Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer with Therapy Dogs of America!
Our volunteers are the heart and soul of our organization and their dedication is truly exceptional.

Become a Therapy Dog Team

Becoming a therapy dog team is the most meaningful way to serve as a volunteer.

A therapy dog team provides quality interactions with the communities we serve and strives to help fulfill our mission to empower people to live more fulfilling lives. It is a true team experience, and you and your dog must be dedicated to completing the training and certification process.

Start with the Basics

You and your dog must meet these general qualifications before taking any further steps to become a therapy team:

  • Your dog must be at least 1 year of age
  • Your dog must have up-to-date rabies and vaccination records
  • Handlers must be at least 18 years old, unless volunteering with a parent or guardian

Qualities we look for in our therapy dogs

  • Seeks and enjoys human interaction and meeting a variety of new people
  • Accepts vigorous petting by crowds of people
  • Demonstrates basic obedience skills such as controlled leash walking, “sit,” “stay,” “down,” “come,” and “leave it”
  • Friendly (or neutral) around other dogs
  • Does not jump, paw, or mouth people or other dogs
  • Comfortable with medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, or other moving objects
  • Does not react strongly to unexpected loud noises
  • Does not exhibit aggression or show fear towards other animals or people
  • Strong, positive connection between dog and handler

Expectations Of A Handler

  • Understand, believe and uphold the mission of the organization
  • Successfully complete a Background Check and TB test
  • Volunteer a minimum of 20 hours per calendar year
  • Maintain up-to-date training, registration and paperwork
  • Provide a positive, warm experience during a visit
  • Uphold all our policies, including confidentiality
  • Have a strong, and positive bond between you and your dog
  • Have a strong desire to serve others in our community with your dog
  • The ability and desire to meet new people and make them feel comfortable
  • The capacity to work in partnership with other therapy dog teams at program sites
  • Bathe or groom your dog within 24 hours prior to a visit
  • Awareness of the needs and behaviors of your dog when around other animals and people
  • Maintain timely communication with our staff

Training & Certification

TRAINING SESSIONS

Dogs who participate in therapy dog training class should be at least nine months of age, be up-to-date on all vaccines and possess a calm and friendly personality. All breeds are welcome and no prior training is necessary.

Class meets once a week for six weeks. Each class is one hour in length and is limited to 8 participants. During each class, your dog will learn a variety of basic skills, such as “sit,” “stay,” and “leave it.” In addition, your dog will learn more advanced skills needed as a registered therapy dog such as becoming desensitized to loud noises, meeting new people and other dogs in a variety of settings and accepting hugs from exuberant children.

At the completion of the course, you will have the option to schedule a therapy dog evaluation with our certified trainer. If you pass on your first try, you will be ready to start volunteering with Therapy Dogs of America. If any skill is not passed, you will be able to re-take just that one part at a later date.

Class Fees: $275 per 6-week session, Evaluation/Certification Fee: $50
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY – To learn more about our Santa Barbara Humane location therapy dog training classes and therapy dog evaluations, please contact Andrea Bratt by phone/text at (805) 708-1418. Andrea is a certified professional dog trainer with more than 15 years of experience training dogs in the Santa Barbara area. Learn more about Andrea by visiting her website at K9sbehave.com.

VENTURA COUNTY – For training opportunities in Ventura County, please contact Veronique Pineau by phone at (805) 709-7977 or by email at sixpawsdogschool@gmail.com. Veronique is a UCS Certified Dog Trainer, offering positive dog training with over 10 years of experience in Ventura, CA. She is a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. You can learn more about Veronique by visiting her website at www.sixpawsdogtraining.com.

Ready to Apply?

To learn about our onboarding process for new therapy dog teams and to fill out a Therapy Dog Team Application, please Click Here. 

Have more questions? Check out our Volunteer FAQs.

We look forward to meeting you!