
- Got Your Six Support Dogs (Greater St. Louis area)
- H.A.B.I.T. (Human Animal Bond in Tennessee)
- Hands and Paws, Inc. (Hapi Pet Therapy) (South Central KS)
- Healing Heart Therapy Dogs, Inc. (Nebraska)
- Healing Hounds, Inc. (front range CO)
- Heeling Friends, Inc. (Steamboat Springs, CO)
- Hero Dogs, Inc. (Washington DC area)
- Independent Therapy Dogs, Incorporated (Select cities in CA, NV, and WA)
- Infinite Possibilities Animals, Inc. (Milwaukee, WI)
- Intermountain Therapy Animals and the Reading Education Assistance Dogs® (R.E.A.D. ®)
- Invisible Paw Prints, Inc.
- Legacy Therapy Dogs, Inc. (Greater Quad Cities)
- Lend A Heart Animal Assisted Therapy (Greater Sacramento, CA)
- Lend A Paw Therapy Dogs (Greater Los Angeles/Santa Clarita, CA)
- Lincolnshire Animal Hospital Therapy Dog Group (NE Illinois area)
- Literacy Education Assistance Pups – LEAP (Delaware)
- National Capital Therapy Dogs, Inc. (Washington DC, Baltimore, eastern MD, southern VA, Delmarva region)
- New York Therapy Animals, Inc. (NYC and boroughs)
- Paws and Think, Inc. (Greater Indianapolis, IN)
- P.A.W.S. Anne Arundel County (MD)
- Paws As Loving Support (Sonoma/Marin counties, CA)
- Paws For Friendship, Inc.
- Paws For Healing, Inc. (northern CA-Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Marin counties)
- Paws For Love Therapy Dogs, Inc. (Salem/McMinnville, OR)
- Paws’itive Teams, Inc. (San Diego County, CA)
- P.A.W.S. Therapy Team (Ohio – Mahoning Valley)
- Paws with Love Therapy Dogs, Inc.
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Frequently asked questions
A therapy dog must be friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and at ease in all situations. They must enjoy human contact and be content to be petted, cuddled, and handled by unfamiliar people. Therapy dogs should also be well-mannered, well-behaved, and have a calm demeanor.
The requirements vary depending on the organisation, but generally, dogs must be at least one year old and have lived with their owner for at least six months. They should also have current vaccinations, be on routine heartworm prevention, and have a clean bill of health from a veterinarian. In addition, the American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends that dogs pass the Canine Good Citizen test before enrolling in therapy training. To earn the AKC Therapy Dog title, dogs and their owners must complete at least 50 therapy visits, which are then documented and submitted for review.
Handlers must attend a hospital orientation and pass background and health screenings. They must also participate in training visits and commit to a certain number of visits per month.
