Certified Therapy Dog, Inc.

The foundation certification covering 10 essential behavioral skills that demonstrate good manners and responsible ownership.

• Accepting a friendly stranger
• Sitting politely for petting
• Allowing basic grooming
• Walking on a loose lead
• Walking through a crowd
• Sit, down, and stay on command
• Coming when called
• Appropriate reaction to another dog
• Appropriate reaction to distractions
• Supervised separation

Advanced real-world testing in parks, sidewalks, and community settings. Dogs must demonstrate good manners in everyday situations with people and other dogs.

• Dog stands, sits, or lies down and waits
• Walks on leash through a crowd
• Walks past distractions on leash
• Walks past another dog (3-4 feet)
• Sit-stay in small group (3 dogs)
• Allows petting while handler talks
• Leaves food/treat when told
• Down or sit stay (distance)
• Recall with distractions present
• Dog ignores distractions (visual/sound)

The highest level certification for urban environments with traffic, noise, and complex distractions. Prepares dogs for the most challenging therapy work settings.

• Exit/enter doorway or gate calmly
• Walks through crowd (on leash)
• Walks past busy street/traffic
• Walks past café/restaurant seating
• Walks through door/narrow passage
• Sits politely near outdoor café
• Ignores food on sidewalk
• Down (handler goes 20 feet away)
• Ignores dog across street
• Supervised separation in public