Therapy Dog Training in South Metro Denver, CO

A therapy dog brings comfort to people other than its owner: patients in hospitals, children learning to read, residents of care homes and travelers at a busy airport. Therapy work is volunteer work, done by a dog and handler team that has trained for it and passed an evaluation. In the south Denver metro, a few trainers offer programs that prepare teams for that step.

This guide covers what therapy dog work involves, what makes a good candidate, how local programs prepare teams and what to expect from the evaluation. The trainers listed below name therapy dog training in their own services.

What therapy dogs do

Therapy dog teams visit settings such as hospitals, schools, dental offices, behavioral health facilities, nursing homes and airports. The dog’s job is to be calm, friendly and easy to handle while strangers pet it, sometimes in noisy, crowded or medical environments. Teams usually register with a therapy dog organization, which sets the evaluation and the rules for visits.

Therapy dogs do not have the public access rights that service dogs have. They go where they are invited, with a registered handler.

What makes a good therapy dog

• Genuinely enjoys meeting strangers, including children and older adults.
• Stays calm around wheelchairs, walkers, medical equipment and sudden noises.
• Accepts being handled clumsily and petted by many people.
• Has reliable basic obedience: sit, down, stay, leave it and loose-leash walking.
• Recovers quickly from surprises and does not jump or mouth.

A handler who reads the dog well and ends a visit when the dog is tired is just as important. Many teams start by passing the Canine Good Citizen test, which covers similar skills.

Local programs

• A central Colorado team with a senior trainer and a lead behaviorist runs a therapy dog certification program that prepares dogs for hospitals, schools and nursing homes.
• A Littleton-area in-home trainer runs a therapy dog program that prepares dogs for schools, dental offices, hospitals and behavioral health facilities and guides owners toward therapy animal credentials.
• A nonprofit trainer on the Aurora and Centennial side offers private training for owners who want to become a registered therapy animal team.
• A Parker behavior consultant has tested dogs for a therapy dog organization and runs obedience and socialization classes that build the required skills.

Several other local trainers offer Canine Good Citizen classes or evaluations, a common first step before therapy work.

Programs differ in format. Some teach private lessons at home and in public places, building the skills a specific evaluation looks for; others use group obedience and socialization classes to build calm behavior around other dogs and people before the evaluation. Several south metro trainers also hold Canine Good Citizen classes or can evaluate the test, which gives teams a clear intermediate goal. Ask whether the program includes practice in realistic settings, such as a shopping center or a care facility, because a dog that is calm in a training room can still be surprised by a hospital corridor.

Timing matters too. Many organizations require a minimum age and a period of living with the handler before a dog can be evaluated, so ask about eligibility early and build your plan around it.

The evaluation

Therapy dog organizations evaluate the dog and handler together. Expect to show basic obedience, a polite greeting with a stranger, calm reactions to a neutral dog, medical equipment and a sudden noise, and acceptance of handling and petting by several people. Evaluations are often held in realistic places, such as a shopping mall or a care facility.

Ask your trainer which organization they prepare teams for, what that evaluation involves and whether they offer a practice run or a mock evaluation before the real one.

Preparing at home

Much of the preparation is everyday exposure: walking past wheelchairs and walkers, meeting calm strangers who pet your dog, practicing stays while people move around, and visiting dog-friendly stores. Teach your dog a solid settle on a mat, since many visits involve long periods of calm lying down.

Watch your dog’s stress signals, such as yawning, lip licking, turning away or trying to leave. A dog that tolerates visits but does not enjoy them is not a good fit, and a caring trainer will tell you so honestly.

After registration

Once registered, teams usually start with short visits and build up. Many organizations require periodic re-evaluation, and handlers keep up training so skills stay sharp. Some therapy teams in the Denver area visit busy public places such as the airport, and others focus on schools or reading programs. Choose visits that suit your dog’s energy and temperament rather than the most popular placements.

Keep an eye on your dog after each visit as well. A dog that sleeps deeply, drinks a lot or seems withdrawn afterward may need shorter visits or more rest days between them. Good handlers treat the dog as a volunteer with limits, not a tool, and adjust the schedule so the work stays enjoyable for years.

Reviewed Therapy Dog Training Trainers in South Metro Denver

These reviewed South Metro Denver-area trainers from our directory handle therapy dog training. Each links to a full profile with specialties, certified credentials, reviews, and contact info:

• Pals Dog Training — 5.0★ (38 reviews)
• Kari Solberg Canine Behavior & Consulting — 5.0★ (9 reviews)
• Assent Canine Training — 5.0★ (1 review)
• K9 Kate Dog Training — 5.0★ (1 review)

See all South Metro Denver therapy dog training trainers →

Frequently Asked Questions

Related: read our complete therapy dog training guide or the full South Metro Denver dog training overview.