How To Get A Therapy Dog

Therapy dogs are furry ambassadors of joy, bringing comfort to people in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, disaster areas, and anywhere else that could use an uplifting visit.

Unlike service dogs and emotional support animals that help one person, therapy dogs are equal-opportunity joy-spreaders, offering their calming presence to anyone who needs it. If you’ve witnessed this magic firsthand or simply want to share your dog’s people-loving personality with those who could benefit, this guide will walk you through the road from ordinary pet to certified therapy dog superstar.

In this article, we’ll discuss the steps to transform your dog into a therapy dog and address some frequently asked questions.

In this article:

• 1. Figure out if your dog has the right personality
• 2. Train your dog to be a therapy professional
• 3. Link up with a therapy dog organization
• 4. Get the right therapy dog gear and identification
• 5. Build relationships with facilities
• Frequently asked questions

Let’s dig into each step so you can start on this rewarding path without unnecessary detours.

1. Figure Out if Your Dog Has the Right Personality

Not every sweet dog has the right temperament for therapy work. Even the most beloved family pet might not thrive in the unpredictable environments where therapy dogs operate. The ideal therapy dog has the disposition of a diplomat at a peace conference — unflappable, friendly without being overbearing, and impossible to offend. 

We’re looking for:

• A genuine people-lover who sees strangers as friends they haven’t met yet
• A cool cucumber who won’t lose their mind when a hospital machine beeps, a wheelchair zooms by, or someone drops a metal tray with a crash
• A personal space-respecter who understands that jumping, excessive licking, or bowling people over isn’t appropriate, no matter how excited they are
• An adaptable soul who treats new environments like exciting adventures rather than threat assessments.

When assessing your dog, be brutally honest about whether they approach strangers with a wagging tail and relaxed body language, stay calm when handled by different people, even when they touch sensitive areas like ears and paws, bounce back quickly from startling experiences without showing fear or aggression, keep their focus on you despite distractions and show no signs of resource guarding (food, toys, or you)

If your dog routinely shows anxiety, fearfulness, or aggression in new situations, they’re not therapy dog material. This doesn’t make them a “bad dog” — therapy work simply isn’t for every pup, just as not every human would thrive working in a hospital.

2. Train Your Dog to Be a Therapy Professional

Before your dog can sport a therapy dog vest, they need rock-solid obedience skills and impeccable manners. This isn’t just about checking boxes for certification — it’s about ensuring safety and positive experiences for everyone involved.

At a minimum, your dog has to master these skills:

Rock-solid basic commands

Sitting and staying on command isn’t optional when you’re working around vulnerable people. Your dog should respond reliably even with distractions galore.

Perfect leash manners

Pulling like a sled dog doesn’t cut it when you’re in sensitive and crowded areas like hospital corridors, nursing home rooms, school libraries, or disaster areas. 

Foolproof recall

Your “come” command should work even when there’s food on the floor or an interesting smell down the hall.

Polite greetings

No jumping, excessive licking, or full-body wiggles that could knock over small children or seniors.

The art of leaving things alone

The “leave it” command is critical in environments where medications or food might be dropped.

The art of the gentle approach

Therapy dogs must greet people carefully, especially those who are frail or have mobility issues. Practice having your dog approach calmly and wait for an invitation before making contact.

Awkward petting tolerance

People in facilities and kids may have limited mobility or coordination. Your dog needs to be comfortable with less-than-perfect petting, including accidental tugs or awkward handling.

Adaptation to common environments 

Once your dog has mastered the fundamentals, it’s time for specialized training that prepares them for the unique challenges of therapy environments. For example, your dog needs to be comfortable around wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, IV poles, and the distinctive beeps and whirs of hospital equipment.

3. Link Up With a Therapy Dog Organization

While technically not required, working with a recognized therapy dog organization offers benefits, such as standardized evaluations that provide an objective assessment of your dog’s suitability. 

Another important reason for joining is the credibility it provides to facilities that want assurance about the dogs entering their premises. Many hospitals, nursing homes, and schools only accept therapy dog teams associated with organizations they’ve vetted. Going solo can limit where you can volunteer.

National Organizations

Pet Partners

Formerly known as the Delta Society, Pet Partners offers programs that include a handler course and a comprehensive team evaluation, which assesses both animal skills and handler competence. The team evaluation is “a simulated therapy animal visit conducted by a Pet Partners volunteer team evaluator.” Pet Partners teams work in hospitals, nursing homes, hospice centers, schools, and disaster recovery sites across the country. They also offer specialized programs, like Read With Me, which focuses on literacy support with therapy animals.

Therapy Dogs International (TDI)

Founded in 1976, Therapy Dogs International offers testing, certification, and ongoing support for therapy dog teams throughout the United States and Canada.

Their certification process requires that “the test must be conducted by a TDI-CERTIFIED EVALUATOR” who thoroughly evaluates the dog’s behavior, obedience, and temperament, along with the handler’s control. TDI teams visit nursing homes, hospitals, libraries, schools, and disaster areas. 

Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD)

The Alliance of Therapy Dogs has been helping therapy dog teams for 30 years. “ATD doesn’t require formal training, certifications, or tests other than our own,” they explain. They have “a unique testing process that involves handling your dog” to ensure your furry friend has the right temperament and that you two work well together.

Once certified, ATD teams can visit “airports, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, rehab facilities, mental health institutions, schools, hospitals, cancer centers, hospice facilities, college campuses,” and even private homes. The organization provides liability insurance and ongoing support.

Love on a Leash

Love on a Leash requires completion of a certification process that includes supervised visits. They focus on creating positive connections between therapy pets and those they visit in hospitals, nursing facilities, schools, and libraries.

Teams must complete an initial evaluation and supervised visits where “at least five in-training visits must be supervised by the same certified Love on a Leash member, including the final visit” before receiving full certification.

Local Organizations

Project Canine (Washington and Oregon)

Serving the Pacific Northwest, Project Canine is “a 501c3 non-profit that provides therapy dog training, therapy dog certification and therapy dog outreach in Seattle Washington and Eugene Oregon.” They offer a structured path to certification, including pre-assessment and training classes. Their teams visit healthcare facilities, schools, and other settings throughout the region. 

Mid-Michigan Therapy Dogs

Mid-Michigan Therapy Dogs is “a volunteer 501c3 organization of dedicated therapy dog handlers and their dogs on a mission to share the unconditional love of fur therapy.” They serve communities throughout Michigan by visiting healthcare facilities, schools, and community events. 

Therapaws of Michigan

Based in Washtenaw County, Therapaws of Michigan “has more than 130 dog pet therapy teams who visit 40+ settings in the Washtenaw County area.” Their members “must be registered and insured through the national testing organization, Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD)” — a perfect example of how local groups often partner with national organizations. 

PAWS of Northeast Louisiana

PAWS Therapy in Louisiana enriches people’s lives through regular visits to facilities like retirement homes and hospitals. In addition to these visits, “PAWS Therapy offers Pet Responsibility Education to children at local schools and public libraries.” 

4. Get the Right Therapy Dog Gear and Identification

Therapy dogs aren’t just pets with a fancy title — they’re working professionals with a job to do. The right identification signals to staff and visitors that your dog is officially allowed to be there, creates immediate recognition of your dog’s role, and sets a “working” mindset for your dog when the gear goes on. 

Having the right gear also prevents confusion with service dogs or unauthorized pets. Think of it as your dog’s professional uniform — it changes how others perceive them and how they perceive themselves.

Consider these useful items:

Therapy Dog ID Card

Therapy animal ID is essential for therapy dog teams working in facilities. They can provide instant credibility with facility staff and the people you visit, while clearly distinguishing your therapy dog from pets or service animals. If you have a therapy dog and want an ID card that is linked to a public registry, we can help with that — simply click the link below.

Therapy dog vest or bandana 

A clear visual identifier that your dog is “working.” Some organizations have specific colors or logos for their therapy dogs.

Clean, professional leash

Not too long (4–6 feet is ideal) and not retractable. This gives your dog some freedom to interact while maintaining control.

Business cards

Information about you and your therapy dog to share with interested people. Many handlers create cards with their dog’s photo and a brief bio that look like baseball cards. 

5. Build Relationships With Facilities 

The real magic of therapy dog work comes from building strong, lasting relationships with the places you visit. When you and your dog become regulars at a facility, everyone benefits! The staff will start to know your dog’s name, residents or patients will look forward to your visits, and your dog will feel more comfortable in the environment. 

Start by finding a place that matches your dog’s personality — whether that’s a lively school or a quiet nursing home. When you call to set up visits, discuss how often you can come (weekly visits work well) and which areas you can visit. Clear expectations about visit length, rules, and procedures help build trust with the facility. Over time, as your therapy team becomes part of the facility’s routine, you’ll see deeper connections form. Many handlers say that watching the same people week after week and seeing how your dog brightens their day is the most rewarding part of therapy dog work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between therapy dogs, service dogs, and emotional support animals?

This trio of helping canines serves different functions and has different legal statuses:

Therapy Dogs provide comfort to multiple people in facilities like hospitals and schools. They don’t have public access rights or housing rights under federal law. Certification, registration, and training of therapy dogs are done by private organizations and non-profits. 

Service Dogs are trained to perform specific tasks for a person with a disability and are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act with public access rights.

Emotional Support Animals provide comfort to one person with an emotional or mental health condition and have housing rights, but no public access rights. You need an ESA letter if an emotional support animal is what you’re after. 

How much does it cost to get a therapy dog certified?

The cost varies depending on your starting point. If you’re training your existing dog, expect to spend approximately $300–500 total, which includes:

• Basic training classes: $100–300
• Testing fee: $15–25
• Organization registration fee: $40–100 annually
• Basic equipment (vest, ID cards, special leash): $50–150 

How long does the certification process take?

Most dogs need 3–6 months from starting preparation to achieving certification. The timeline depends on your dog’s current training level, temperament, and how quickly they learn. Some organizations require dogs to be at least one year old before certification.

What should I know about handler burnout and dog fatigue?

Therapy work can be emotionally demanding for both dogs and handlers. Signs your dog may need a break include reluctance to enter facilities, decreased enthusiasm for work, or unusual behaviors during visits.

As a handler, be mindful of your own emotional reserves, especially when working in challenging environments like hospitals or crisis situations. Some handlers find it helpful to set clear boundaries on visit frequency and duration, or to rotate between more intense and lighter environments.

Remember that quality therapy work happens only when both you and your dog are at your best. It’s perfectly acceptable — and necessary — to take breaks, decline visits when needed, or even retire your dog from therapy work if their enthusiasm wanes.