Any breed can become a therapy dog. The only requirement is that the dog be an adult (not a puppy) with no aggression issues toward humans or other dogs.
What Therapy Dog Training Covers
Therapy dogs need three skill sets:
Solid obedience. Reliable sits, downs, stays, and recalls form the foundation. A therapy dog must respond to commands even in distracting environments.
Tricks that bring smiles. Part of the job is brightening someone's day. A dog who can shake, roll over, or take a bow gives patients something to smile about beyond just petting.
Calm around medical equipment. This is the specialized part. Many dogs are nervous around anything with wheels—wheelchairs, gurneys, IV poles. Therapy dogs must navigate these calmly without barking, chasing, or shying away. They need to be comfortable with rolling wheelchairs, IV tubing, beeping monitors, and the general unpredictability of medical settings.
Therapy Dogs vs. Service Dogs
These are different things.
Service dogs receive highly specialized training to assist specific individuals—guiding the visually impaired, alerting deaf handlers, or detecting seizures before they occur. They are paired with one person and have legal access rights under the ADA.
Therapy dogs are family pets who volunteer. They aren't paired with a specific individual or institution. You make arrangements to visit facilities, and your dog provides comfort to many different people.
Where Therapy Dogs Work
The list is long: children's hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, VA hospitals, Alzheimer's facilities, rehabilitation centers, courtrooms, schools, and programs where children read aloud to dogs (the non-judgmental audience helps struggling readers build confidence).
Certification and Registration
Most facilities require therapy dogs to be registered with a recognized organization before visiting. Three of the largest national organizations are Pet Partners, Therapy Dogs International, and Alliance of Therapy Dogs. All three operate in all 50 states.
Registration typically requires:
- Completion of a handler course
- A team evaluation assessing both handler and dog
- Proof of current vaccinations
- Liability coverage (often provided through the organization)
Prerequisites
Dogs should pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen test (or equivalent) before beginning therapy-specific training. If a dog has aggression issues, those need to be addressed through obedience work first.
The Six-Week Workshop
Therapy dog training is typically a six-week course that builds on existing obedience skills. The curriculum includes:
- Desensitization to wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches
- Comfort around IV poles and medical tubing
- Handling unusual sounds (beeping, alarms, PA systems)
- Tricks for engagement and entertainment
- Practice with distractions like flowing fabric, hats, and unexpected movements
- Handler skills for managing visits and reading your dog's stress signals
By the end, teams are prepared to take the temperament evaluation required by therapy dog organizations.