Therapy Dog Certification

Can My Dog Be a Therapy Dog?

At Compassionate Care Therapy Canines, any breed or mixed-breed dog at least one-year-old can be a therapy dog. Of course, you also must consider your pup's disposition, behavior, and willingness to train. You also need to take into account your own behavior and personality.

You can train your dog to help them pass their tests, but you need the right personality and disposition. It’s important to understand that your pup is only half of the team when it comes to being a therapy dog. You, as their handler, will also be visiting the children, patients, and others your dog is trying to help.

Does your dog already have a natural affinity for socializing with people and remaining well-behaved in public? Likewise, are you empathetic, with a desire to help others? If so, you and your dog may already be in a good place to start spreading joy. However, you can’t just waltz into a hospital with your dog and announce that they’re a therapy dog.

If you’re considering your dog becoming an emotional support animal, you must first go through a few steps. Your dog needs the proper certification to become a therapy dog. It’s wise for both of you to go through the proper training. Then you can ensure you and your dog are fully prepared to carry out the duties of a therapy dog.

Does your dog already have a natural affinity for socializing with people and remaining well-behaved in public? Likewise, are you empathetic, with a desire to help others? If so, you and your dog may already be in a good place to start spreading joy. However, you can’t just waltz into a hospital with your dog and announce that they’re a therapy dog.

If you’re considering your dog becoming an emotional support animal, you must first go through a few steps. Your dog needs the proper certification to become a therapy dog. It’s wise for both of you to go through the proper training. Then you can ensure you and your dog are fully prepared to carry out the duties of a therapy dog.

At Compassionate Care Therapy Canines, any breed or mixed-breed dog at least one-year-old can be a therapy dog. Of course, you also must consider your pup's disposition, behavior, and willingness to train. You also need to take into account your own behavior and personality.

You can train your dog to help them pass their tests, but you need the right personality and disposition. It’s important to understand that your pup is only half of the team when it comes to being a therapy dog. You, as their handler, will also be visiting the children, patients, and others your dog is trying to help.

1. First and foremost, you need to fill out our background clearance form. Once we get a positive background clearance, we will schedule you for the Certified Canine Therapy Companion course at no cost to you.

2. The Certified Canine Therapy Companion course, is an 8-week training course. With your commitment and consistency, you can effectively pass this text as well as the Dog International requirements for therapy dog certification. Once completed and passed the evaluation, we will reimburse you for the cost.

3. Once you have completed the course and have been certified, we will schedule you for a physical and a fecal test for your dog, and a blood test for you.

4. The Veterinarian will complete our physical requirement form as well as the fecal test results, which we will collect from you and keep in your file. This requirement is a yearly requirement. This physical, testing and blood work is at no cost to you.

5. Once we have all the information, such as the dog physical and fecal test results with no problems, including your blood work; we will schedule you for your Therapy Dog Team Certification.

6. We will also provide you with leash requirements of 4 feet and 6 feet, so you can work with the dog. Including a collar which is non-intrusive. We also provide you with a embroidered scarf and a dog vest attesting you are a certified therapy dog team.

7. Once you are certified as a therapy dog team, we will provide you with a list of organization who can benefit from your services. You have to contact the organizations and let them know of your availability and their requirements. As a therapy dog volunteer, you are not an employee of Compassionate Care Therapy Canines, Inc. However, we will compensate you for your time and expenses during your visit to those who need your services.

Steps to Certification

After looking at all the possibilities and procedures, it’s time to decide if becoming a therapy dog is right for your pup. Choosing to make your dog a therapy dog involves time and patience. It also takes a willingness on your part to do the work. But once you decide and pass the appropriate tests, you’ll find all sorts of opportunities to help others.

If you are prepared to offer compassionate and emotional support to those in need, we invite you to click here and submit your application via mail or email at contact@therapycanines.org.

Upon receiving your application, we will perform a background check. If everything is in order, we will reach out to you to register both you and your dog for the Good Citizen Certification, followed by an appointment with a Veterinarian for a physical and a fecal test for your dog and a blood test for you as the dog handler.

Once we get the positive results, we will schedule you and your dog for certification as a therapy dog team, with the Dog International Registry Certification, all at no cost to you or your furry friend. Once you successfully complete the certification, we will provide you with credentials and a list of locations where you and your dog can deliver the invaluable services of a therapy dog

Are you ready to volunteered for the therapy dog program? If you are, then click here to download the package which includes all the forms and certifications you will need to get started.

We look forward to working with you to make sure that you are both certified as a Therapy Dog Team.

Are Your Ready Change Lives?

How You Can Help?

Join us in providing heartfelt care and emotional comfort to those in greatest need through the loving presence of specialized therapy dogs.