Here at Canine Companions, we believe in the joyful, transformative power of the human-canine partnership – in every form! More than one-third of dogs released from service dog training have gone on to serve as therapy dogs in their communities. We think that’s incredible, and we are proud that through our therapy dog certification pilot program, we can continue to support and engage these volunteers while providing suitable released dogs with impactful jobs.
Partnering with a Canine Companions hearing dog can increase feelings of security and self-confidence by heightening awareness of environmental sounds. 
While our mission is to provide highly trained service dogs to people with disabilities, we believe the dogs released from our program can still have an incredible ripple effect in the world through their work as therapy dogs. With this goal in mind, we have created this program to certify our amazing dogs to provide support and comfort to members of their community.
A therapy dog is a pet that accompanies their owner into specific settings for the benefit of the residents or clients in the setting and/or as part of a therapeutic intervention. Studies have shown that interacting with therapy dogs as part of an animal-assisted intervention approach yields both physical and psychological benefits to humans and the dog. Our therapy dog pilot program will provide formal therapy dog certification and ongoing support for eligible teams in specific regions with the goal of expanding the program more broadly in the future.
All Canine Companions dogs receive extensive temperamental and medical evaluations, and dogs selected for this program must be approved by our expert staff in both our national veterinary and training departments. Only a small number of dogs that qualify for the program will be available to those that were not the dog’s volunteer puppy raiser.
The Canine Companions Therapy Dog Certification Program is an American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized program. Teams that are certified through this program are eligible to receive AKC Therapy Dog titles.
Volunteer Therapy Dog Certification
To be eligible for certification as a therapy dog handler, applicants must:
- Live within the designated pilot program areas
- Have an eligible Canine Companions dog whose temperament is appropriate for therapy dog work and are:
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- Released dogs over 1 year of age
- Retired breeders
- Retired Service or Facility dogs
- Active male breeders, at least 6 months post-placement, with additional approval from the breeding and veterinary departments.
- Complete coursework and examinations in preparation for certification.
- Meet with a Canine Companions evaluator for in-person evaluations including the Canine Good Citizen tests and a simulated visit.
- Participate in ongoing Canine Companions training and annual recertification through the therapy dog program.
- Demonstrate the ability to safely and effectively control, manage, and care for the dog.
- Have adequate vision to observe, intervene, and manage a dog’s behavior.
- Volunteer with their setting of choice or incorporate the therapy dog into their eligible professional work for a minimum of 24 hours per year.
*Some dogs may have conditions to their certification based on their release reasons that must be adhered to for the duration of their certification with us.
If you are interested in applying to be a Canine Companions therapy dog handler, please click to fill out an application request.
Volunteer Therapy Dog Evaluator Certification
Canine Companions seeks eligible volunteers to administer the training and evaluation for therapy dog teams in the field.
To be eligible to volunteer as a therapy dog evaluator, applicants must:
- Have a documented minimum of 100 hours of experience as a therapy or facility dog handler.
- Obtain and maintain active status as an AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC)® Approved Evaluator.
- Be familiar with therapy or facility dog settings.
- Be willing to complete training specific to Canine Companions, including attending an in-person training course.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer evaluator, please click for an application request.
Therapy Dog Adoption
Eligible released dogs not adopted by their puppy raisers will be available for placement with external applicants who are willing to make a 5-year commitment to our therapy dog program. If you are interested in adopting a therapy dog and agree to commit to 5 years of active therapy dog certification with us, please submit a request for an application here.
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What are some examples of settings my therapy dog and I might visit? +
Therapy dogs are invited in certain settings to increase the well-being of clients, residents, and students. They are most commonly found at hospitals, schools, and nursing homes as well as in private therapy settings. Except in those specifically approved settings, the therapy dog is otherwise considered a pet dog and has no special public access rights.
Outside of approved facilities, bringing the therapy dog into public places where pet dogs are not normally allowed is against program policy. Canine Companions reserves the right to revoke the certification of any therapy dog handler found in violation of this policy.
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What are the national standards for a therapy dog team? +
No national standards exist for the training of therapy dogs; however, New York Governor Cuomo directed the commissioner of the department of agriculture and markets to convene a working group to examine the need for statewide standards for therapy dogs. We used their findings to guide the formation of our program. Canine Companions strives to hold our therapy dog program to a high standard of excellence despite the lack of national standards.
Dogs chosen for therapy dog teams have passed numerous behavioral and health screenings to ensure they are safe and comfortable around various people to whom they may provide comfort. All dogs participating in the program must be approved by our expert staff in both our national veterinary and training departments.
Handlers go through an application and interview process before being approved to participate in the program and must complete coursework and training specific to therapy dog work, including passing written and in-person examinations while working with Canine Companions staff and volunteer evaluators. They must demonstrate professionalism and be able to safely care for and manage the therapy dog in a variety of different settings and around different people. In all work, handlers are required to abide by Canine Companions’ Code of Ethics.
Finally, through our certification process, our therapy dog teams are AKC Canine Good Citizen certified and must demonstrate suitability through the practical examination.
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How are therapy dogs different from service dogs? +
As defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service dogs work for a handler with a disability and are individually trained to perform specific tasks that mitigate the symptoms of that person’s disability. Service dogs have public access rights, meaning that they are permitted to accompany their handler who has disabilities anywhere that is open to the public, even places that do not permit pet dogs.
In contrast, a therapy dog is a pet that accompanies their owner into specific settings for the benefit of the residents or clients in the setting and/or as part of a therapeutic intervention. Therapy dogs are not necessarily trained in specific tasks, nor are they working for the benefit of their handler. Aside from specific settings where they have approval to perform therapy dog work, they may not be taken into public places where pet dogs are not permitted. Canine Companions vests and bandanas are only to be worn when doing therapy dog work.
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How are therapy dogs different from facility dogs? +
Facility dogs are expertly trained dogs who partner with a facilitator working in a health care, visitation, or education setting. These dogs can perform over 40 commands designed to motivate and inspire clients with differing needs. Their facilitators are committed to long-term employment where they directly serve clients with special needs a minimum of twenty hours per week. Facility dogs don’t have public access rights like service dogs.
Therapy dogs are often released from our service dog program for various reasons that make them inappropriate for service dog work. They are considered pet dogs who love engaging with people and have the temperament appropriate for therapy dog work. They are not necessarily trained in specific tasks nor are they working specifically for the benefit of their handler. They also do not have public access rights like service dogs.
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What activities might my therapy dog and I engage in with clients? +
A therapy dog may provide comfort at a vaccine clinic, in a classroom, or for our first responders. Depending on our dogs’ preferences and the clients’ needs, therapy dogs may sit or lie next to a client, read with them, take a walk with them, or play a game of fetch. A well-mannered and highly engaged therapy dog encourages feelings of calm and security for clients. There are many ways that therapy dogs help their clients!
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What are the fees associated with a Canine Companions therapy dog? +
There is a $100 initial certification fee and a $30 annual recertification fee. This fee includes liability insurance coverage and pays for the Canine Companions logo vest or bandana, issued at the time of certification. Canine Companions offers therapy dog teams support services free of charge.
For people adopting a therapy dog, there is a $1000 therapy dog adoption fee (waived for the puppy raiser of the dog). The same fees as above also apply at the time of certification.
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Which dogs are eligible to participate in therapy dog work? +
Dogs that are eligible for the therapy dog program must be from Canine Companions.Eligible types of dogs include: .Released dogs over 1 year of age .Retired breeders .Retired service and facility dogs .Active graduate dogs at least 1-year post-placement, with additional approval from the graduate department and their personal veterinarian. .Active male breeders at least 6 months post-placement, with additional approval from the breeding and veterinary departments.
Due to health and safety concerns, active female breeders are not eligible to participate in this program. All dogs participating in the program must be approved by the veterinary and training departments as medically and temperamentally suitable for therapy dog work.
Health: Dogs in the therapy dog program are required to be up to date on vaccines, at a healthy weight, on monthly preventatives, receiving annual veterinary exams, and should not participate if they are ill.
Temperament: Dogs in the therapy dog program should be social, manageable, and appropriate for the setting(s) where they will be working. Dogs may have conditions to their certification based on their release reasons that must be adhered to for the duration of their certification with us. Examples are fear of children, surface sensitivity, and toileting concerns.
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Am I eligible to apply for a therapy dog? +
In the Northwest Region (Santa Rosa, CA):
Canine Companions is only offering this pilot program to owners of eligible Canine Companions dogs who live within 100 miles of our headquarters in Santa Rosa, California. If you meet these requirements, click here for more information.
In the Southwest Region (Oceanside, CA):
Canine Companions is only offering this pilot program to handlers of eligible Canine Companions dogs who live within 200 miles of our campus in Oceanside, CA. If you meet these requirements, click here for more information.
In the South Central Region (Irving, TX):
Canine Companions is only offering this pilot program to handlers of eligible Canine Companions dogs who are already performing therapy dog work in their communities and who live within 100 miles of that location. If you meet these requirements, click here for more information.
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What if we are already certified through another therapy dog organization? +
Canine Companions makes therapy dog certification available to owners/guardians of eligible dogs (see Eligibility). Handlers may be dual certified with other organizations but should be aware that other organizations may not permit dual certification.
We recognize that individual programs and facilities may have policies that prevent the Canine Companions therapy dog certification program from being the best fit.
