Steps to Successful Therapy Dog Training
- The PATS Team
- Oct 6
- 5 min read
Training therapy dogs is a rewarding journey that requires patience, consistency, and understanding. These special dogs provide comfort and support to people in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and other settings. To ensure your dog is ready for this important role, it’s vital to follow a structured, evidence-based training process, one that builds confidence and compassion in both you and your dog.
If you’re unsure where to start or want expert guidance every step of the way, my online course, The Therapy Dog Formula Blueprint™, walks you through the full process, from assessing suitability to developing calm, reliable, and confident therapy dogs.
🐶 Understanding the Basics of Training Therapy Dogs
Before beginning any training, it’s crucial to understand what makes a great therapy dog. These dogs must be calm, friendly, and well-behaved in a variety of environments. They should genuinely enjoy human interaction and remain composed in busy, unpredictable situations.
Start by getting a professional to assess your dog’s temperament. A dog that is easily startled or shows aggression may not be suited to therapy work. Ideal candidates are social, gentle, and adaptable.
Once suitability is confirmed, focus on basic obedience skills. Your dog should consistently respond to cues like sit, stay, come, and heel. These cues form the foundation for therapy work and are key components covered in The Therapy Dog Formula Blueprint™, which includes guided exercises and video demonstrations.
Use positive reinforcement with treats, praise, without any corrections.
Keep sessions short, upbeat, and fun to maintain enthusiasm.
Practise cues in different environments so your dog learns to generalise behaviours.
🦮 Key Techniques for Training Therapy Dogs
When training therapy dogs, consistency and patience are essential. Here are proven techniques to help your dog develop the calm, confident temperament required for therapy work.
🧍♀️ Socialisation
Expose your dog to a wide range of people, places, and sounds. This builds confidence and adaptability. Visits to parks, busy streets, and pet-friendly stores are excellent, and The Therapy Dog Formula Blueprint™ includes a detailed socialisation checklist to help you track progress safely.
💬 Desensitisation
Introduce your dog gradually to stimuli they’ll encounter on visits, such as wheelchairs, medical equipment, or loud noises. Reinforce calm behaviour to reinforce positive associations. My course provides structured desensitisation modules tailored for different environments like hospitals, classrooms, and aged-care homes.
🕊️ Impulse Control
Teach your dog to stay composed even when excited. Exercises like “wait” at doorways and “leave it” near distractions build self-control. The online course demonstrates simple, step-by-step methods for mastering these vital skills.
🤲 Gentle Interaction
Train your dog to interact softly, no jumping, mouthing, or pulling away during petting. Proper handling and gentle greetings are core skills taught in The Therapy Dog Formula Blueprint™, ensuring your dog behaves beautifully during every session.
🩺 Health and Grooming
Keep your dog clean, healthy, and well-groomed. Regular vet visits, grooming, and dental care are part of ensuring your dog remains safe and pleasant to handle in all therapy settings.
By applying these techniques — and following the structured guidance in The Therapy Dog Formula Blueprint™ — you’ll set a strong foundation for a calm, confident therapy dog.
💰 What Does It Cost to Train a Therapy Dog?
Training a therapy dog requires both time and investment, but the rewards are immeasurable. Costs vary depending on your dog’s needs and the level of professional input required.
🎓 The Therapy Dog Formula Blueprint™ (Recommended)
My comprehensive online course offers an affordable, flexible, and professional alternative to in-person training. It includes video lessons, downloadable resources, and expert support to help you train your dog safely and effectively, all at a fraction of the cost of traditional programs.
🧑🏫 Private Trainers
Hiring a private trainer can cost between $70 and $190 per hour, depending on the trainers skill set and experience. While this may be effective, this can quickly add up depending on how much individual work your dog needs.
📘 DIY Training
Self-training is possible but requires a reliable framework and expert knowledge. The Therapy Dog Formula Blueprint™ bridges this gap, it’s a guided self-paced option that combines professional insight with flexible learning.
🐕 Additional Costs
Remember to budget for essentials such as leashes, collars, treats, grooming, and veterinary care. Investing in proper training and wellbeing ensures your dog can safely and confidently fulfil their role.
🏥 Preparing Your Dog for Therapy Visits
Once your dog has mastered the basics, it’s time to prepare for real-world experiences. This stage refines behaviour and builds confidence.
🧩 Mock Visits
Simulate therapy scenarios with family or friends. Practise calm greetings, walking politely, and handling distractions. The Therapy Dog Formula Blueprint™ provides real-world role-play exercises to help you and your dog prepare effectively.
🏫 Environment Familiarisation
With care, visit future workplaces such as hospitals, schools, or aged-care homes. Allow your dog to explore and grow comfortable in these spaces.
🧾 Health and Safety Protocols
Maintaining the highest standards of health and safety is essential for every therapy dog and handler team. Your dog should always be up to date with vaccinations, parasite control, and grooming, ensuring they are clean, healthy, and safe to interact with vulnerable individuals.
Each facility may have its own specific policies, hygiene requirements, and risk management procedures for therapy dogs. Handlers are responsible for conducting a risk assessment for every environment in which they plan to work, whether it’s a school, hospital, aged-care facility, or community centre. This assessment helps identify potential hazards (such as slippery floors, loud noises, or restricted areas) and ensures that both the handler and dog can operate safely and confidently.
The Therapy Dog Formula Blueprint™ provides clear guidance on how to prepare documentation, complete environmental risk assessments, and meet compliance standards so that you and your dog can approach every visit with professionalism and care.
🏅 Certification and Assessment
Assessments are a crucial part of the certification process — they confirm that your dog is truly ready and suitable for therapy work. These evaluations measure your dog’s temperament, obedience, confidence, and ability to cope with a range of environments and interactions.
As part of The Therapy Dog Formula Blueprint™, I personally conduct these assessments either in person or via video consultation, depending on your location and circumstances. This ensures every dog is thoroughly and fairly evaluated before beginning therapy visits.
Successful completion of both the training modules and the assessment provides clear evidence that your dog meets professional standards of behaviour and reliability required for therapy work.
With structured preparation and expert evaluation through The Therapy Dog Formula Blueprint™, you can move forward confidently, knowing both you and your dog are fully equipped to begin making a positive difference in the lives of others.
🌟 Maintaining Success in Therapy Dog Training
Therapy dog training doesn’t end once your dog is certified, it’s an ongoing process of reinforcement and care.
🔁 Consistent Training
Continue short daily sessions and regular socialisation. This keeps skills fresh and strengthens your bond.
💚 Monitor Your Dog’s Wellbeing
Pay attention to stress, fatigue, or overstimulation. Therapy work can be emotionally demanding, and dogs need adequate rest and balance.
🧠 Continuing Education
Ongoing learning benefits both handler and dog. The Therapy Dog Formula Blueprint™ includes 18 months access, so you can revisit lessons or explore advanced modules whenever needed.
🎉 Celebrate Achievements
Recognise milestones with play, praise, and affection. Positive reinforcement keeps your dog engaged and happy to work.
🐾 Final Thoughts
Training therapy dogs is a deeply rewarding journey that takes dedication, patience, and compassion. By following the right steps and guidance, you can help your dog become a trusted companion in healing and support. To ensure you’re on the right path, consider enrolling in my online therapy dog training course, The Therapy Dog Formula Blueprint™, which provides structured, evidence-based instruction designed to set both you and your dog up for success. With consistency and care, your efforts will make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
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