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A therapy dog is a dog who visits places like schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Therapy dog training in Cleveland 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 in Cleveland 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!
I’ll try to keep it short. I wish I could add videos because these pictures are just a sneak peak of the incredible things he will be able to get your dog or dogs to do! JOSH IS THE MAN!! Listen if you’re looking for a great dog trainer this is the place to go. You truly must be willing to do your part just like you’re paying them to do. This place really knows how to dial your dog in. They also take the time to teach you what they do which is truly amazing ! I would recommend anyone to go here for their dog! Josh is a very genuine human. Very warm kind heart guy. Have absolutely nothing but great respect for that man. Very intelligent when it comes to working with animals. He knows the breeds inside and out knows a lot of great great information. The in facility portion is highly recommended in my opinion if you want those results fast and that good socialization. The at homes are just as good the in facility though man it worked wonders. Feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to share my only 5 month old Rottweilers amazing results !— Jacob Oberst
Posted October 5th 2024
I’ll try to keep it short. Listen if you’re looking for a good dog trainer this is the place to go. You truly must be willing to do your part just like you’re paying them to do. This place really knows how to dial your dog in. They also take the time to teach you what they do which is truly amazing ! I would recommend anyone to go here for their dog! Josh is a very genuine human. Very warm kind heart guy. Have absolutely nothing but great respect for that man. Very intelligent when it comes to working with animals. He knows the breeds inside and out knows a lot of great great information. The in facility portion is highly recommended in my opinion if you want those results fast and that good socialization. The at homes are just as good the in facility though man it worked wonders. Feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to share my only 5 month old Rottweilers amazing results !— Jacob Oberst
Posted October 5th 2024
Josh is a great teacher. He is patient and explains everything clearly. Josh clearly loves dogs and enjoys sharing his knowledge with his students.— Beth Elliott
Posted September 21st 2024
Every trainer we worked with to learn what our newly adopted dog had learned was fantastic; patient, kind and thorough. I highly recommend them to work with you and your pup!— Faye Eishen
Posted September 19th 2024
We took our Bernese Mountain Dog/Australian Shepherd mix (Koda) to Dog Training Elite Greater Cleveland. We had the best experience throughout the in-facility training. The trainers were so helpful and pleasant to deal with, and Koda learned a ton throughout the process. He completed the therapy dog training a couple weeks ago and came out of training a new dog. He is still a puppy and never lost his spunk, but we are now able to take him on walks without being pulled around the neighborhood, he knows all of his basic commands, sit, down, place and heal, and also knows how to politely meet a friend. We couldn’t recommend more this facility and are so happy with all of the services provided. We are so proud of our young Koda and he is going to make a great therapy dog one day.— Alex
Posted September 17th 2024
Amazing!! I can’t thank Josh and his team enough for all the help, support and training. My dog and I both learned so much.— Megan Kelley
Posted September 16th 2024
I cannot begin to thank Josh and his wonderful employees for working so hard for our dog Rocky, also known as RJ. And rescue it's very hard for us to see our dogs struggling mentally and not knowing the proper way to be a dog and to share. We had one dog that had resource guarding, and that was Rocky, he worked with him for two weeks and we could not be any more happy if we tried. They went up and beyond what I feel was 2 weeks of training guidelines. I felt very safe knowing my dog was in their hands every day. I knew I would get back the new and improved dog, a happier dog and a well-rounded dog. They did not prove me wrong. It's just so beautiful to see Rocky now thriving in his new home with his new adapters. Thank you Elite Dog Training of Greater Cleveland for giving us a peaceful and loving dog, that we can confidently adopt out. All my best Melissa Daniels-Gelsinger Lake Erie Labrador Retriever Rescue Trustee— Melissa Gelsinger
Posted September 12th 2024
I can’t explain my gratitude of what a great experience me and Romeo have had with Josh at elite dog training. We look forward to going there every week and can’t believe the progress Romeo has made going there. He gets so excited every week when we go there, and there are amazing staff is the best thing I’ve ever done for my dog. 💯💯💯💯— Anthony Della Vella
Posted August 28th 2024
we reached out to Josh from a recommendation of a friend of ours, who had used the services in the past and swore up and down it was a game changer. When I tell you, it’s a game changer please believe me we were at the end of our rope with our dog saw no hope in sight. We finally made that call and got him started with training. By far, the best call and best decision that we made in just a little bit of time we have noticed quite a difference with our dog and his behaviors. We as pet owners have learned quite a few things from Josh and his crew as well. They are very knowledgeable. I am thankful for the training and even more thankful for the outcome, thank you guys! John &Jennifer Morris— Jennifer Smith
Posted August 28th 2024
K9 Elite is top notch all the way. Josh and everyone he hires has exceptional knowledge of dog training using both positive reinforcement & correction. The training is tailored to you & your dog & the end result is a happy, well trained dog that is comfortable in any environment. My goal in choosing K9 Elite was advanced obedience and therapy dog certification. I couldn’t be happier, my dog just passed his certification test & we’re ready to begin work in the community!— Anne Waters
Posted August 28th 2024
Our dog did very well and we were very pleased with the results. The team members are all great with the dogs and we look forward to future training sessions.— Susan Patterson
Posted August 26th 2024
My husband and I are extremely pleased and very happy about learning this unique way of communicating with our boy. Our puppy was a little over 4 months old when we started the training and it took about 8-10 weeks for training. Josh is extremely intelligent, passionate, patient, professional and punctual. He came out to do our puppy’s evaluation and explained everything in detail about the process and different types of packages available, which was very thorough and helpful. We then started the training at our home. Josh always put in 100% effort and would wait patiently until the command is grasped by our puppy. Josh is very friendly and was always available to answer any questions about the training process. We are also very happy about doing the continued group classes with our puppy. You want to work with Josh as it’s very evident that he is passionate, dedicated and truly enjoys what he does!— Garima Garg
Posted August 14th 2024
We rescued a one year old Saint Bernard and when we realized that she is too strong to even walk around the block I said we need to get her trained. The one and only call I made was to Dog Training Elite. From the initial phone call to Josh coming out for our free evaluation I knew it was the right choice. Josh said we would notice a difference after the first session and we were skeptical. When we picked Baby up we were in complete shock, our little girl was listening and seemed like a difference dog. She completed her 2 weeks of Camp and is a totally different dog. We are all happy now and can take her to the park and on walks. Josh and the team are absolutely incredible! We are so grateful for them! Our little girl is so well behaved and so happy. If you need obedience training do not waste another second Josh is amazing and so caring and truly loves what he does! Best decision ever!!!— Jackie Roff
Posted August 14th 2024
I can’t recommend Elite Greater Cleveland enough! I was particularly looking for someone that would come to my home to train my mini aussie doodle. Lexi is a great trainer, very knowledgeable, and patient. She even got me out of the house to try training at different public locations!— brooke eckley
Posted August 13th 2024
Dog Training Elite is a great organization with a truly phenomenal group of individuals. I’ve had the pleasure to be trained by Lexi & Josh on how to properly work alongside Maizy. From the initial free in home assessment to the weekly sessions & public access training, the team has been amazing! Maizy & I are grateful for the team and look forward to getting into the Service training aspect. Highly recommend Dog Training Elite!— Anthony Winfield
Posted July 24th 2024
Thank you to Josh & crew - human and canine! From the initial consultation and demonstration with Lexi & Mocha to our first group class, Josh & crew have been supportive and helpful. I knew this was the right place for Finley. My breaking point was when Finley pulled me down injuring my hand while a jogger went past. I could not take anymore! I signed up Finley for the 2 week program. The first time I picked him up from class, I saw improvement. I was surprised! The best part was being able to practice with Finley what was learned that day before leaving the building. Josh & crew saw a good dog with great training potential when I saw frustration. They truly love training dogs and educating their owners. Like any relationship, the pet-owner bond needs daily work and our walks incorporated all the lessons we learned in the classes. I learned about dog behavior from Josh and his words of wisdom helped me to build confidence in Finley and myself. Attending Josh’s group classes allows me to work with Finley around other dogs in a supervised setting and we continue to learn new things. Does Finley behave perfectly all the time? No - but I now have the tools and knowledge to spot the triggers and correct the behavior. Do I have any regrets? Yes - I wish I called sooner! Seriously. I accepted bad behavior as normal because I did not know how to correct it. Now I know what a behaved dog should be! Thanks again DTE!— Jennifer Payamgis
Posted July 23rd 2024
Josh and his team are remarkable at what they do. Before starting training, my five month old golden doodle Brody had many bad behaviors you would expect out of a typical puppy. After 8 weeks, he is a fully transformed dog. I haven’t even started the group classes yet, so I look forward to seeing even more progress. It is hard to believe what they can accomplish in such a short period of time. I am very thankful I went with Dog Training Elite.— Bill Michaels
Posted July 19th 2024
I can't remark how professional and easy to work with the staff were at Dog Training Elite. They through the process I was kept informed of my dog's progress daily as well as being shown the methodology behind the training. My dog absolutely loved going to DTE and seeing the trainers. I would highly recommend them.— Ron B
Posted July 12th 2024
Josh and his team at the facility are outstanding! There’s a noticeable difference in my dog’s obedience after doing 2 weeks at day camp. They have a clear schedule of each day and they gave updates at the end of each day when I picked my dog up. They get to know your dog and gave lots of one on one training throughout the day. Very geared towards his needs and areas that needed improvement. (Reactivity!) It’s a safe and clean environment and I felt safe leaving my pup knowing he was in good hands. The real testament is that my dog was excited to go in every morning!— Sara Golden
Posted July 8th 2024
Highly Recommend! I can’t express how amazing Josh and his Team are. Endless amount of patience with a crazy pup mom. When I need reassurance, they were all there. The door is always open at Dog Training Elite Greater Cleveland. Definitely, worth it!— Lissette Neal
Posted July 3rd 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 in Cleveland 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 in Cleveland 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 in Cleveland’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 Cleveland. 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 in Cleveland?
The Dog Training Elite in Cleveland 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 in Cleveland 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 in Cleveland. Request your free training demo and in-home assessment today.
