It's without question that all hospitals, etc. Require dogs to be professionally trained and certified before allowing them inside to interact with the public. First, let's reestablish that Therapy dogs are not to be confused with Service Dogs or Emotional Support Animals. A therapy dog is a dog who volunteers with their pet parent to provide comfort and support to people in settings such as schools, hospitals and assisted living facilities.
Therapy dogs come in all sizes and breeds. The most important characteristic of a therapy dog is its temperament. A certified therapy dog must be friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and at ease in all situations. Therapy dogs must enjoy human contact and be content to be petted, cuddled, and handled, sometimes clumsily, by unfamiliar people and to enjoy that contact.
If after reading this, you believe your dog and you would enjoy volunteering, here are some steps to get you started:
A great place to start your journey to therapy dog certification is to have your dog take the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Test, which are offered at many local AKC Training Clubs and all Petco locations nationwide. This step isn't necessarily required, although some therapy groups require that the dog pass the CGC test before taking their group's therapy test.
The CGC test evaluates dogs on the following:
Greets a friendly stranger
Sits politely for petting
Welcomes being groomed, brushed; allows paws and ears to be handled
Walks as directed on a loose leash
Moves politely through a crowd
Sits, lies down, and stays in place on command
Comes when called
Behaves politely around other dogs
Reacts with confidence to distractions
Can be left with a trusted person
After achieving a CGC certification, your next step will be to contact an organization to acquire your pet’s pet therapy certification. Organized therapy dog groups provide educational material to volunteers, they screen both volunteers and dogs, and they provide liability insurance for when the dog and handler are volunteering in a therapy setting. Although there are many organizations to choose from, here are a few reputable ones:
Alliance of Therapy Dogs (formerly Therapy Dogs, Inc.)
Pet Partners (previously Delta Society)
Therapy Dogs Incorporated (TD Inc.) – new name is Alliance of Therapy Dogs
A tester/observer in your area test you and your dog. This test includes a handling portion that tests your dog’s basic good manners, demeanor, and handling skills.
Some organizations also have testers/observers during visits with residents of medical facilities. Every organization handles things slightly different, so you can do your own research to decide on the one you'd like to join.
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