Therapy Dog Certification Training
Prepare your dog to bring comfort, joy, and healing to those in need through professional therapy dog training and certification.
Therapy Dog Training & Certification
Our Therapy Dog Training program prepares dogs and handlers to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Therapy dogs visit hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and community centers, providing emotional support and comfort to people facing challenging situations.
We work with you through the entire certification process, from initial temperament assessment to advanced training and official therapy dog testing. Your dog will learn to remain calm, gentle, and focused in unpredictable environments while interacting with diverse populations.
Temperament & Behavior Assessment
Comprehensive evaluation of your dog's temperament, social skills, and readiness for therapy work in various settings.
Certification Preparation
Structured training to meet therapy dog certification standards, including obedience, handling, and environmental exposure.
Start Your Therapy Dog Journey
Begin with a professional evaluation to assess your dog's suitability for therapy work and create a personalized training plan.
Professional evaluation required for all therapy dog candidates
What Makes a Great Therapy Dog
Successful therapy dogs possess a unique combination of temperament, training, and social skills that enable them to provide comfort in any environment.
Calm & Gentle Temperament
Naturally friendly, patient, and comfortable with being touched, petted, and handled by strangers of all ages.
Solid Obedience Foundation
Reliable response to basic commands and excellent impulse control in distracting environments.
Confidence in New Settings
Adaptable and unbothered by unusual sounds, medical equipment, wheelchairs, walkers, and unpredictable movements.
Exceptional Social Skills
Enjoys meeting new people and remains calm and friendly around other animals in shared spaces.
Desire to Comfort
Naturally seeks out and enjoys human interaction with a gentle, intuitive approach to people in need.
Handler Bond & Focus
Strong connection with handler and ability to maintain focus on work despite environmental distractions.
Your Path to Certification
A structured, step-by-step approach to prepare your dog for therapy work and official certification testing.
Foundation & Assessment
- Comprehensive temperament evaluation
- Basic obedience reinforcement (sit, down, stay, come)
- Introduction to handling by strangers
- Environmental exposure to various settings
Advanced Socialization
- Exposure to medical equipment and mobility aids
- Practice with diverse populations (children, elderly, special needs)
- Distraction training and impulse control
- Group settings and crowded environments
Certification Preparation
- Mock certification testing scenarios
- Handler coaching and partnership development
- Final skill refinement and polish
- Official therapy dog certification test
Canine Good Citizen Program
Our therapy dog training includes all three progressive levels of the AKC Canine Good Citizen certification, the gold standard for dog behavior and a prerequisite for most therapy dog work.
Canine Good Citizen
The foundation certification covering 10 essential behavioral skills
- 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
Community Canine
Advanced real-world testing in public settings and community environments
- 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)
Urban Canine Good Citizen
The highest level for urban environments with traffic, noise, and complex distractions
- 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
Why CGC Matters for Therapy Dogs
The Canine Good Citizen certification is recognized in 48 U.S. states and is often a prerequisite for therapy dog work. It demonstrates that your dog has the temperament, training, and reliability needed to interact safely with the public. All three levels are included in our therapy dog training program at no additional cost.
Make a Difference in Your Community
Certified therapy dogs provide comfort and support in a wide range of settings, each offering unique opportunities to help others.
Hospitals & Healthcare
Visit patients, provide comfort during recovery, and support healthcare workers in medical facilities.
Nursing Homes & Assisted Living
Bring joy to elderly residents and provide companionship to those in long-term care facilities.
Schools & Universities
Support students during stressful times, participate in reading programs, and help create calm learning environments.
Libraries & Community Centers
Offer reading support programs and community events that promote literacy and emotional wellbeing.
Crisis Response & Disaster Relief
Provide emotional support during emergencies, natural disasters, and community crises.
Special Needs Programs
Work with individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, and therapeutic programs.
Therapy Dog Training FAQs
Ready to Begin Your Therapy Dog Journey?
Take the first step toward making a meaningful difference in your community. Schedule a professional evaluation to see if your dog has what it takes to become a certified therapy dog.