A therapy dog walking in a park with their owner - contact Dog Training Elite to talk to a professional therapy dog trainer!

Therapy Dog Training

Dog Training Elite

Request Free Assessment

Request Free Assessment

Our Therapy Dog Training Could Help:
Those managing chronic pain
People looking to increase social interaction
Anyone seeking enhanced motivation and purpose
Individuals in need of emotional comfort
Those experiencing stress, anxiety, or depression
People wanting to boost overall optimism
Anyone feeling lonely or isolated

Therapy Dog Trainer

What is a Therapy Dog?

A therapy dog is trained to provide emotional support and comfort to people in need, often visiting hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. These dogs must be friendly with strangers, able to handle high levels of distraction, and understand personal boundaries like not jumping, licking, or mouthing. With proper training, therapy dogs can bring joy and emotional relief to those they interact with, offering companionship in stressful environments.

At Dog Training Elite, we offer programs to help your dog become a certified therapy dog. As a leading therapy dog trainer, we focus on developing the right temperament and skills so your dog can confidently provide comfort and support in various settings. With our professional guidance, your dog can become a valuable source of emotional care and connection for individuals in need.

See Training Packages
A therapy dog in training with Dog Training Elite's expert handlers.

How Does a Dog Become a Therapy Dog?


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While the companionship your dog brings you may inspire you to share that with others, not every dog is suited to be a therapy animal. Beyond a friendly, loving personality, several important qualifications must be met for a dog to be considered for therapy work:

  • Age: Puppies are typically too energetic and lack the focus to be therapy dogs.
  • Obedience: A therapy dog must follow commands reliably. Dogs that have completed obedience training with Dog Training Elite have the solid foundation needed to begin therapy dog training.
  • Social Skills: Therapy dogs need to naturally enjoy meeting new people and must handle being petted and approached by strangers without anxiety. Their ability to remain calm and friendly, even in unfamiliar situations, ensures they can provide emotional support to those they interact with.

Get Your Free Assessment

You and your canine companion really can have it all. See how easy it can be to become a member of the elite pup society by requesting a free consultation today!

Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Daxton Tarantino
    Oct. 5, 2025
    Our meeting with Rich was great. He was very knowledgeable. Took his time and explained everything we need to know. Thank you!
  • Jean Fox
    Apr. 9, 2025
    We can’t thank Doug, Josh and all the trainers at DTE enough for the incredible work they do with our new family member, Remy. She struggles with reactive and aggressive behaviors, but their calm, patient approach and deep understanding of dog behavior has made all the difference. They gave us practical, easy to follow training techniques that have helped her make incredible progress. Especially grateful for the coaching and encouragement we receive as her handlers. We couldn’t be happier with the team’s expertise, kindness and dedication - it was made all the difference. Highly recommended the DTE Team!
  • Grant Harris
    Oct. 5, 2025
    Dog Training Elite has been monumental in training our young rat terrier Wally and our chocolate lab puppy Ralphy. Graham and Shelly have put together and incredible staff to train up any breed of dog. The dogs love the facility and the group training held at 1 of 2 parks in the PSL area. We will keep bringing Wally to group classes and look forward to Ralphys further training as he learns not only basic obedience but eventually training to be my father’s service dog. We recommend DTE for anyone, any dog, any time.
  • Kathy Nelson
    Oct. 4, 2025
    Meggie was very informed and very nice. I look forward to working with her and the rest of the team.
  • Anika Allred
    Sep. 6, 2025
    We LOVE Deidre! We honestly can’t sing her praises enough. We have one more session with her, and we wish we could have a lifetime! She’s incredible, knowledgeable, kind, patient, and just an all-around amazing trainer. 1000/10 would recommend her and this business!
  • Wendy Etheridge
    Oct. 4, 2025
    Montana is a lovely young lady and Lydia took to her right away! This is in Nashville, by the way. She explained everything about the training program very well. She listened to the things I would like to do with Lydia and what I would like Lydia to be able to do. I appreciated her spending the amount of time she did and I felt well informed about the program. Thank you Montana, for throwing that BALL!!
  • Selena Despins
    Oct. 4, 2025
    We are so happy we went with Elite after reaching out to multiple trainers in the area. We were given different options for how to go about training; in public, at their facility, or in our own home. It made it very convenient and helpful to train in different environments with our dog. Ramiro was a great trainer, not just for our skeptical dog, but also as worrisome owners. He explained each step and helped us and our dog work together to help us be more confident in public and having visitors over. Being a rescue, our dog has a tendency to be on high alert but training has helped him trust us and relax.
  • Kevin Tyson
    Jul. 15, 2025
    Dog Training Elite Lancaster: I can't overstate the dramatic change in my dog since Jaime and Betsy engaged in training with her. Prior to Elite, we had our puppy in private training, with mediocre results. I was skeptical that Elite would be able to get her to the level we wanted. Literally after one lesson, we began to see results. By week 3 it was DRAMATIC! Jaime and Betsy provide the tools and coaching. You need to do the work also. But if you do, the results will overwhelm you!! Almost as important as training your dog, Dog Training Elite trains the handler and gives them the skills to understand successful methods. We are so grateful that we found Betsy and Jaime. Remarkable trainers!!
  • Diana Robles
    Oct. 4, 2025
    When we lost Luca, we weren’t sure what we would do. He was not only my service dog, but my partner and heart. I honestly didn’t know how I could move forward without him. At the time, our sweet Yara didn’t qualify as a service dog due to her past trauma, prior to us adopting her, and it felt like such an uncertain road ahead. Then life surprised us — Yara had a litter of seven beautiful, healthy standard poodle pups. We decided to keep two of the boys, and they have just completed their service dog training camp. They’re well on their way to following in Luca’s pawprints, and watching their progress has filled our hearts with so much hope. Yara herself has blossomed in ways I never imagined. From obedience training to slowly building her confidence, she’s now qualified as a service dog too. She’s done a complete 180, and it brings me to tears thinking of how far she’s come. Thank you, DTE, for everything. Your dedication, patience, and love have shaped not only our pups but our lives. We will always miss Luca deeply, but we’re forever grateful to Dog Training Elite for helping our young pups step into their new roles and for helping our beautiful princess Yara grow into the amazing dog she was meant to be. 🐩❤️
  • Desiree LaPeer
    Oct. 4, 2025
    Dog Training Elite has been wonderful in working with my service dog in training. We started working with Tom and Abby when Charlie was a puppy. Now at one years old, Charlie has grown so much in her obedience. We’ve trusted their process in training, and it is absolutely paying off. Being able to attend bi-weekly group classes has been very helpful in maintaining her obedience and to learn new skills. Tom and Abby have always been willing to do individual sessions to help target specific tasks Charlie needs to learn. I absolutely love working with Dog Training Elite!!
  • Franklin Smith
    Oct. 4, 2025
    Trainers I worked with like Patrick and Matt are the best!!
  • John McEachern
    Sep. 11, 2025
    Richard is very easy going , stays on point and is working on our training as well as Phins ! I think we’re behind 🤣
  • Zachary Potter
    Oct. 4, 2025
    Awesome experience with Ramiro! Completely transformed our dogs. Had issues with them being aggressive towards each other and with a baby on the way, we had to find a fix. Ramiro solved all of our issues. Highly recommend
  • Nate Gornitzky
    Oct. 4, 2025
    Fantastic Jupiter group class today!!
  • Larry Falivena
    Oct. 4, 2025
    The team at DTE is great! Cindy and Kyle helped us take our wild puppy and turn her into my mobility service dog. People are amazed at how well trained she is. I highly recommend them whether you need a service dog to help improve your quality of life, or just a well behaved companion.
  • Qwaig
    Oct. 3, 2025
    Dog training elite goes above and beyond the competition. They don’t just make sure your dog is trained, they make sure YOU are trained on what you need to do to keep your dog learning and growing. The staff is all extremely friendly and personable, I highly recommend them for any type of training you are looking for for your dog.
  • Lynne H
    Oct. 3, 2025
    Our dogs love their training sessions and practice sessions. We are very pleased with the progress they've made.
  • Lori Ostiguy
    Oct. 3, 2025
    We had our initial visit and I am so happy, Patrick is a great trainer and I can’t wait to do more training.
  • Garret Schumer
    Oct. 3, 2025
    Such an amazing experience so far. Colin is great with our girl Gilly. Over the past 5 weeks she has responded incredibly well to her commands, and is excited every week when Colin comes to the door. Even when there’s distractions Colin is awesome at getting her on task and imprinting the lesson. The whole process has made it super easy for us and Gilly to keep working and making the lesson stick. Grateful to have found this program. Below are pics of Gilly, “placing” (and her birthday get up..just because 😂)
  • Alexander Voris
    Oct. 3, 2025
    We do not even know where to begin when it comes to how grateful we are for Dog Training Elite. Before attending the two week day camp, Hoosier, our year and a half golden retriever mix, struggled significantly with meeting new people. He would bark and lunge at them in an aggressive manner. The two week camp provided Hoosier (and us) with the tools for interacting with new people. This is just the beginning of his training as he will continue to attend weekly group sessions that come with the two week day camp package (which is amazing). We cannot say enough good things about all the trainers here. They have done such an incredible job with Hoosier, and we are so thankful for them.
  • Daxton Tarantino
    Oct. 5, 2025
    Our meeting with Rich was great. He was very knowledgeable. Took his time and explained everything we need to know. Thank you!
  • Jean Fox
    Apr. 9, 2025
    We can’t thank Doug, Josh and all the trainers at DTE enough for the incredible work they do with our new family member, Remy. She struggles with reactive and aggressive behaviors, but their calm, patient approach and deep understanding of dog behavior has made all the difference. They gave us practical, easy to follow training techniques that have helped her make incredible progress. Especially grateful for the coaching and encouragement we receive as her handlers. We couldn’t be happier with the team’s expertise, kindness and dedication - it was made all the difference. Highly recommended the DTE Team!
  • Grant Harris
    Oct. 5, 2025
    Dog Training Elite has been monumental in training our young rat terrier Wally and our chocolate lab puppy Ralphy. Graham and Shelly have put together and incredible staff to train up any breed of dog. The dogs love the facility and the group training held at 1 of 2 parks in the PSL area. We will keep bringing Wally to group classes and look forward to Ralphys further training as he learns not only basic obedience but eventually training to be my father’s service dog. We recommend DTE for anyone, any dog, any time.
  • Kathy Nelson
    Oct. 4, 2025
    Meggie was very informed and very nice. I look forward to working with her and the rest of the team.
  • Anika Allred
    Sep. 6, 2025
    We LOVE Deidre! We honestly can’t sing her praises enough. We have one more session with her, and we wish we could have a lifetime! She’s incredible, knowledgeable, kind, patient, and just an all-around amazing trainer. 1000/10 would recommend her and this business!
  • Wendy Etheridge
    Oct. 4, 2025
    Montana is a lovely young lady and Lydia took to her right away! This is in Nashville, by the way. She explained everything about the training program very well. She listened to the things I would like to do with Lydia and what I would like Lydia to be able to do. I appreciated her spending the amount of time she did and I felt well informed about the program. Thank you Montana, for throwing that BALL!!
  • Selena Despins
    Oct. 4, 2025
    We are so happy we went with Elite after reaching out to multiple trainers in the area. We were given different options for how to go about training; in public, at their facility, or in our own home. It made it very convenient and helpful to train in different environments with our dog. Ramiro was a great trainer, not just for our skeptical dog, but also as worrisome owners. He explained each step and helped us and our dog work together to help us be more confident in public and having visitors over. Being a rescue, our dog has a tendency to be on high alert but training has helped him trust us and relax.
  • Kevin Tyson
    Jul. 15, 2025
    Dog Training Elite Lancaster: I can't overstate the dramatic change in my dog since Jaime and Betsy engaged in training with her. Prior to Elite, we had our puppy in private training, with mediocre results. I was skeptical that Elite would be able to get her to the level we wanted. Literally after one lesson, we began to see results. By week 3 it was DRAMATIC! Jaime and Betsy provide the tools and coaching. You need to do the work also. But if you do, the results will overwhelm you!! Almost as important as training your dog, Dog Training Elite trains the handler and gives them the skills to understand successful methods. We are so grateful that we found Betsy and Jaime. Remarkable trainers!!
  • Diana Robles
    Oct. 4, 2025
    When we lost Luca, we weren’t sure what we would do. He was not only my service dog, but my partner and heart. I honestly didn’t know how I could move forward without him. At the time, our sweet Yara didn’t qualify as a service dog due to her past trauma, prior to us adopting her, and it felt like such an uncertain road ahead. Then life surprised us — Yara had a litter of seven beautiful, healthy standard poodle pups. We decided to keep two of the boys, and they have just completed their service dog training camp. They’re well on their way to following in Luca’s pawprints, and watching their progress has filled our hearts with so much hope. Yara herself has blossomed in ways I never imagined. From obedience training to slowly building her confidence, she’s now qualified as a service dog too. She’s done a complete 180, and it brings me to tears thinking of how far she’s come. Thank you, DTE, for everything. Your dedication, patience, and love have shaped not only our pups but our lives. We will always miss Luca deeply, but we’re forever grateful to Dog Training Elite for helping our young pups step into their new roles and for helping our beautiful princess Yara grow into the amazing dog she was meant to be. 🐩❤️
  • Desiree LaPeer
    Oct. 4, 2025
    Dog Training Elite has been wonderful in working with my service dog in training. We started working with Tom and Abby when Charlie was a puppy. Now at one years old, Charlie has grown so much in her obedience. We’ve trusted their process in training, and it is absolutely paying off. Being able to attend bi-weekly group classes has been very helpful in maintaining her obedience and to learn new skills. Tom and Abby have always been willing to do individual sessions to help target specific tasks Charlie needs to learn. I absolutely love working with Dog Training Elite!!
  • Franklin Smith
    Oct. 4, 2025
    Trainers I worked with like Patrick and Matt are the best!!
  • John McEachern
    Sep. 11, 2025
    Richard is very easy going , stays on point and is working on our training as well as Phins ! I think we’re behind 🤣
  • Zachary Potter
    Oct. 4, 2025
    Awesome experience with Ramiro! Completely transformed our dogs. Had issues with them being aggressive towards each other and with a baby on the way, we had to find a fix. Ramiro solved all of our issues. Highly recommend
  • Nate Gornitzky
    Oct. 4, 2025
    Fantastic Jupiter group class today!!
  • Larry Falivena
    Oct. 4, 2025
    The team at DTE is great! Cindy and Kyle helped us take our wild puppy and turn her into my mobility service dog. People are amazed at how well trained she is. I highly recommend them whether you need a service dog to help improve your quality of life, or just a well behaved companion.
  • Qwaig
    Oct. 3, 2025
    Dog training elite goes above and beyond the competition. They don’t just make sure your dog is trained, they make sure YOU are trained on what you need to do to keep your dog learning and growing. The staff is all extremely friendly and personable, I highly recommend them for any type of training you are looking for for your dog.
  • Lynne H
    Oct. 3, 2025
    Our dogs love their training sessions and practice sessions. We are very pleased with the progress they've made.
  • Lori Ostiguy
    Oct. 3, 2025
    We had our initial visit and I am so happy, Patrick is a great trainer and I can’t wait to do more training.
  • Garret Schumer
    Oct. 3, 2025
    Such an amazing experience so far. Colin is great with our girl Gilly. Over the past 5 weeks she has responded incredibly well to her commands, and is excited every week when Colin comes to the door. Even when there’s distractions Colin is awesome at getting her on task and imprinting the lesson. The whole process has made it super easy for us and Gilly to keep working and making the lesson stick. Grateful to have found this program. Below are pics of Gilly, “placing” (and her birthday get up..just because 😂)
  • Alexander Voris
    Oct. 3, 2025
    We do not even know where to begin when it comes to how grateful we are for Dog Training Elite. Before attending the two week day camp, Hoosier, our year and a half golden retriever mix, struggled significantly with meeting new people. He would bark and lunge at them in an aggressive manner. The two week camp provided Hoosier (and us) with the tools for interacting with new people. This is just the beginning of his training as he will continue to attend weekly group sessions that come with the two week day camp package (which is amazing). We cannot say enough good things about all the trainers here. They have done such an incredible job with Hoosier, and we are so thankful for them.
An obedient dog in a emotional support dog training program.

Benefits of Therapy Dogs

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Therapy dogs have a profound impact on individuals’ emotional and physical well-being. Research demonstrates that therapy dogs can improve a patient's mood, reduce stress, and even lower pain levels during hospital stays or medical treatments. Their calming presence provides comfort and relief in challenging moments.

Children, in particular, often respond well to therapy dogs. The companionship and playful interaction of a therapy dog can motivate children to engage more fully in treatments, helping them overcome fear or reluctance. With a therapy dog by their side, children tend to feel more optimistic and less anxious.

Beyond medical settings, therapy dogs also foster social interaction, especially in autism and mental health communities. These dogs offer non-judgmental companionship and serve as a bridge for individuals who may struggle with social connections. By reducing feelings of loneliness and anxiety, therapy dogs offer their owners comfort and companionship that enhances the overall quality of life.

A therapy dog handler with their dog trained by Dog Training Elite.

Therapy Dog Handlers

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If you’ve ever wanted to make a meaningful impact in your community, becoming a therapy dog handler offers a unique opportunity to do so alongside your dog. You can choose where to volunteer based on your interests, such as schools, hospitals, or senior living centers.

Once you’ve decided, therapy dog training is the next step. Dog Training Elite’s expert trainers will help your dog master essential behaviors like loose-leash walking, “leave it,” and not jumping on people. After completing training, you can apply for therapy dog certification, but it’s essential to keep up with ongoing training to ensure your dog remains well-behaved and ready to assist.

Additional Training Programs

Dog Training Elite - Dog Obedience Training. DTE

Obedience Training

Dog Training Elite - Puppy Training. Dog Training Elite

Puppy Training

Dog Training Elite - Service Dog Training. Dog Training Elite

Service Dog Training

Dog Training Elite - Anxiety & Aggression Dog Trainer. DTE

Anxiety & Aggression

Dog Training Elite - Top Protection Dog Training. Dog Training Elite

Personal Protection

Dog Training Elite - Group Class Dog Training. DTE

Group Training

A fully trained service dog from Dog Training Elite.

Emotional Support Dog Training

Why Choose DTE for Therapy Dog Training?

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At Dog Training Elite, our training programs prepare your dog for real-world situations where their presence can provide emotional support and comfort. Beyond just obedience, our training teaches your dog how to handle stressful or highly stimulating environments like hospitals, schools, or nursing homes.

We also place a strong emphasis on socialization and adaptability, making sure your dog can confidently engage with people of all ages and backgrounds. Therapy dog work requires attentiveness and empathy, and our training helps your dog develop these traits. With a foundation of trust, consistency, and patience, your dog will be fully equipped to offer comfort and companionship wherever it’s needed.

A group of dogs being trained by the expert team at Dog Training Elite.
Dog Training Elite light star icon.

Educate, Empower, Elevate, Elite

Victory Begins With Elite Education

ESA vs. Therapy vs. Service Animals

What's the Difference?

Animals that provide assistance and companionship can be classified into three main groups: service animals, emotional support animals (ESAs), and therapy animals. Each has different responsibilities, training requirements, and legal protections. Knowing the differences can help you choose the right type of support for a disability, emotional needs, or therapy purposes.

Here are the defining features of each type:

Service animals are trained to help individuals by performing tasks that meet their specific needs, such as:

  • Redirecting attention when an individual is beginning to feel overstimulated
  • Reminding owners to take medication
  • Waking someone who is having a nightmare

Service dogs are highly valued in the mental health and disability community and are protected under ADA laws, allowing them to accompany their owners anywhere. At DTE, we provide specialized training for service dogs that assist individuals with autism, diabetes, and PTSD.

The key difference between ESAs, therapy dogs, and service dogs is that service animals are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act. This means they are allowed to go anywhere their owner goes. ESAs and therapy dogs do not have the same protections as service dogs, and public places can set their own rules about allowing them.

ESAs are prescribed by licensed mental health professionals to help individuals with mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression. These animals provide emotional support simply by being a comforting presence. Unlike service dogs, ESAs are not trained to perform specific tasks related to their owner's condition.

ESAs can be of any breed or age, and while they do not require the same level of training as service dogs, many owners choose to seek additional training. This can help strengthen the bond between the owner and the animal and improve the ESA's ability to provide consistent emotional support in different situations.

Therapy animals provide comfort and emotional support to individuals in need. They are not trained to assist a single person but are instead taught to be well-behaved and sociable around various groups of people. These animals help reduce stress, anxiety, and loneliness for those they visit.

Unlike service animals, therapy animals are not required to perform specific tasks. Their calming presence is what makes them valuable in therapeutic programs.