{"id":449,"date":"2020-08-12T13:30:15","date_gmt":"2020-08-12T17:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sitmeanssit.com\/dog-training-mu\/naples-ft-myers-dog-training\/?p=449"},"modified":"2024-07-13T13:53:21","modified_gmt":"2024-07-13T17:53:21","slug":"your-questions-answered-training-a-therapy-dog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sitmeanssit.com\/dog-training-mu\/naples-ft-myers-dog-training\/your-questions-answered-training-a-therapy-dog\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Questions Answered: Training a Therapy Dog"},"content":{"rendered":"

Therapy dogs are trained to provide affection, comfort, and support to people in need. You can often find a therapy dog in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, and other areas where comfort might be needed.<\/p>\n

Therapy dogs are there to provide relief in a situation where people may feel anxiety. If you\u2019ve got a well-behaved dog that loves to be around people, you might be considering having it trained as a therapy dog.<\/p>\n

Therapy Dog or Service Dog?<\/h2>\n

Therapy dogs are entirely different than service dogs\u2014 and it\u2019s important to keep the two separate. Service dogs have been trained to perform specific tasks to assist people with disabilities. These dogs are also protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), giving them public access rights. Service dogs can go to places such as grocery stores and cannot be denied entry.<\/p>\n

Therapy dogs do not fall under ADA protection. While they may be trained and certified by reputable organizations, they are not trained to perform a potentially lifesaving task. Therapy dogs may be granted a courtesy invitation at the discretion of the establishment.<\/p>\n

Would My Dog Make a Good Therapy Dog?<\/h2>\n

Short answer: maybe.<\/p>\n

Your dog may be full of unconditional love, but that doesn\u2019t always mean they\u2019re the right fit. Typically, therapy dogs have to have reached adulthood; most accredited programs won\u2019t certify puppies. Additionally, some programs request your dog passes the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test for obedience. Other programs may require other tests in place of the CGC.<\/p>\n

Most likely, if your dog can\u2019t respond to the \u201cleave it\u201d command quickly it will not succeed.<\/p>\n

In addition to basic obedience, your dog must also have a naturally social temperament, be fairly calm, and have the desire to do the job. Like their human counterparts, not all dogs are suited for all jobs.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re interested in starting the process, we recommend a basic obedience course. Reach out to our team today<\/a> to learn what our obedience courses entail!<\/p>\n

Would I be a Therapy Dog Good Handler?<\/h2>\n

What surprises many prospective therapy dog owners is the need for them to also be well suited for the work. A therapy dog and its handler are a team, both need to be in the right headspace to be an effective therapy team.<\/p>\n

Your dog won\u2019t be the only one connecting with people. Sometimes, the dog handler is the only non-medical person a patient sees all day. That means you might be the only \u201cnormal\u201d conversation this person has had in a while.<\/p>\n

How Do I Get My Dog Certified as a Therapy Dog?<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve already had a CGC certification (also available through Sit Means Sit), it\u2019s time to get your pet certified!<\/p>\n

In general, most programs will look at the following:<\/p>\n