Therapy Dog Training in Phoenix East Valley, AZ

Therapy dogs visit schools, hospitals, care homes and counseling offices with their handlers, bringing comfort to many people. Training a therapy dog team means building calm, polite behavior with strangers and preparing for an evaluation. In the Phoenix East Valley, six of the trainers listed here offer therapy dog training.

This page explains what therapy dog work involves, the local programs around Mesa, Tempe and Apache Junction, and how to tell whether your dog is suited to it.

What therapy dog work involves

A therapy dog and its handler work as a team, usually as volunteers, visiting places where people benefit from contact with a calm, friendly dog. Visits can mean sitting with patients, reading programs with children, stress relief for students and staff, or support in counseling settings. Unlike a service dog, a therapy dog does not perform tasks for one person, and the handler’s skill at reading the dog and the room matters as much as the dog’s manners.

Handlers carry responsibility too. They schedule visits, follow each facility’s rules on hygiene and health records, keep visits short enough that the dog stays comfortable, and step in if a person or the dog becomes uneasy. A good program trains the handler in all of this, not only the dog, which is why many local classes enroll dog and handler together as a team.

Therapy dog training in the East Valley

• A Mesa therapy dog organization runs therapy dog classes for dogs and handlers that prepare teams for their evaluations, with professional and volunteer tracks, and places teams with public schools and mental health settings.
• A Mesa training center offers a therapy dog training program designed for educators and mental health professionals as well as individuals who want to volunteer in their community.
• A Tempe training center prepares therapy dog teams, noting that a lot of obedience and specialized training is needed first.
• A franchise office in Mesa offers therapy dog training that builds on its obedience programs.
• An Apache Junction training group offers therapy dog training alongside Canine Good Citizen testing, which it describes as a requirement for most therapy dogs.
• A family-owned San Tan Valley trainer offers therapy dog training along with emotional support dog training and group and individual classes.

Is your dog suited to therapy work?

A good therapy dog enjoys meeting strangers, stays relaxed when touched by many hands, tolerates noise, medical equipment and sudden movement, and settles quietly for long periods. It should not jump, lick excessively or mouth, and it should ignore dropped food. Young, very energetic dogs are often better left to mature first. A trainer or evaluator can tell you whether your dog is likely to enjoy the work; a dog that merely puts up with attention is not a good candidate, however well trained.

Preparing before you enroll

You can do a lot of groundwork before a therapy class starts. Practice loose-leash walking in busy places such as store entrances and parking lots, teach a reliable leave it with dropped food, and get your dog used to being touched on the head, ears, paws and tail by friends. Expose it gently to wheelchairs, walkers, crutches and slippery floors if you can, rewarding calm curiosity. Work on a long, relaxed down on a mat, because many visits involve waiting. Keep your dog’s grooming and health care up to date, since facilities usually ask for proof of vaccinations and a clean, well-groomed dog.

Watch your dog honestly during this practice. A therapy dog should seek out gentle contact with strangers and recover quickly from surprises. If your dog avoids people, stiffens when touched or needs long breaks, it may be happier as a family companion, and that is fine.

How training usually progresses

Most teams move through a few stages:

• Solid obedience. Loose-leash walking, sit and down stays, leave it and a calm settle, often proved by the Canine Good Citizen test.
• Therapy-specific skills. Greeting people politely, accepting handling from strangers, walking past food and equipment, and staying calm around unusual movement.
• Handler skills. Recognizing stress signals, ending a visit early when needed and managing the room.
• Evaluation. Passing the evaluation of the organization you will visit with.

Local classes prepare teams for their evaluations, and some instructors are Canine Good Citizen evaluators as well.

Questions to ask a therapy dog program

• Which evaluations or organizations does the class prepare teams for?
• Does the program assess temperament before you enroll?
• How many sessions, and does it include practice visits?
• Is there a track for professionals who want to bring a dog into their own work, such as schools or counseling?
• What ongoing support or refresher training is offered?

If you are a teacher or counselor, ask specifically about programs aimed at educational and mental health settings, which are offered locally.

Finally, ask how the program supports teams after they pass. Some organizations arrange visits and pair new teams with experienced ones, which makes the first placements easier for both handler and dog.

Reviewed Therapy Dog Training Trainers in Phoenix East Valley

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

• East Valley K9 Services LLC — 5.0★ (78 reviews)
• Angel Dogs AZ Inc — 5.0★ (1 review)
• All 4 Paws Training LLC — 4.8★ (66 reviews)
• Regal K9’s — 4.8★ (30 reviews)
• Dog Training Elite Mesa — 3.8★ (16 reviews)
• Paws 4 Life — 3.6★ (12 reviews)

See all Phoenix East Valley therapy dog training trainers →

Frequently Asked Questions

Related: read our complete therapy dog training guide or the full Phoenix East Valley dog training overview.