A welfare-first approach to therapy training, grounded in consent, emotional safety, and ethical progression.

Our Therapy Dog Program is a self-paced therapy pathway designed to support dogs exploring therapy work safely and ethically.

We prioritise welfare, consent, and emotional readiness, helping each dog build the stability and choice-based engagement needed for safe, ethical interactions.

Handlers are supported with clear structure and professional guidance so decisions are always made in the best interest of the dog.

At Flying Paws, therapy work always begins with the dog.

We believe therapy dogs should be emotionally safe, willing participants, not performers working under pressure. This program is built around ethical progression, choice-based learning, and recognising when a dog needs more time or a different path entirely.

Throughout this pathway, we prioritise:

• Emotional safety and resilience over obedience or appearance
• Consent-based handling and recognising signs of fatigue or stress
• Individual pacing guided by your dog’s development, not timelines
• Supporting handlers to advocate for their dog’s wellbeing in real-world settings

Therapy work is an invitation, not an expectation. Our role is to help dogs feel safe enough to choose it.

Not every dog is suited to therapy work and that’s okay. Success is measured by confidence, safety, and welfare, not titles or outcomes.

The Therapy Dog Program is self-paced, allowing you to move through the pathway at a speed that suits your dog’s emotional capacity, development stage, and individual needs.

You’ll be supported with clear structure and professional guidance, while learning how to make ethical decisions that protect your dog’s confidence, safety, and long-term wellbeing.

This program goes beyond obedience and focuses on emotional readiness, ethical handling, and dog-led progression.

You and your dog will work through:

• Foundations of calm behaviour across varied environments
• Social neutrality and impulse control
• Navigating novelty, movement, and distractions safely
• Handler skills for advocating, setting boundaries, and recognising fatigue
• Ethical considerations in therapy settings, including consent and suitability

Our goal is to help your dog thrive safely, not perform.

Therapy suitability is determined by the dog’s wellbeing, not handler goals.

To ensure expectations are clear from the start:

• Therapy dogs are not assistance or service dogs
• This program does not provide public access certification
• Not all dogs are suited to therapy roles and that is not a failure
• Progression should always prioritise the dog’s emotional and physical wellbeing even if that means therapy work is not the right path

Success is defined by safety, confidence, and sustainability, not labels.

If your dog is still building:

• Confidence in new environments
• Calm behaviour around people or dogs
• Foundational emotional regulation and life skills

You may benefit from a Private Training Package or our Online Programs alongside or prior to this pathway.

If you’d like to learn more about whether therapy dog work is the right fit for you and your dog, we’re happy to guide you.