Certified Course 
Accredited Course Trained to Provide Comfort and Affection○ Understand the Role of a Therapy Dog
○ Bond With Your Therapy Dog
○ Learn Essential Obedience Skills
○ Correct Unwanted Behaviors
○ Understand Handler’s Job
○ Enhance Socialisation and Desensitization
○ Prepare for Therapy Dog Application
Estimated course completion time: 3 to 12 weeks
Find the complete learning plan in the Syllabus below.
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Are you looking forward to working with your dog to visit facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, and schools, or train your pet dog for various forms of assistance, with an emphasis on therapy training? This online therapy dog training course can be an excellent solution for you and your dog. Our online Certified Therapy Dog Training Course is developed by the SDTSI team of trusted, experienced behavioral experts, who have 30+ years of combined professional animal care and dog training experience.
This course will help you learn:
• the benefits therapy dogs can provide
• basic control for therapy work
• conditioning the dog to handling
• public access and a wide variety of specific animal-assisted therapy tasks
Friendly dogs and friendly owners who are willing to work as a team and get quick access to visit care centers, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, libraries, etc, and enrich the lives of people thereby interacting with them.
Dogs should be one year or older. Be house trained, vaccinated, and well-groomed.
A therapy dog is a trained canine that provides comfort, companionship and love to those in need. Therapy dogs are used in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, libraries and other settings to provide physical and psychological support for people with various ailments.
To be certified as a therapy dog, you must have your pet evaluated and certified by a national therapy dog organization such as Therapy Dog International, Alliance of Therapy Dogs or Pet Partners. Your pet will need to pass an obedience test and demonstrate the skills necessary to effectively interact with people in special situations.
Having a therapy dog can provide numerous benefits both to the owner and those interacting with the pet. Therapy dogs are known to reduce stress, alleviate depression and provide comfort to people who may be suffering from various physical or mental disabilities. They can also assist those with mobility concerns by providing assistance and companionship. Additionally, therapy dogs serve as a source of education and open communication, as they are often used to help children learn social and emotional skills. By giving their owners unconditional love and support, therapy dogs bring joy to all those around them.
Therapy dogs require specialized training in order to provide the best care and assistance to their owners and those interacting with the pet. This training should include socialization, obedience skills and understanding how to interact with people of all ages. Depending on the type of therapy the dog will be providing, additional tasks such as retrieving items or pressing buttons may also need to be taught. Furthermore, therapy dogs must understand proper etiquette so that they can interact with people in a calm and safe manner. This will ensure that everyone involved is comfortable and the therapy session goes smoothly.
When using a therapy dog, it is important to take safety into consideration. In order to ensure that interactions are always positive and appropriate, the handler should always be nearby and aware of what is happening between the dog and other people. The handler must also know how to safely manage situations that may arise such as high energy levels or aggressive behavior. Additionally, it is important to avoid feeding the therapy dog during a session in order to ensure that it remains focused on its work. Finally, it is important to keep the therapy dog on a leash or in a controlled environment at all times for safety reasons.
By following these basic safety guidelines, we can ensure that therapy dogs are used safely and effectively so that their positive effects can be enjoyed by everyone involved.
If your therapy dog is exhibiting any form of aggression, the most important thing to do is to remain calm and separate them from people or other animals as quickly as possible. Additionally, it is essential to understand the root cause of the aggression so that steps can be taken to resolve the issue. Some common causes of aggression include fear, lack of training, or improper socialization.
If the behavior persists, it is important to seek professional help from an animal behavior specialist who can provide advice and guidance on how to best address the issue. It may also be beneficial to enroll your therapy dog in an obedience class that focuses on positive reinforcement techniques. By understanding the source of your therapy dog's aggression and working to resolve it in a safe, positive manner, you will be able to ensure that your therapy dog is happy and healthy.
Additionally, it is important to make sure that your therapy dog gets plenty of exercise each day. Exercise can help reduce stress levels and provide an outlet for pent up energy that might be causing aggressive behavior. Taking your therapy dog out for regular walks, allowing them to play in a fenced-in area and engaging in fun activities such as agility courses can all help keep your therapy dog content and reduce any aggression issues.
Finally, it is important to remember that even though your therapy dog may act out of aggression, it is still important to show them love and kindness. Providing positive reinforcement for good behavior can help your therapy dog learn how to handle situations better in the future. With patience and practice you and your therapy dog can work together to find a solution that will keep everyone safe and happy.
1. receive a qualified therapy dog, an official therapy dog ID, which will allow you and your dog to access care centers or other therapy dog allowed facilities. To view a sample of the award, please click here.
2. obtain a certificate issued by SERVICEDOG TRAINING SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL: Therapy Dog Certificate. To view a sample, please click here.
The course fee includes the printable service dog certificate. The digital copy will be sent within 24 hours upon successful course completion.
It means your dog has been trained to perform the work or task as a therapy dog.
The primary purpose of certification is to ensure that your dog is fully trained as a therapy dog, and that you are ready to pass any of the various certification tests after completing the course.
This introductory chapter discusses therapy dogs, which are dogs that are trained to provide comfort and joy to patients, students, or others in a hospital, school, or other group care setting. Therapy dogs primarily assist individuals in emotional ways, although they may also provide physical benefits. Unlike service dogs, therapy dogs are not specifically trained to perform tasks that assist people with disabilities. The lesson outlines the requirements for therapy dogs to be certified and trained to become certified therapy dogs. Additionally, it briefly defines therapy dog teams, therapy team handlers and dogs, emotional support dogs, and service dogs in training.
Therapy dogs come in various breeds and can provide Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) or Personal-Assistance Therapy (PAT) for those with mental and physical disabilities. AAT uses domesticated animals, including dogs, to aid in treatment by providing social interaction and a calming effect. PAT introduces patients to the benefits of service animals and is designed to help individuals improve their quality of life. The lesson will also cover:
-A Male Therapy Dog or A Female Therapy Dog?
-How Old Must A Therapy Dog Be?
-What Makes A Good Therapy Dog?
-How does Animal-Assisted Therapy work?
-Who can benefit from Animal-Assisted Therapy?
-Does AAT have risks?
It's important for therapy dog handlers to know how to properly pick up their dogs, regardless of size. This can improve the relationship with the dog and provide more options in different situations, allowing the dog to interact with people during therapy dog visits. This lesson will cover:
-How Should You Pick Up Your Dog?
-How do I massage my dog?
-Why cuddle a dog?
-Communication
-Empathy
Positive emotions can be built during training sessions by paying attention to a dog's body language and being consistent in communication. Clear communication ultimately promotes good behavior and strengthens the bond between dog and owner.
The best way to train your dog is through positive reinforcement and rewards, and but it is important to understand when and how to use them properly. Positive reinforcement, which involves rewarding good behavior with treats, toys, verbal praise, or petting, is an effective way to train dogs. The key is to select rewards that motivate your dog and use them consistently during training. Proper timing of reinforcement is important to reinforce desired behaviors. This lesson will cover:
-What is Positive Reinforcement and how does it work?
-What if my rewards are not working?
-What type of rewards should I use?
-Is there a wrong way to reward my dog?
-Learn 'Hand Feeding' Before Your Training
-Basic obedience skills (come/recall; stay; sit; down; walking on a leash; heeling)
-Clicker training
A therapy dog has to be calm and in a good temper, especially when working with patients. They should not bark excessively and should be gentle when interacting with people. A therapy dog needs to be able to handle a lot of different situations and remain calm under pressure. Dogs that are disruptive or destructive in public may also be unsuitable for the role of a therapy dog. This lesson will help you address some common behavior problems. The topics covered include:
-How to correct your dog’s eagerness to jump on people
-Using body language to communicate
-How to address barking at visitors and passerby
-How to deal with a dog pulling on a leash
-How to deal with a begging dog
A therapy dog handler's job is to provide comfort and support to people who are going through a tough time. You do this by providing love, companionship, and emotional support to your patients. If you're interested in becoming a qualified therapy dog handler, there are a few things you should know. This lesson will cover the following topics:
-What vaccines a dog needs?
-How can I brush my dog’s teeth?
-Recommendations on caring for your therapy dog (flea control, dental care and more)
Socialization is crucial for therapy dogs to feel comfortable in new environments and with different people, animals, and situations. Puppy socialization should start early and involve positive interactions with as many things as possible. Reinforcement through praise and rewards can help create positive associations. Introducing puppies to new situations and people is crucial to their social development, and training them to sit, stay, and come when called is important for their safety. This lesson will cover the following topics:
-What skills are needed before socializing?
-How to socialize your dog with other dogs
-Does your dog welcome petting?
-Five ways to pet a dog
The lesson describes the process of becoming a therapy team, including the steps necessary for the registration of the dog and the handler in a facility. The lesson explains how a dog owner can train and prepare their pet to become a therapy dog and the importance of fulfilling the facility's requirements. The lesson also presents examples of exercises and activities that a therapy team can perform with patients in care homes, as well as the benefits of bringing therapy dogs into schools. The lessons covers the following topics:
-What to expect from facility entry test
-Examples of therapy dog team visits
-What is your impact on the people you visit, the caregiver
-Support for the dog
At the end of each training session, our tutor team will conduct an online evaluation of your training progress. You will be asked to complete a quiz and submit photos and videos of your dog performing specific tasks and exhibiting proper public behaviors. This method of continual assessment ensures that your personal trainer can consistently monitor your training progress, provide you with assistance throughout the course, and prepare you for final certification and public testing.
All study materials
⊛ 8 lessons
⊛ 10 videos
⊛ 8 exams
⊛ 9hrs 13mins time to complete
⊛ Certificate upon completion
Study and Training Guide
Full Tutor and Admin support
The course fee includes the printable service dog certificate. The digital copy will be sent within 24 hours upon successful course completion.
