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A therapy dog provides comfort and emotional support to individuals in settings like hospitals, schools, and care homes. These specially trained dogs help reduce stress and improve well-being. In this article, we’ll explain what therapy dogs do and how you can qualify to have one.
If you are a California resident and have a dog you must establish a relationship of no less than 30 days with the therapist writing the ESA letter.
The law that requires this is the AB 468 law which was passed on January 1, 2022.
This law doesn’t apply to any other type of ESA.
The Bottom Line
Therapy dogs provide emotional support and comfort to people in settings like hospitals, schools, and nursing homes.
They are not the same as service dogs or emotional support animals and do not have public access rights outside their volunteer roles.
To qualify a dog as a therapy dog, they must meet specific behavioral and health requirements and pass training programs like the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test.
If you’re interested in training your dog or finding a therapy dog, professional organizations like Pet Partners or Therapy Dogs International can help guide the process.
Have you ever been having a really bad day when your favorite furry friend greets you at the door with so much love that you instantly forget about whatever bad stuff happened? That’s because being with your dog can increase your mood and reduce stress in minutes. Therapy dogs do the same thing for the people with whom they volunteer. So, what is a therapy dog?
What Is a Therapy Dog?
Therapy dogs offer love and affection to people who are sick or simply need some comfort. They travel to hospitals, schools, nursing homes, hospices, or disaster areas and help to improve the quality of life of the people they encounter.
These dogs volunteer with their owners to go to different places, helping to bring smiles to people wherever they go. From helping children in school become better readers to providing burnout relief for hospital workers, therapy dogs have a very important job!
Therapy dogs are not the same as service animals or emotional support animals, although people sometimes use the terms interchangeably.
So, if you are asking yourself, "What is a therapy dog?" You are in the right place! This article will cover what a therapy dog is, where they are used, the differences between therapy dogs, service animals, and emotional support animals, and the therapy dog certification process.
The Role of Therapy Dogs: Benefits and Where They Are Used
Now that you know what a therapy dog is, let’s check out the benefits and some common places where they are utilized.
Benefits
Therapy dogs offer emotional support and comfort to those who interact with them. Studies show that they can boost spirits, provide comfort, aid with learning and socialization, and more.
Therapy dogs have even been shown to reduce patients' pain levels. In a study in Canada, spending time with a therapy dog reduced pain levels compared to the control group.
Where They Are Used
Therapy dogs, with their unique ability to increase mood, reduce stress, and influence sociability, are used in a variety of environments. Let's explore some of the common places where their lovable energy is appreciated.
Hospitals
Therapy dogs have been used in hospitals to benefit patients and their loved ones. They have even been found to improve the well-being of hospital healthcare teams. A recent study at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, College of Medicine, and College of Nursing tested therapy dogs with healthcare workers. The study showed that the employees' mood levels increased after interacting with the therapy dogs throughout the study.
Schools
Therapy dogs play a significant role in schools, particularly in reading programs. Their presence not only helps children read with confidence but also reduces stress and increases interest in learning.
A randomized controlled trial study with school-aged children found that the therapy dog intervention drastically reduced stress levels in children with and without special needs compared to the control groups.
Other studies claim that children who interact with therapy dogs learn more efficiently and interact more with one another.
Nursing Homes
Therapy dogs are commonly used in nursing homes and other care facilities for older adults. A comprehensive review of studies on animal-assisted therapy for older adults in care facilities, such as nursing homes, discovered that therapy dogs were successful in alleviating depressive symptoms in older adults.
Differences Between Therapy Dogs, Service Dogs, and Emotional Support Animals
Many people confuse service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support animals, so let's talk about their important differences.
Therapy Dogs
A therapy dog is trained to comfort people, usually with a trainer or their owner by their side. Therapy dogs are not considered service dogs, so they don't have the same legal or public access rights as service animals. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), therapy dogs do not have public access in restaurants, airplanes, or hotels but are only allowed where they provide therapy. They are not emotional service animals, so they are not allowed in a "no pets allowed" housing situation either. Therapy dogs are more or less used in volunteer-type settings.
Service Dogs
A service dog is trained and certified to help people with disabilities. They are trained to perform specific tasks that benefit their owner's mental or physical disability. Service dogs can perform a wide range of tasks depending on the owner's needs.
Service dogs can accompany their owners anywhere they go, including airplanes, hotels, restaurants, and other public areas. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service dogs must also be trained in public access to ensure they are well-behaved in public areas. From leading people who are blind to noticing the signs of a seizure, service dogs are specially trained to assist with many disabilities.
Emotional Support Animals (ESAs)
Emotional support animals (ESAs) are therapeutic animals that help their owners live with mental health conditions. People with mental health conditions can have an emotional service animal that is a prescribed part of their treatment plan. ESA’s do not have to be trained or certified. The only requirement of the ESA is to be with the owner and offer support.
ESAs are still not allowed in public areas. The Fair Housing Act protects ESAs and their owners in housing situations, including no-pet or pet-fee policies, with proper documentation provided to the landlord.
Most organizations require therapy dogs to be at least one year old to qualify. Do you think your furry friend will make a good therapy dog? How do you go about it? Let's take a closer look at therapy dog qualifications.
Behavioral Requirements
Therapy dogs should have a calm temperament and demeanor. You wouldn't want a dog who was nervous or aggressive trying to cheer people up, right? No, you need a calm, peaceful dog whose energy radiates care and compassion! Some of the other behavior requirements for therapy dogs include the following:
Friendly and outgoing with strangers
Easy going around other animals or dogs
Non-aggressive
Shouldn't have much anxiety or separation anxiety
Tolerant of lots of physical touching and cuddling
Patience
Obedience
Adaptability
Sociability
Can stay calm in stressful or busy environments
Now that you understand more about the behavior needed for a therapy dog to succeed let's examine the health requirements.
Health and Vaccination Requirements
To become a therapy dog, you'll have to register, and in most cases, there will be health and vaccination requirements to register your dog. You'll need to have up-to-date vaccination records.
Your dog must be well-groomed and checked for any illness to ensure they are safe and healthy in public spaces. Raw diets should be avoided due to the risk of contamination by pathogenic organisms. De-worming and other forms of routine preventative care are essential to ensure the safety of the people they work with.
Training Programs and Certifications
Once you have prepared the behavior and health requirements, it's time to train. You'll probably want to start with the AKC Canine Good Citizen (AGC) test and then move on to your training and certification courses.
Two internationally recognized animal-assisted therapy organizations are Pet Partners and Therapy Dogs International. Each organization will have its own set of standards or prerequisites, so it's a good idea to research organizations before you decide which one to join. You may also want to see which organizations have local groups near you. Let's look at some of the popular programs and certifications.
AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC)
The AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) exam is an expert-made training program for your dog. This test is often a prerequisite for many of the training programs. The course is a 10-skill test designed to teach dogs important life skills that also make for a great therapy dog. The skills on the test include the following:
Accepts a friendly stranger without shyness or agitation
Wait patiently for the owner to return without aggression during the separation
The CGC test is conducted in a controlled environment and should take only a few minutes. You can take training classes, often offered at Petco stores across the United States and various AKC training clubs.
Pet Partners
Pet Partners is a nonprofit organization that provides courses for therapy dogs and owners. You can sign up to be a volunteer through their animal therapy team programs. Pet Partners offers a therapy animal handler course. There is an online version, and they also have in-person workshops. This course will help you and your dog learn the basic skills needed to be a therapy dog team. They also offer a Canine Body Language course, an Infection Prevention and Control Course, and an Animal-Assisted Crisis Response Course.
Therapy Dogs International
Therapy Dogs International (TDI) is a nonprofit volunteer organization that registers, certifies, and tests therapy dogs and their owners. To join TDI, you and your dog must pass an evaluation by one of their evaluators. TDI is one of the oldest therapy dog organizations in the United States, with evaluators in all 50 states.
How to Get a Therapy Dog if You Don't Already Have One
Are you wondering how to get a therapy dog? Do you feel called to volunteer with a therapy dog but don’t have one yet? That's no problem. There are several ways that you can go about finding your next therapy dog.
You'll first want to determine your budget. Getting a therapy dog can range in cost depending on whether you adopt a dog or get one from a breeder, as well as the training and certification costs. It can cost you a few thousand dollars to get a therapy dog. But let's check out some ways that you can obtain one.
Therapy Dog Organizations
There are many organizations where you can get a pre-trained therapy dog. These organizations breed and train therapy dogs and match them with people. Some organizations can even help you through the process, from registration to certification to finding places to start your volunteer work.
Here is a list of organizations to get you started; however, this list is not exhaustive. These include:
Pet Partners
Therapy Dogs International
Love on a Leash
Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs
Paws4People
Canine Companions
Some of these organizations may not have dogs but can point you toward a breeder or a group near you that has dogs. You can visit the AKC’s list of recognized therapy dog organizations to find an organization near you.
Retired Working or Service Dogs
Consider adopting a retired working or service dog. These dogs are already trained to be around the public and would probably love the chance to help out again.
Animal Rescue and Shelters
A great place to find your next therapy dog is to adopt one from a rescue organization or a shelter near you. Most shelters can match you up with a calmer dog if you want to find a therapy dog. Not only will you find a dog to help lift people's spirits, but you'll also be giving a grateful animal a loving home.
Professional Dog Breeders
You can always purchase a dog from a professional dog breeder. Although this choice may cost more than getting a dog from a shelter, you will have the chance to learn about the dog's history and lineage. You can even look for breeders who specialize in therapy dogs or breed specifically for temperament and socialization predisposition.
FAQs About Therapy Dogs and Qualifications
Many questions surround therapy dogs and their qualifications. Here are a few of the most asked questions.
How long does it take to train a therapy dog?
The time it takes to train a dog to be a therapy dog can vary. Some dogs may train quickly, while others may have behavior issues they must overcome first. However, a typical dog therapy training course is around eight weeks long.
Can any breed of dog become a therapy dog?
Yes! Any breed of dog can become a therapy dog. That said, some breeds tend to have a personality and temperament that works well for therapy. Golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, Border Collies, and German shepherds make good therapy dogs as they are social and easy to train.
Are therapy dogs allowed in all public spaces?
As therapy dogs are not ESA or service dogs, they are only allowed in the public spaces where they are working as therapy dogs.
What happens if my dog doesn't pass the therapy dog certification test?
Many dogs don't pass the certification tests the first time. The CGC and most certification tests can be taken as often as needed.
How do therapy dogs benefit mental health?
Being around therapy dogs helps release the feel-good chemicals dopamine and serotonin in the brain. Therapy dogs also help decrease the stress hormone cortisol.
What kind of temperament is required for a therapy dog?
A good therapy dog's temperament is loving, calm, patient, and genuine. They love human touch and contact.
How can I volunteer with my therapy dog in hospitals or schools?
Many dog therapy organizations connect volunteers with local opportunities to serve in schools and hospitals. You and your dog should register as volunteers with one of these organizations.
Can therapy dogs help with specific conditions like PTSD or depression?
Yes, studies have shown that therapy dogs can help to reduce symptoms for those who struggle with conditions like PTSD and depression.
What is the difference between a therapy dog certification and a service dog certification?
A service dog certification course involves complex and rigorous training to perform specific tasks depending on the disabilities that they assist with. On the other hand, therapy dog certification checks for basic obedience and staying calm around people or other animals.
The Path to Making a Difference with a Therapy Dog
Having a therapy dog and volunteering with hospitals and schools can be one of the most rewarding experiences ever. Think about how good it will feel for you and your therapy dog to be what makes an entire school full of children smile and laugh. Or how it feels to spend an afternoon with sick patients at the hospital, knowing that you were part of something that made their lives just a little bit brighter.
Whether you have a dog and are interested in making it a therapy dog or want to obtain one, the first step is to contact a professional organization near you.
Alicia Ramella is a freelance writer specializing in mental health and wellness. She has been writing professionally for over three years in this space. Her work has been featured on reputable sites like WEBMD.com and many other health and wellness websites.
Alicia is also a life coach, a podcaster, and a nutrition nut with a background in psychology. She plays with her two children in her free time and enjoys music, gardening, and nature.
