Our Therapy Dog Program is a self-paced training pathway designed for handlers who want to thoughtfully prepare their dog for therapy work in community settings.

This program focuses on building calm, confident, emotionally resilient dogs and informed handlers who understand what ethical therapy dog work truly involves.

This is not about rushing outcomes or ticking boxes. It’s about preparing teams for real interactions, real environments, and real responsibility.

The Therapy Dog Program is self-paced, allowing you to move through the material at a speed that suits your dog, your schedule, and your goals.

You’ll be supported with clear guidance, structure, and context. while still being encouraged to make decisions based on your dog’s individual needs and wellbeing.

This program goes beyond obedience and focuses on real-world readiness.

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
• Practical therapy dog skills such as polite greetings, settling, and loose lead walking
• 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, not perform.

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

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 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.