Rent safe and private dog parks hosted by locals

  1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. Dog Training
  4. How to Train a Therapy Dog

How to Train a Therapy Dog

David Adams photo

David Adams

July 13, 2022

Dog Training

How to Train a Therapy Dog thumbnail

* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *

If you’ve ever felt a little bit down and found that being around your dog helped you, you already understand the benefits of a therapy dog. Therapy dogs can provide relief from anxiety, help individuals cope while grieving, and offer comfort to people in hospitals, nursing homes, living facilities, and other situations. Therapy dog teams can deliver inspiration to people at some of their worst and most lonely moments. 

Training your puppy or adult dog as a therapy dog is a fantastic way to give back to your community and help others. Not only is it a way to bond with your dog, but it can have incredible benefits for all involved. 

However, it’s essential first to understand what therapy dogs are and how to train a therapy dog. 

What Is a Therapy Dog?

Therapy dogs provide comfort for people going through physical and/or emotional difficulties. It is essential to distinguish that therapy dogs are not service dogs and are not emotional support animals.

Service dogs receive full public access per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and provide a specific service(s) for a person. This can be everything from guide dogs (for vision-impaired people) to diabetic alert dogs to seizure alert dogs. Emotional support animals do not require special training or certifications but do require a prescription from a qualified mental health professional. 

Therapy dogs are allowed in places where all dogs are allowed, and specifically, allow therapy dogs. They do not have special rights like service dogs. 

Additionally, therapy dogs are typically trained by their owners, and the two are part of a “therapy team.” Once trained and certified, the therapy team can visit elderly living facilities, people in hospitals, juvenile detention centers, medical facilities, and other organizations. 

Why Train a Therapy Dog?

Canine therapy benefits for humans are significant and may include lowering blood pressure and heart rate, reducing anxiety, and increasing endorphins and oxytocin. You may not know that there have also been studies showing that therapy dogs benefit from their “work,” as endorphins and oxytocin are higher in therapy dogs than average household pets.

But not just any dog can be a therapy dog, and you can’t just take your dog to visit people in hospitals. Therapy dogs do need certification from, and registration in,  a reputable national therapy dog organization. 

Sniffspot Dog running on field

Get safe exercise for your dog by renting a private dog park near you

What Makes a Good Therapy Dog?

Therapy dogs come in all sizes and breeds; temperament is what matters. A certified therapy dog is friendly, patient, confident, and comfortable in all situations. They must be able to be petted, cuddled, and handled by unfamiliar people.  

Some of the essential skills and characteristics of your dog’s attitude include:

  • Social ability: How well does your dog connect with all kinds of people? Are they confident or dependent on others? Is your dog sensitive to unfamiliar persons? 
  • Touch sensitivity: How sensitive is your dog to being touched? Is your dog comfortable receiving affection from people?
  • Sound sensitivity: Is your dog sensitive to loud noises? What about in an unusual environment?
  • Stability: Is your dog easily startled when confronted with a strange or unknown object? How does your dog react to abnormal situations and environments?

While it may be common to assume all therapy dogs are Golden Retrievers, it’s just as possible and likely to see therapy dogs that are pitbull breeds. 

Smaller dogs can be great for sitting in laps, but larger dogs are tall enough to reach hospital beds. So, again, breed and size don’t matter at all. 

How to Train a Therapy Dog

It’s certainly never too late to become a therapy dog, but it is best to start training as early as possible. Proper and early socialization is key to a calm, cool, and collected adult dog. Have your puppy spend time around people of all different genders, body types, ages, personalities, and people who dress differently (hats are a common problem), people with facial hair, and people with various voices. 

General training, especially positive reinforcement training, is invaluable and necessary. While not mandatory, you’d be pretty lucky to have a dog that knows cues with no training. Therapy dogs in training should generally be:

  • Able to “leave it.” This is important when visiting hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and so on, where there are plenty of items that don’t need to find their way into your dog’s mouth, including medications and hazardous waste. 
  • Focused and not easily distracted. A therapy dog should be able to walk by another dog, a person, or anything tempting without reacting or chasing it. 
  • Able to follow basic cues, including sit, down, stay, come, and so on. 
  • Well-mannered. Your dog should be able to refrain from unwanted behaviors such as jumping, barking, or mouthing. These are undesirable manners for therapy dogs, but they can also be quite dangerous for the exact people you’re trying to provide comfort to in certain situations. 

Remember that having a successful therapy dog is a long game. It’s not as simple as deciding you want to teach them a trick, following a training schedule to teach said trick, and then in a couple of weeks, you’ve achieved your desired result. 

Learning to train a therapy dog requires a lot of work from both the dog and the handler. Make sure to trust the process, be patient, and know the commitment to training can be very rewarding. 

It may be worth it to consider working with a certified trainer to train your therapy dog using formal training. Working with a trainer allows the owner to have a clear path to success and to understand how the dog’s body language and behavior.

Get your dog the safe enrichment they need by renting a Sniffspot

Sniffspot Dog swimming in pool

How to Get Your Therapy Dog Certified

There are no state or federal rules or standards for therapy dog training. Training requirements for certified therapy dogs will differ based on the registering organization. 

While not always required, a good stepping stone is to take an obedience course called the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program, followed by the CGC test. This test, recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), is comprised of ten skill assessments, including sitting politely for petting, coming when called, and accepting a friendly stranger. A passing grade on the CGC test earns the dog the CGC title. 

Again this isn’t necessary, but if your dog can’t successfully complete these skills, they likely aren’t an excellent candidate or fit for therapy work. Additionally, completing the CGC test successfully may help get certain breeds of dogs approved in homes that typically have breed restrictions. 

A basic outline of getting your therapy dog certified looks like this:

  1. Socialize, socialize, socialize. Don’t overdo it, but it is crucial to introduce your dogs to new people, places, objects, environments, and experiences. Proper puppy socialization is crucial early on as well. 
  2. Complete a basic manners training program.
  3. Obtain the AKC Canine Good Citizen title for your dog.
  4. Enroll in and complete therapy dog classes.
  5. Complete the therapy dog evaluation and register with a national therapy dog organization.

Obtaining a therapy dog certification will depend on the therapy dog organization. In general, a therapy dog in training (and its owner) will:

  • Need to be at least one year old
  • Be up to date on vaccinations
  • Participate in a test
  • Be monitored by a tester during a specified number of visits to facilities

Trainers that reviewed this article

There is so much misinformation out there, we want to make sure we only provide the highest quality information to our community. We have all of our articles reviewed by qualified, positive-only trainers. The trainers that review our content are reviewed by other trainers to ensure that we have the best quality filters on our content. 

This is the trainer that reviewed this article:

Hallie Wells
Owner-Lumos Dog Training, Atlanta, GA 
Certified Professional Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA)
Fear Free Certified Professional (FFCP)
Applied Animal Behavior Analysts (UW-AABA)

Sniffspot Dog running on field

Get safe exercise for your dog by renting a private dog park near you

David Adams photo

David Adams

July 13, 2022

Dog Training

About Sniffspot

Sniffspot is a community marketplace that enables anyone to rent land by-the-hour as a safe and private dog park.

Follow us

Find Sniffspot on your favorite social media

TiktokInstagramFacebookYoutube
Related articles
Explore the Rottweiler: Genuine Tips from Real Dog Owners thumbnailExplore the Rottweiler: Genuine Tips from Real Dog Owners
Explore the Dachshund: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners thumbnailExplore the Dachshund: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners
Get to Know the Vizsla: Real-World Tips from Owners thumbnailGet to Know the Vizsla: Real-World Tips from Owners
All categories

Most recent articles

Explore the Rottweiler: Genuine Tips from Real Dog Owners thumbnailExplore the Rottweiler: Genuine Tips from Real Dog Owners
Explore the Rottweiler: Genuine Tips from Real Dog Owners thumbnail

Explore the Rottweiler: Genuine Tips from Real Dog Owners

Explore the Dachshund: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners thumbnailExplore the Dachshund: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners
Explore the Dachshund: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners thumbnail

Explore the Dachshund: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners

Get to Know the Vizsla: Real-World Tips from Owners thumbnailGet to Know the Vizsla: Real-World Tips from Owners
Get to Know the Vizsla: Real-World Tips from Owners thumbnail

Get to Know the Vizsla: Real-World Tips from Owners

Get to Know the Greyhound: Real-World Tips from Owners thumbnailGet to Know the Greyhound: Real-World Tips from Owners
Get to Know the Greyhound: Real-World Tips from Owners thumbnail

Get to Know the Greyhound: Real-World Tips from Owners

Explore the Belgian Malinois: Insider Tips From Real Dog Owners thumbnailExplore the Belgian Malinois: Insider Tips From Real Dog Owners
Explore the Belgian Malinois: Insider Tips From Real Dog Owners thumbnail

Explore the Belgian Malinois: Insider Tips From Real Dog Owners

Explore the Beagle: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners thumbnailExplore the Beagle: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners
Explore the Beagle: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners thumbnail

Explore the Beagle: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners

Top dog guides per area

Dog training guides

  • How to Deal With Food Aggression in Dogs (Facts + Infographic) thumbnail

    How to Deal With Food Aggression in Dogs (Facts + Infographic)

    Does your dog ever growl when you walk by their food dish? Maybe they get possessive of treats, carrying them far away and giving you side-eye when you start to approach — or snarling at your other pets or children if they get too close.

  • Comprehensive Guide to Scent Training for Dogs (Facts + Infographic) thumbnail

    Comprehensive Guide to Scent Training for Dogs (Facts + Infographic)

    As almost every dog owner is aware, the nose of a dog is an amazing thing. Just as they can pick up sounds we can’t hear, their sense of smell and ability to pick up scents is well beyond ours. In fact, dogs have 40 times the number of olfactory receptors as humans.

  • How Much Does it Cost to Train a Service Dog? thumbnail

    How Much Does it Cost to Train a Service Dog?

    More than 80 million Americans rely on their service dogs to help them navigate the world. Task-trained assistance animals perform a huge range of life-changing—in many cases, life-saving—services: These dogs act as eyes for visually impaired handlers, provide mobility support, alert to seizures and blood sugar crashes, interrupt anxiety attacks, remind their people to take medications, and so much more.

  • What is and How to Handle Potty Training Regression thumbnail

    What is and How to Handle Potty Training Regression

    You thought your dog was house trained. Your home was clean from puddles of pee, those dreaded middle-of-the-night bathroom breaks were behind you, and you loved every minute of dog ownership… until your four-legged best friend started using the bathroom inside again. What’s going on?

  • Coprophagia: Why Does Your Dog Eat Poop? thumbnail

    Coprophagia: Why Does Your Dog Eat Poop?

    Ah, poop. We humans think it’s disgusting… but many of our dogs seem to love the stuff. If you’re wondering why your canine companion tries to eat feces (either their own or that of other animals) you’re not alone!

Dog enrichment guides

  • The Best Dog Water Parks in the United States thumbnail

    The Best Dog Water Parks in the United States

    Do you have a water-loving dog looking to burn some energy? There are countless dog parks to visit throughout our country — but some of them become far too hot in the midday sun to be safe for your pets to play. That’s why we’ve put together a list of some of the best dog water parks throughout the United States! At these locations, your pup can frolic, splash, and swim to their heart’s content.

  • Best Toys for Herding Dogs thumbnail

    Best Toys for Herding Dogs

    * All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *

  • The Best Dog Toys for Aggressive Chewers (Facts + Infographic) thumbnail

    The Best Dog Toys for Aggressive Chewers (Facts + Infographic)

    Does your dog destroy every toy you give them? Is your house littered with remnants of fabric and stuffing of all different sizes? Are you tired of investing in “indestructible” toys only for your pup to still dismantle—or worse, get bored of—them in just a few days?

  • Dog Exercise Calculator: How Much Exercise Does Your Dog Need? thumbnail

    Dog Exercise Calculator: How Much Exercise Does Your Dog Need?

    You’ve been told your dog needs regular exercise. There’s a reason “walking the dog” is a classic daily activity: Frequent excursions give your pup a chance to experience the world, maintain a healthy weight, and — most importantly — spend time with you! Consistent physical activity can also improve their strength, muscle tone, coordination, and mental ability over time.

  • Complete Guide To Herding With Dogs thumbnail

    Complete Guide To Herding With Dogs

    * All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *

Dog reactivity guides

Sniffspot community guides

  • The State of Public Dog Parks Across the United States thumbnail

    The State of Public Dog Parks Across the United States

    From 2009 to 2020, there was a 40 percent increase in the development of public dog parks. Designated spots for canine exercise have become commonplace in every major city in North America — many pet owners won’t even consider renting an apartment that doesn’t have its own fenced-in pet area for their canine companions.

  • How This Family is Affording Their Dream Property Through Renting it Hourly to Dogs thumbnail

    How This Family is Affording Their Dream Property Through Renting it Hourly to Dogs

    Thousand Oaks, California has been a safe haven for Sniffspot host, Jen, since childhood. Having grown up in busy Santa Barbara, Jen, an introvert from an early age, would seek out solitude and serenity away from tourists attractions and droves of people visiting from elsewhere. “My grandparents own 60 acres about a 30 minute drive from here, and I grew up spending every summer and every holiday visiting them on the ranch,” Jen explained. “In Santa Barbara, we wouldn't go to the beach on the weekend because that's where everybody was, so you'd find places off the beaten path where the tourists weren't. For me, the ranch was just my happy place.” 

  • Host Tips: Ellen K. What Makes Sniffspot Successful for Me thumbnail

    Host Tips: Ellen K. What Makes Sniffspot Successful for Me

    Ellen is the host of Country Pasture Getaway, one of Sniffspot's most popular sniff spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great sniff spot host.

  • How this Oregon Farmer is Making a Business From Renting Her Land to Dogs thumbnail

    How this Oregon Farmer is Making a Business From Renting Her Land to Dogs

    Just 20 minutes outside of the busy city of Portland, Oregon, and settled right on the banks of the Columbia River, you’ll find what countless visitors have flocked to the area in search of – mountain views, crisp, clean air, and running water for miles. What you might not expect to find, however, is a hidden oasis designed just for dogs and their people, owned and operated by a farming couple and enjoyed by visitors on two legs, and four.  

  • Host Tips: Fran T. Providing Great Guest Service at our Spot thumbnail

    Host Tips: Fran T. Providing Great Guest Service at our Spot

    Fran is the host of Ranch Setting, one of Sniffspot's most popular spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great Sniffspot host.

Top dog trainers in the US

City dog parks guides

  • The Best Indoor Dog Parks in the United States thumbnail

    The Best Indoor Dog Parks in the United States

    Looking for a space to play with your dog no matter what the weather’s like outside? Look no further than our list of the best indoor dog parks in the United States! These climate-controlled spaces are growing in popularity as pet ownership increases throughout the country. As a bonus, many of them also offer dog training, boarding, grooming, or daycare services on the premises.

  • The Best Off-Leash Dog Parks in the United States thumbnail

    The Best Off-Leash Dog Parks in the United States

    Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog? We’ve got you covered! It’s hard to narrow down, but we’ve put together some of the best off-leash dog parks throughout the country so you can plan your next adventure — along with a checklist of what to bring, what to know beforehand, and some frequently asked questions.

  • The Best Las Vegas, Nevada Dog Parks thumbnail

    The Best Las Vegas, Nevada Dog Parks

    Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog in Las Vegas? We’ve got you covered! Take a look at the best local dog parks to plan for your next adventure in Sin City.

  • The Best United States Dog Parks thumbnail

    The Best United States Dog Parks

    Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog? We’ve got you covered!

  • The Best Portland, Oregon Dog Parks thumbnail

    The Best Portland, Oregon Dog Parks

    Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog in Portland? We’ve got you covered! Take a look at the best local dog parks and plan for your next adventure in the City of Roses.

Dogs breeds

  • Explore the German Shepherd Dog: Genuine Tips from Owners thumbnail

    Explore the German Shepherd Dog: Genuine Tips from Owners

    Discover the German Shepherd Dog, a breed celebrated for its intelligence, loyalty, and versatility. Known for its impressive size and smooth, graceful movements, German Shepherds excel in various roles, including as guide, therapy, bomb detection, and police dogs, while being a devoted family companion.

  • Explore the Labrador Retriever: Real Tips from Owners thumbnail

    Explore the Labrador Retriever: Real Tips from Owners

    Discover the Labrador Retriever, a breed celebrated for its playful nature, affectionate temperament, and trainability. Labradors are known for their friendly demeanor and adaptability, making them perfect family companions and versatile working dogs. As one of the most popular types of retrievers, Labs are ideal companions for various lifestyles and are recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as an excellent breed for families.

  • Explore the Golden Retriever: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners thumbnail

    Explore the Golden Retriever: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners

    Discover the Golden Retriever, a popular breed celebrated for its affectionate, playful, and trainable nature. Considered a large dog, Golden Retrievers were originally bred in Scotland for hunting and retrieving game beginning in the 1860s. Today, they're recognized by the Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club (AKC) as one of the most beloved companion dog breeds.

  • Explore the American Staffordshire Terrier: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners thumbnail

    Explore the American Staffordshire Terrier: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners

    Discover the American Staffordshire Terrier, a distinct breed celebrated for its playful, friendly, and loyal nature. Often confused with the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a separate breed of British origin, the American Staffordshire Terrier (AmStaff) is considered a medium-sized dog. While both breeds share some similarities, the AmStaff is generally larger and has been developed as a distinct breed in the United States.

  • Explore the Australian Shepherd: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners thumbnail

    Explore the Australian Shepherd: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners

    Discover the Australian Shepherd, an AKC breed celebrated for its trainable, playful, and affectionate nature. Despite its name, the Australian Shepherd is actually a native breed to the United States, originally developed to breed on farms and ranches. Considered a medium dog, Australian Shepherds were bred for herding beginning in the 1950s. As one of the high-energy breeds, Aussies are known for their boundless energy and need for regular exercise, including aerobic exercise.

Top dog names in the US

  • Top 1,000 Most Popular Dog Names thumbnail

    Top 1,000 Most Popular Dog Names

    Looking for the perfect dog name for your new pup? We have created filterable lists of dog names from our database of hundreds of thousands of Sniffspot users. You can filter by gender, breed and state to find the most cute, unique and creative dog names.
  • Most Popular Male Dog Names thumbnail

    Most Popular Male Dog Names

    Looking for the perfect dog name for your new male pup? We have created filterable lists of male dog names from our database of hundreds of thousands of Sniffspot users. You can filter by gender, breed and state to find the most cute, unique and creative male dog names.
  • Most Popular Female Dog Names thumbnail

    Most Popular Female Dog Names

    Looking for the perfect dog name for your new female pup? We have created filterable lists of female dog names from our database of hundreds of thousands of Sniffspot users. You can filter by gender, breed and state to find the most cute, unique and creative female dog names.
  • Most Popular Golden Retriever Names thumbnail

    Most Popular Golden Retriever Names

    Welcome to our comprehensive list of Golden Retriever dog names, curated from our vast database of Sniffspot users. Filter through hundreds of thousands of options by gender, breed, and state to discover the most adorable, original, and imaginative names for your beloved Golden Retriever.
  • Most Popular Labrador Retriever Names thumbnail

    Most Popular Labrador Retriever Names

    Welcome to our Labrador Retriever dog names page! Here you can browse through filterable lists of names for your beloved furry friend, ranging from cute and classic to unique and creative options. Our database of hundreds of thousands of Sniffspot users ensures you'll find the perfect name for your Labrador Retriever, whether you're seeking a name for a male or female, based on breed or state.

Top dog rescues in the US