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A therapy dog is a dog who visits places like schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Therapy dog training in Charleston / Summerville teaches dogs to provide comfort, support, and affection to the people they meet, particularly vulnerable people like children, seniors, patients in hospitals, and so on.
Therapy dogs are not service dogs. Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks to help a person who has a disability. This distinction is important because therapy dogs do not have the same access to public places like service dogs do. For example, service dogs can go into restaurants, but therapy dogs cannot. Therapy dogs still provide a valuable service and should receive therapy dog certification.
Not all training packages may be available at our Dog Training Elite Lowcountry location, please reference our pricing page for complete information on services offered.
Who Do Therapy Dogs Help?
Therapy dogs may be regular visitors to a variety of people and places, with hospitals and rehabilitation centers being among the most common. Children, in particular, respond positively to therapy dogs.
Seniors in assisted living or people with mental disabilities who live in facilities and experience feelings of isolation also see a lot of benefits from visiting with a therapy dog.
Besides providing valuable social opportunities and relieving anxiety, therapy dogs may even help lower blood pressure and heart rate in patients and the other people they visit.
Why Are Therapy Dogs Important?
Therapy dogs offer unconditional love, non-judgmental interaction, reduce stress, anxiety and loneliness, and provide an overall positive distraction to ailments. Research shows therapy dogs can have a positive effect on a patient’s mood, stress and pain levels during facility stays.
Young patients — children — seem to benefit most from working with therapy dogs. They are more motivated to participate in treatments, feel optimistic about the future, and experience an overall sense of calm when a certified therapy dog is present.
For people who may have a hard time socializing due to mental disabilities or their living situation, therapy dogs can promote social interaction within their community and help them to connect.
We help your dog become a valued companion and beloved member of the family. Read what our customers have to say and then give us a call!
Colby and Baeleigh have done an excellent job Training both my dog and me! I’m very pleased!!— Emily Gibbons
Posted October 11th 2024
I got a puppy earlier this year and immediately searched for a trainer. I made an appointment and a week later met Colby for a consultation. She was knowledgeable, kind, and professional. Almost 6 months later my puppy is exceptionally well trained and on her way to being a service dog. I’m so thankful for this company and their support. Highly recommend!— tyler sciarrino
Posted October 11th 2024
This company has helped us turn our Airdale around from a terrified, aggressive canine to a well-behaved pooch. Colby and Bayleigh have been fantastic to us! Bayleigh often leads the group sessions and our individual sessions are mostly with Colby. They spend most of their time teaching us how to build our dog's confidence and obedience so she can live a happier life.— Delirious Davies
Posted October 5th 2024
We appreciate the instructors from Dog Training Elite Lowcountry.. Both trainers Baeliegh and Colby were very knowledgeable and helpful to us. Each lesson built on previous ones & helped our puppy improve. Even more than thst they provided helpful information on care & ideas to improve our pet’s daily life. Thanks! 🐶— P HAHN
Posted September 11th 2024
We’ve had the best experience with training for our puppy. Bayleigh is amazing & we love working with her & this company!— Megan Sanders
Posted September 9th 2024
We have had an amazing experience from the trainers to the staff, our goldendoodle has taken to the training and their methodology so well. We love they come to our home and meet out in the community to gove that variety. I cant recommend them enough if you are looking for dog training!!!— Erika Richardson
Posted September 4th 2024
We joined the program several months ago with Baliegh and Colby. They have done wonders with our 4 young and wild Staffy/Pitt mixes. We were at our wits end and debating splitting up our 4 litter mates when we made the choice to seek help. Now we have 4 girls that are happy, confident, and on the way to being well behaved pups that I knew they could be. The girls have helped shape and mold our babies lives for the better and we are so grateful.— Cecilia Houge
Posted August 30th 2024
There are so many things that need to be said. First off, our family has 4 littermayes who are all being trained together by Bayleigh and Colby. These trainer have hands down made this process significantly less stressful than expected. Top notch communication, and simple to follow instructions make this journey unbelievable. If you need assistance with your pets, and are at a point where you need a helping hand, I recommend you give this company a call. You won't be disappointed, we weren't. They also offer working dog training, for both emotional and service dogs. If you have the need, they'll step right in an create a successful path for you and your animals.— Tony Houge
Posted August 30th 2024
Give Colby a raise…the way she handles each lesson and how detailed she is with teaching a new command is amazing. I 100% RECOMMEND her.— Kato Junior
Posted August 22nd 2024
Colby is literally the best Highly would recommend her as your trainer.— Teja
Posted August 22nd 2024
I’ve been working with Colby and have seen amazing results with my dog. She’s gained so much confidence and over come hurdles of anxiety. She’s taught me how to properly control the dog and manage reactivity. Overall just an awesome experience and a great investment for our fur baby!— Melissa Moyer
Posted August 3rd 2024
The DTE team worked with my reactive german shepherd and I. They were extremely patient, helpful, and willing to adapt to our needs. They helped both my dog and myself gain the confidence we needed to continue our training, and they gave us the tools and knowledge I needed to redefine my dog and I's relationship. They also were very accommodating with scheduling. Would definitely recommend!— Bailey Davidson
Posted July 26th 2024
We have worked with Dog Training Elite for six lessons so far and one group lesson with our new rescue dog who is now about 11 months old. Their training and recommendations have made a huge difference in his behavior. He is far less reactive ( in fact, little to no reaction now to most triggers) with other dogs, deer, geese, squirrels, etc. Bayleigh has been our primary trainer but we also have worked with Colby for our initial lesson. Both of them are knowledgeable and patient, not only with our dog but also with us. We highly recommend Dog Training Elite!— Carolyn Viall
Posted July 17th 2024
Colby is an absolute amazing trainer to work with. I learn so much about what I’m doing wrong and how to improve handling Taco! Great person and company.— Scott Weinmann
Posted July 16th 2024
Dog Training Elite made a massive difference for our golden retriever Chance. When we first rescued Chance we were terrified that his poor behavior would last forever. Bailey and the team at Dog Training Elite were extremely helpful and gave us lot of practical feedback. The individual sessions coupled with the group classes gave us things to practice while exposing Chance to real world situations. We can’t recommend Bailey and Dog Training Elite enough, we are extremely pleased with Chance’s progress!— Brendan Duball
Posted June 29th 2024
Training with the owner Steve has been great! Second session and we are working on heel. He was able to stay in a Place for the entirety of a surgery so I've been very impressed. Our puppy is being trained as a service dog, and he loves going everywhere. He's always on his best behavior. The trainers are doing an excellent job of training us how to help him be successful long-term. All of us enjoy the training sessions and learning new skills Since adding Colby to his training team, he has been able to practice place and other skills with another dog in public places which has been awesome. Before he would get distracted with others bc we don't have friends or family with dogs for him to interact with. Her caring, loving approach and knowledge makes Colby one of his favorite people in the world.— Heather C
Posted March 22nd 2024
We have been very impressed with Dog Training Elite! Colby has worked wonders with our Springer Spaniel puppy!— Cameron Bongiorno
Posted June 18th 2024
We have a German Shepherd and we are extremely pleased with the training program and the trainers.You can rely on them to meet the specific needs. We LOVE our trainer Colby. We have seen so much progress and success with Bailey. Also they offer continuous support even after their training is complete. In case of any issues that arise later that you might need help with. They are worth every penny . Thank you guys so much !— A “Coralline” Blais
Posted June 15th 2024
We have been working with Colby and she has been a life changer for Annie’s development and socialization. The company’s training program has helped us learn how to better meet our fur baby’s needs. There was a point before we began working with them that we had considered whether it was best for our family to re-home her which we have never considered doing before. Since we have started training and introducing her to difficult training situations she has become a more patient with loving and socially acceptable behavior. Colby has certainly impacted the dynamics in our home and we couldn’t be more grateful! Oh and Annie absolutely loves it when her buddy Colby comes for training! If you need dog training, please consider Steve, Colby and team at Dog Training Elite Lowcountry! Annie and the Vinson Family— Teri Vinson
Posted June 14th 2024
We have had a fantastic experience with our trainer Colby! She has been extremely kind and patient training our family and our pup, Linus. One of the things I appreciate also is her punctuality and keeping us on track so that we use the time we have scheduled efficiently. Linus is responding well to their methodology and we are so excited to see how much more he will learn. We are so looking forward to having the opportunity to take him on more family outings and sharing those life experiences with him.— Brenton Dameron
Posted June 4th 2024
How Does a Dog Become a Therapy Dog?
If you have felt the benefits of owning a dog, you may feel inspired to help more people feel the unconditional love, joy and support your dog provides. However, having a friendly, loving personality isn’t enough for a dog to qualify as a therapy dog. Some other qualifications to consider are:
- The age of your dog. Puppies do not make good therapy animals.
- How obedient your dog is. It’s important your dog listens to you and obeys basic commands. Dogs that go through obedience training with Dog Training Elite Lowcountry have the perfect foundation to go onto therapy dog training, as long as they are old enough.
- How social your dog is. Your dog may be affectionate with you — but are they affectionate with strangers? Do they like to receive attention from strangers, particularly petting?
Therapy Dog Handlers
As a dog owner, it’s important to reflect on whether you would like to become a therapy dog handler as well. If you enjoy connecting with people, becoming a therapy dog handler may be a great fit. You can also choose where to volunteer to better suit your interests — if you like kids, volunteer to visit schools or children’s hospitals. If you prefer to work with older people, then sign up to visit senior living centers.
Once you’ve determined that becoming a therapy dog handler and helping your dog become a therapy dog is the right move for the two of you, you’re ready to start therapy dog training. The trainers of Dog Training Elite Lowcountry are experts in the behaviors needed in a therapy dog and will help you and your dog either brush up on or master behaviors such as “leave it,” “watch me,” loose-leash walking and not jumping on other people.
To help your dog become well socialized, you may consider also signing up for one of Dog Training Elite Lowcountry’s group obedience classes. A group class environment is also beneficial because it helps your dog learn to be obedient when there are a lot of distractions around, a crucial skill for a therapy dog.
Once you’ve completed initial training, you’re ready to apply for therapy dog certification in Charleston / Summerville. However, it is important to note that this certification is not the end. It’s important to stay on top of your dog’s training and continue to help them be the best therapy dog they can be.
Why do Therapy Dog Training with Dog Training Elite Lowcountry?
The Dog Training Elite Lowcountry training method stands out because of its emphasis on positive reinforcement. Dogs are never punished for bad behavior, instead they are rewarded for good behavior. This kind of training makes a huge difference in your relationship with your dog, and will make a difference in how your dog interacts with other people.
The balanced training method of Dog Training Elite Lowcountry fosters a dog’s naturally loving and obedient nature. Focusing on positive reinforcement and rewarding good behavior helps build a strong bond between dog and owner built on love and trust. This foundation in turn becomes a great foundation for dog and owner to become a fabulous therapy team providing an invaluable service to the community.
If you feel therapy dog certification is right for you and your dog, get started by contacting Dog Training Elite Lowcountry. Request your free training demo and in-home assessment today.
