What is a Therapy Dog?

A therapy dog volunteers time to the community by providing love and comfort to those who would benefit from the healing presence and unconditional love of a dog. It takes a very special dog to become a therapy dog; they must love all ages and types of people, be responsive to their handler, and be predictable in all scenarios. A Therapy Dog Team could report to a hospital, a school, a nursing home, a natural disaster site, or to any other facility that might benefit from a visit.

Requirements for Therapy Dogs International Certification:

The prerequisite requirements for the Therapy Dogs International (TDI) certification is they must have their Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification, they must be reliable around all ages and types of people, they must be friendly (or neutral) with other dogs, be current on required vaccinations, and most importantly they must LOVE to be loved by people! Whether you are starting from scratch with your dog or have already began to train, send us an email and we can find a course level that is suitable to help you meet your Therapy Dog goal!

The Format of the Coursework: 

Upon completion of our group courses or demonstration of equivalent skills (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced) your dog will have learned all the skills needed to pass the Canine Good Citizen Certification. Lindsay is a Certified AKC (CGC) Evaluator and as a reward for your hard work and diligence will happily test them (free of charge) after Advanced Obedience/CGC Prep graduation! Once they pass the Canine Good Citizen we will help you contact our local TDI Evaluator to schedule your Therapy Dog Test OR we offer a 1 hour TDI practice test to review the format and give you a bonus confidence boost to prepare for the final test.

Price: Each Course is $130 for 5 weeks (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced).  

Please Contact Us for more information, including upcoming course dates.