Therapy Dog Training from A to Z
Roxy™ Therapy Dogs was recently at the National Dog Show, and the #1 question at our table was, “How do I get started?” Have no fear, this article will cover that.
But First Things First
There was some confusion about therapy dogs, service dogs, and emotional support animals, so let’s start there.
What Is A Service Dog?
Service dogs are owned by a person and help that specific person with particular tasks. They are trained to help make one person’s life easier. Whether they alert their owner when their blood sugar is getting low or help them pick up items off the floor, a service dog’s job is to do work for their owner.
Service dogs are covered under the ADA, and business owners cannot refuse a service dog access to any public place. There are no tests or certifications for service dogs, and business owners are only allowed to ask two specific questions.
Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? (do not ask what the disability is)
What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
That’s it. Service dogs often wear a vest, but it isn’t required. When in public, if you see a service dog – don’t pet them – they’re working!
However, even though service dogs are permitted access everywhere, there are some rules. They must always remain with their owner. So, if a person were to book a hotel room that doesn’t accept dogs, the dog couldn’t be left in the room when the owner isn’t present.
The ADA has more information about service dogs.
And watch out for scam trainers charging thousands and organizations offering service dog certifications.
What Is An Emotional Support Animal?
Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are pets that, just by nature of being with their person, provide comfort and reduce stress. People with debilitating issues like anxiety, depression, and other mental or emotional conditions benefit from ESAs. Their job, like service animals, is to support one person—their owner. There is no specific training or legitimate certification for an Emotional Support Animal.
Emotional Support Animals are covered under the Fair Housing Act. This allows them to live with their person, even in “no-pet” facilities. However, unlike service dogs, it is up to individual businesses to determine whether they want to allow ESAs.
Disability Rights California has information about assistance animals in housing.
What Is A Therapy Dog?
Therapy dogs are pets that are trained to provide comfort and support to others. Therapy dogs are allowed no special protections under the law and are not allowed anywhere other than where pets are permitted in public (except the places that invite them for a visit). They may be handled only by the person they’re certified with while working (usually their owner).
Therapy dogs bring smiles and reduce stress in places such as schools, hospitals, and nursing homes.
To learn more about therapy dog work, read on…
What Makes A Good Therapy Dog?
Therapy dogs come from all breeds and breed mixes and come in all shapes and sizes. Therapy dogs are part nature and part nurture.
First, the nature. Therapy dogs must like people other than their owners. This is the single most important trait in a therapy dog. They can’t be nervous or dislike being handled by strangers.
If that sounds like your dog, the rest is training. Think your dog loves people but is excitable? Training can calm them down and teach them the skills they need.
How To Get Started
If you’re thinking of getting a dog that you’d like to do therapy dog work with, make sure they like people. Ask the shelter, foster home, or breeder which one might fit the bill. For example, read more about how Roxy volunteer Chuck found Cooper.
If you have a puppy, start them out right with socialization and puppy classes.
But if you have an adult dog, the first step is the therapy dog test.
Many organizations certify therapy dogs (and cover insurance on you and your dog when you’re working).
In the Delaware Valley area (where Roxy dogs work), the two most common certifying organizations are Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs and Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Both are national, well-respected organizations.
If you don’t think you’re ready for the test, there are loads of therapy dog prep classes near you to help you and your dog succeed.
In the Bucks County / Montgomery County, PA area, therapy dog prep classes can be found at:
The Dog House Doylestown (trainer Susie Danzis)
What’s On The Therapy Dog Test?
The therapy dog test is a set of skills that includes both obedience and general skills, such as being handled and petted by a stranger, sitting and down, being comfortable with common equipment therapy dogs encounter (like wheelchairs and walkers), and walking through a crowd on a loose leash.
It bears repeating, if your dog likes people, you can train these skills – that’s where therapy dog prep classes come in.
Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dog test
Alliance of Therapy Dogs requirements
How Much Does It Cost To Train A Therapy Dog?
Please don’t be fooled by people charging thousands to train a therapy dog.
Some dogs benefit from a puppy kindergarten, basic manners, and therapy dog prep class before they take the test. Some dogs can either just pass the test or only need a therapy dog prep class to do so. You can talk to one of the training facilities listed above to find out where to start.
Either way, classes are a few hundred dollars (not thousands), and the certifying organizations usually charge around $30/year to keep your certification current.
Where Does An Organization Like Roxy Fit Into All Of This?
Once you pass your therapy dog certification, it’s time to think about who you and your dog might like to visit. Nursing homes usually love therapy dogs. Just give them a call to find out what they need (usually proof of your certification and a few vaccines). Hospitals will have their own requirements.
Organizations like Roxy make volunteering with your therapy dog easy. We accept both Bright and Beautiful and Alliance of Therapy Dogs certifications.
But if you want to work or volunteer with children in PA, you must undergo certain background checks. We help you get them. Plus, we have so many different opportunities available:
Roxy Therapy Dog volunteers work in every school in the Central Bucks School District. We are the only dogs allowed into the school, aside from service dogs and police dogs. We offer everything from reading to the dogs to student specialized support to stress relief in the high schools.
Volunteers also visit a variety of universities to offer stress relief – particularly during midterms and finals.
Roxy Therapy Dog teams support children at the Bucks County Courthouse
We visit medically fragile children at Pedia Manor
And our Roxy™ Responders trauma response teams are on the ready to help within 20 miles of Doylestown, PA
Getting started can be confusing. We hope you found this guide helpful. And, if you do want to volunteer with children, we hope you consider volunteering with Roxy!
