Therapy Dog Certification: A Step-by-Step Guide in 6 Steps

Therapy dogs bring comfort and joy to people in hospitals, nursing homes, and other community residences. Training your dog to be a therapy animal could be a wonderful way to give back and spread happiness. Dogs of any breed—large or small—can fulfill this valuable role.

Learn the necessary steps to train and certify your dog as a therapy animal.

Enroll in the AKC Good Citizen Program

A great way to start your journey into therapy training is by participating in the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program (CGC). This certification demonstrates that your dog is well-socialized, friendly, and possesses adequate basic training. Notably, CGC certification is often a prerequisite for many therapy dog programs.

Therapy dogs work with a dedicated handler, who is often the dog's owner, although this is not always the case. For example, if you believe your dog would excel as a therapy dog but do not have the time to dedicate yourself, another handler can accompany your dog through the program.

Complete a Therapy Dog Training Program

Once your dog has completed the Canine Good Citizen test, it should be ready to start targeted therapy training. To succeed in this setting, your dog must be capable of:

1. Stay relaxed and happy amid unfamiliar surroundings and people

2. Calmly tolerate unexpected noise and movement

3. Ignore distractions

4. Readily focus on its handler and obey commands, including:

• Watch me

• Leave it

• Go through

• Follow

• Under

• Get drink

• Quiet

"Depending on the program, the specific command word may vary," explains Dr. Lindsay Livengood, Program Director and behavioral consultant. "However, the commands must remain consistent within each program and within each dog."

You may wish to find a therapy dog training class run by an experienced, knowledgeable dog trainer. Pet Partners offers home-study courses and workshops for both therapy dogs and their human handlers.

Find a Therapy Dog Registration Program

During your dog's training to become an ideal therapy animal, begin researching official animal-assisted therapy organizations. Two internationally recognized groups include Pet Partners and Therapy Dogs International.

Remember that each animal-assisted therapy organization is somewhat different. Explore these groups to determine which is the best fit for you and your dog. Each one has its own set of standards, required courses, and specific testing before a handler and dog can become a registered therapy team.

Document Your Dog's Health

Therapy dogs must meet specific health requirements to ensure their safety and that of the people they visit. At a minimum, your dog should have current vaccinations, be on routine heartworm prevention, and have a clean bill of health from your veterinarian. Dogs fed a raw diet are not allowed to participate in some programs.

Complete the Final Evaluation Process

After completing all the requirements, a dog and its handler must undergo a final evaluation, or a series of evaluations, to become an official animal-assisted therapy team. Although the process can be complex and challenging, many dedicated handlers and their dogs find it exceptionally rewarding.

Schedule Your First Visit

When you and your dog are certified as a therapy team, you can start visiting facilities scheduled through your selected organization. This acts as the ultimate test of your dog’s behavior in real-world settings.

As you begin making a difference, you'll be grateful you invested the time in this process. You and your well-trained companion will bring joy to countless people and provide comfort to those who need it most.

Therapy Dog Disqualificaitions

While you may aspire for your pup to become an exemplary therapy dog, not all dogs will qualify. Each dog is unique, so do not be discouraged if yours does not succeed in training. 

Training sometimes reveals that a dog lacks the necessary temperament or attention span to perform the duties. It's also common to discover dogs who may not enjoy spending extended periods with strangers or who become easily startled in various environments.

Although any dog might possess the "right stuff" to become a therapy dog, experts from the internationally recognized Support Dog Certification registry advise that certain breeds are best suited to the job. 

These include:

• Golden retriever

• Poodle

• Labrador retriever

• Cavalier King Charles spaniel

• Pug

• German shepherd

• Beagle

• Greyhound

• Saint Bernard