Description
Helping You & Your Dog Make a Difference in Schools, Hospitals, & Care Homes
Who is this course for?
This course is ideal for:
- Dog owners who want to train their pet to become a certified therapy dog.
- Volunteers interested in visiting schools, hospitals, hospices, and care homes with their dog.
- Dog trainers who wish to offer therapy dog training services.
- Educators, healthcare workers, or carers looking to introduce therapy dogs into their setting.
- Anyone passionate about improving mental well-being and providing companionship through therapy animals.
What will you learn?
By the end of this course, you will:
Understand the role and benefits of therapy dogs.
Assess whether your dog has the right temperament for therapy work.
Train your dog in essential obedience and socialization skills.
Learn how to handle therapy dog visits in different environments.
Navigate the certification process and legal considerations.
Gain confidence in working with schools, hospitals, and care facilities.
Course Modules/Units
1: Introduction to Therapy Dogs
- What is a therapy dog?
- Differences between therapy dogs, assistance dogs, and emotional support animals.
- The benefits of therapy dogs in schools, hospitals, and care homes.
- Real-life success stories of therapy dogs making a difference.
2: Assessing Your Dog’s Suitability
- Key characteristics of a successful therapy dog (temperament, behaviour, sociability).
- Basic health and grooming requirements.
- Self-assessment checklist: Is your dog a good candidate?
- What to do if your dog needs further training before starting.
3: Training Your Dog for Therapy Work
- Obedience skills required (sit, stay, recall, loose lead walking, ignoring distractions).
- Socialization with people and different environments.
- Handling and desensitization exercises.
- Common behavioural challenges and how to overcome them.
4: Preparing for Therapy Visits
- What to expect on visits to schools, hospitals, and care homes.
- How to prepare your dog for new environments, noises, and smells.
- Interacting with children, elderly patients, and individuals with disabilities.
- The importance of calmness, patience, and reading body language.
5: Certification & Legal Considerations
- The process of registering your dog as a Pets As Therapy (PAT) dog.
- Insurance, liability, and permissions for visiting public places.
- Ethical considerations and professional conduct.
- Working with therapy dog organizations in the UK & US.
6: Making a Difference as a Therapy Dog Team
- How to approach schools, hospitals, and care homes about therapy dog visits.
- Building a structured program for regular visits.
- Engaging with different age groups and needs.
- Continuing education and ongoing training for therapy dogs.
