How To Get Certified To Have A Therapy Dog

October 15, 2021

Therapy dogs, the dogs who will be earning the AKC Therapy Dog™ title, do not have the same special access as service dogs. How to Earn the Title: QualificationsTo earn an AKC Therapy Dog™ title, you and your dog must meet the following criteria:Certified/registered by an AKC recognized therapy dog organization. A special Canine Partners Therapy Dog Enrollment Form is available for mixed breed Therapy Dogs needing to obtain a dog number in order to receive their Therapy Dog Title. Apply for an AKC Therapy Dog TitleIf your dog meets the criteria and you would like to apply for an AKC Therapy Dog title, please complete this AKC Therapy Dog Title Application and mail to the AKC address shown on the application with a $25 recording fee. Add Canine Good Citizen to Therapy Dog TitlesEffective July 2015, dogs who are registered with an AKC recognized therapy organization and have earned an AKC Therapy Dog Title may receive the official Canine Good Citizen Title when the owner submits the CGC Therapy Dog Grandfather Application.

AKC Therapy Dog Program – American Kennel Club

What is a Therapy Dog?

Therapy dogs are dogs who go with their owners to volunteer in settings such as schools, hospitals, and nursing homes.

From working with a child who is learning to read to visiting a senior in assisted living, therapy dogs and their owners work together as a team to improve the lives of other people.

Therapy dogs are not service dogs. Service dogs are dogs who are specially trained to perform specific tasks to help a person who has a disability. An example of a service dog is a dog who guides an owner who is blind, or a dog who assists someone who has a physical disability. Service dogs stay with their person and have special access privileges in public places such as on planes, restaurants, etc. Therapy dogs, the dogs who will be earning the AKC Therapy Dog™ title, do not have the same special access as service dogs.

It is unethical to attempt to pass off a therapy dog as a service dog for purposes such as flying on a plane or being admitted to a restaurant.

The Purpose of This Program

The purpose of this program is to recognize AKC dogs and their owners who have given their time and helped people by volunteering as a therapy dog and owner team.

The AKC Therapy Dog™ program awards official AKC titles to dogs who have worked to improve the lives of the people they have visited.
AKC Therapy Dog titles can be earned by dogs who have been certified by AKC recognized therapy dog organizations and have performed the required number of visits.
AKC does not certify therapy dogs; the certification and training is done by qualified therapy dog organizations. The certification organizations are the experts in this area and their efforts should be acknowledged and appreciated.

Why Did AKC Start A Therapy Dog Title?

AKC has received frequent, ongoing requests from dog owners who participate in therapy work to “acknowledge the great work our dogs are doing.” Many of our constituents are understandably proud of their dogs. Earning an AKC Therapy Dog title builds on the skills taught in the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy® and Canine Good Citizen® programs which creates a sound and friendly temperament needed by a successful therapy dog.

Therapy Dog Titles

AKC Therapy Dog Novice (THDN)
Must have completed 10 visits.
AKC Therapy Dog (THD)
Must have completed 50 visits.
AKC Therapy Dog Advanced (THDA)
Must have completed 100 visits.
AKC Therapy Dog Excellent (THDX)
Must have completed 200 visits.
AKC Therapy Dog Distinguished (THDD)
Must have completed 400 visits.

How to Earn the Title: Qualifications

To earn an AKC Therapy Dog™ title, you and your dog must meet the following criteria:

Certified/registered by an AKC recognized therapy dog organization.
Perform the required number of visits for the title for which you are applying. For your convenience in helping you track your visits, you can use the Therapy Dog Record of Visits Sheet.
- NOTE: A VISIT IS ONE DAY PER FACILITY/AGENCY.
- FOR A SINGLE FACILITY: As an example, if you see multiple clients over a 2 hour time period on the same day, that is ONE VISIT. [In a hospital, you visit Mr. Jones, Ms. Smith, Mr. Roberts, Ms. White, this is ONE VISIT, not 4 visits].
- For each day/date at a facility, no matter how many clients one sees, this counts as 1 visit. If you take a break and return to the same facility on the same day, this counts as ONE VISIT.
- For MULTIPLE FACILITIES: Example: You do therapy work on your day off. In the morning, you go to an assisted living facility. You take your dog home at lunch to rest. In the afternoon, you go to a school. THIS IS 2 visits, no matter how many clients you saw per facility.
AKC Therapy Dog Distinguished (THDD). Must have completed 400 visits.
AKC Therapy Dog Excellent (THDX). Must have completed 200 visits.
AKC Therapy Dog Advanced (THDA). Must have completed 100 visits.
AKC Therapy Dog (THD). Must have completed 50 visits.
AKC Therapy Dog Novice (THDN). Must have completed 10 visits.
The dog must be registered or listed with AKC.

All dogs are eligible to earn AKC Therapy Dog titles, including purebreds and mixed breeds. To earn an AKC Therapy Dog title, dogs must be registered or listed with AKC and have a number. This includes any one of these three options:

AKC Registration Number (purebreds with registered parents)
This is often known as the “AKC papers” provided to a dog owner by a breeder. If you have received a registration paper from your breeder or previous owner you can register online.
PAL Number (purebreds not registerable)
PAL is Purebred Alternative Listing. PAL (formerly called ILP) is a program that allows unregistered dogs of registerable breeds to compete in AKC Performance and Companion Events. PAL dogs include the many wonderful purebred dogs who may have come from shelters or rescue without AKC registration.
Canine Partners Number (for mixed breeds or non registerable)
Used by mixed breed dogs (and dogs otherwise not registered with AKC such as some purebreds from other countries). A special Canine Partners Therapy Dog Enrollment Form is available for mixed breed Therapy Dogs needing to obtain a dog number in order to receive their Therapy Dog Title. This form must be submitted together with the .

Apply for an AKC Therapy Dog Title

If your dog meets the criteria and you would like to apply for an AKC Therapy Dog title, please complete this AKC Therapy Dog Title Application and mail to the AKC address shown on the application with a $25 recording fee.

AKC accepts the following forms of payment: Check or money order made out to “American Kennel Club” and Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express.

If your application is not approved due to not meeting the qualifications, you will be notified and your fee will be refunded.

Documenting Visits

To earn the AKC Therapy Dog™ title, you and your dog must have completed at least 50 therapy visits. These visits must be documented with time, date, location, and a signature of a staff person at the facility (e.g., school, hospital, etc.). This documentation can be achieved by submitting one of the following:

Therapy Dog Record of Visits Form (you may use the AKC form or one of your own), or,
Certificate or wallet card from a certifying organization indicating the dog has made 50 or more visits or,
Letter from the facility (nursing home, school, hospital, etc.) where the dog served as a therapy dog. Letters must be on facility letterhead. Contact information for verification purposes should include facility name, address and contact person’s name, phone number and/or email address. For a sample letter, click here.

Add Canine Good Citizen to Therapy Dog Titles

Effective July 2015, dogs who are registered with an AKC recognized therapy organization and have earned an AKC Therapy Dog Title may receive the official Canine Good Citizen Title when the owner submits the CGC Therapy Dog Grandfather Application.

Contact Us

American Kennel Club
Performance Events Dept – Therapy Dogs
8051 Arco Corporate Drive
Raleigh, NC 27617
(919) 816-3527
[email protected]

How To Get A Therapy Dog

If you would like to own a therapy dog, the process is relatively simple. Requirements for a Therapy DogDogs must meet certain criteria to qualify as therapy animals. Emotional Support Animals: Emotional support animals are medically prescribed animals that typically help individuals with mental or emotional issues simply by being there. Animal-Assisted Therapy Dog: This type of therapy dog is generally reserved for rehabilitation clinics. However, the process of registering an emotional support dog is different.

How To Train a Therapy Dog: Learning If Your Dog Is Fit For

Can Any Dog Be a Therapy Dog? So what makes a good therapy dog and how do pups and people become a therapy dog team? However, it’s not fair to give a dog a job that it doesn’t want.”Would Your Dog Make a Good Therapy Dog? She also emphasizes that therapy dog work is as good for the person as it is for the dog. Tips For How To Train A Therapy DogLearning to train a therapy dog is no easy task, and often requires a lot of work on behalf of both the dog and the handler.

Service Dog Requirements

If you are interested in having a service dog, below are requirements to be aware of:A person is eligible for a service dog if they have a physical, emotional or mental disability A service dog must be well mannered at all times A service dog must be trained to perform specific tasks that aid in a disability If it is not obvious what service the dog provides, the handler must be willing to answer two questions about their service dog. Step 5: Service Dog Certification and RegistrationIn the United States, service dog certifications and service dog identifications are not a requirement. For convenience, privacy, and to set proper boundaries with strangers, some service dog owners find it helpful to own documents and accessories that can help signal that their dog is a trained service dog. Electing to carry a custom Service Dog ID card and Service Dog Vest may be helpful tools for you and your service dog to navigate public spaces. If you are looking for a Service Dog for a mental or emotional issue, you may be interested in a Psychiatric Service Dog.

Service Dogs 101: Everything You Need To Know About Service Dogs

Although some service dogs may wear vests, special harnesses, collars or tags, the ADA does not require service dogs to wear vests or display identification. Courthouse dogs are another category of dogs that sometimes wear vests or display other ID, but are not service dogs. Where to Find a Service DogProfessional service dog training organizations and individuals who train service dogs are located throughout the U.S. The AKC also works with the American Service Dog Access Coalition, a charitable not-for-profit organization comprised of major service dog groups, service dog access providers, advocates for the disabled, service dog trainers, and policymakers seeking to improve access for legitimate service dog teams while incentivizing high-quality behavioral standards for all service dogs, and educating the public about the crime of service dog fraud. ASDAC is building an “opt-in” service dog credentialing system, Service Dog Pass (SDP), that will streamline the air travel process for service dog teams while also reducing the challenges faced by gatekeepers when working to accommodate them.

How to Certify a Therapy Dog

There are three basic steps involved in certifying a therapy dog:Adopt a dog that has the appropriate demeanor and intelligence to serve as a therapy dog. Optionally register your trained therapy dog with an organizationsuch as Service Dog Certifications. We will also explain the key differences between a therapy dog and a service dog or emotional support dog, especially when it comes to the rights of their handlers. Any breed of dog can qualify as a therapy dog, as long as they have the proper temperament and intelligence. Due to these potentially stressful environments, it is also important that a therapy dog handler takes care to ensure that the therapy dog is not being overworked or stressed and is given the opportunity for plenty of breaks and periods of rest.

Wags Therapy Dog Program

Therapy dogs are pet dogs that are trained to provide comfort and emotional support to other people for short periods of time. They have earned their registration as therapy dogs through an organization that requires testing, including a behavioral component, such as Pet Partners (Pet Partners Therapy Dogs & Other Therapy Animals), Therapy Dogs International or the University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center PALS program. Wags facilitates volunteer therapy dog visits to various MU Health Care locations. DonateYour gift will allow us to purchase training supplies needed to build our therapy dog program so we can serve as many patients as possible. I have a dog that is not yet registeredIf your dog is not registered, your dog will need to pass a registration test through Pet Partners (Pet Partners Therapy Dogs & Other Therapy Animals), Therapy Dogs International or through the University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center PALS program before s/he can volunteer as a therapy dog.

Can Your Dog Be a Therapy Dog? See If Your Pup's Got the Right

Expert dog trainers weigh in on how to train your dog to be a therapy dog and the positive impact these animals have on their communities. Although many people use the terms therapy dog and service dog interchangeably, they are not the same. "Most people have no idea that the terms service dog, therapy dog, emotional support animal, and comfort animal are not all interchangeable. So what determines whether a specific dog will be successful as a therapy dog or not? Does your dog have the following temperament traits of a good therapy dog?

Program Requirements

Animals with an IllnessAnimal welfare and infection control are key principles of the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program. Asking animals to make therapy animal visits when they are not healthy increases stress and can lead to a worsened condition. All handlers must also have a unique email address in order to register with the Therapy Animal Program. The rest of your support comes from generous individual donors (including Pet Partners volunteers), foundations, and corporate partners. Therapy animals must inspire confidence in those they meet, so they should consistently demonstrate that they’re well-behaved and have good manners.