Request a Free Assessment
A therapy dog is a dog who visits places like schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Therapy dog training in Columbus 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 Columbus 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 can't recommend Dog Training Elite enough! Brennen, our trainer, is exceptional. His kind yet firm approach creates a positive atmosphere for both dogs and handlers. He takes the time to assess each handler's abilities, ensuring everyone is equipped to train effectively. With a focus on positive reinforcement, Brennen's methods truly work. He has been working with my Doberman, Minnie, who is in training to be a therapy dog in a behavioral health setting. If you're looking for top-notch dog training, look no further!— Natasha Schafer
Posted October 20th 2024
Brennan is the best dog trainer in town. He is the third trainer I used for my dog Kaden. The other two trainers did not get my dog where I wanted him to be. Brennan went beyond my expectations. My dog used to react to other dogs, now he can be around any dog. My dog can now be off leash and still have the obedience as he is on leash. I used to be nervous to have Kaden near my daughter, but now I feel 100% confident with him around her. Highly recommend Brennan and his dog training methods.— Nick Smith
Posted October 16th 2024
Best trainer ever. Trained my Golden Retriever beyond all expectations! And Mabel loves him.— James Owen
Posted August 18th 2024
Brennan and Dog Training Elite Columbus have been fantastic in helping with the training of Ozzy. Brennan has been involved since Ozzy was a young puppy and continues to provide great training. Brennan is enthusiastic, caring and is timely. I highly recommend him to help with training. -Dave H— Dave Hamlin
Posted June 3rd 2024
We’ve loved this experience! Brennen (our trainer) has been amazing to work with. He adapted to the needs of our dog and continued review basic training commands in the mix. Our dog was timid with loud sounds and he brought all the ideas and tools for each training session. We get 1:1 at our house and group sessions at the park. No matter what your end goal may be, Brennen is supportive and hard working to get to that goal.— Janelle Miller
Posted May 5th 2024
We’ve loved this experience! Brennen (our trainer) has been amazing to work with. He adapted to the needs of our dog and continued review basic training commands in the mix. Our dog was timid with loud sounds and he brought all the ideas and tools for each training session. We get 1:1 at our house and group sessions at the park. No matter what your end goal may be, Brennen is supportive and hard working to get to that goal.— Janelle Miller
Posted May 5th 2024
I would absolutely recommend Brennan with Dog Training Elite. He is calm, gently firm with his training and builds a relationship of trust and love in his training. Our GSD Luna is stubborn, but she loves Brennnan and loves to work. He has taught us, how to teach Luna and although she still has a bit to go, the things Brennan has taught are working! We now train at various locations outdoors and indoors and her dog distraction has greatly improved. At one point I worried if she would be a good Service Dog, but now I KNOW she will be and already demonstrates, thanks to Brennan' s guidance and our persistence with his training. If you need a trainer and program, THIS IS THE ONE.— Taylor Ez
Posted April 16th 2024
This place is where my dog is currently training and I love it! The trainer, Brennan, is really knowledgeable and easy to schedule with (even if you need to move the time around, but I try my best not to do that to him lol). I’m in need of a psychological support dog and I’m so glad I chose Dog Training Elite to make my shelter pup a service animal ❤️— Simon Freitas
Posted March 4th 2024
Brennan is amazing! He fits your needs along with your dogs. He doesn't do one size fits all. I love that he comes to you, spends time getting to know you and your dog before even trying to make any plan. He is definitely the go to guy!— Rebekah Johnston
Posted February 27th 2024
Brennan was exceptional in the training of my Nemo. His patience and explanations were well above adequate and he made both of us confident and comfortable. I recommend him highly to anyone looking for an excellent trainer.— Nancy Conkel
Posted December 18th 2023
Had an amazing experience with Brennan. Put in the extra effort to make sure we had the best resources. He not only showed us the correct techniques but he explained why we were doing that. From the beginning to the end their was a huge difference in Lokis behavior. 100% recommend this training.— Ariella Pitty
Posted December 15th 2023
Did a great job training our dog not to jump on guest, walking calming on leash and listen to multiple different commands. Very friendly and knowledgeable!— Luke Daugherty
Posted November 21st 2023
Very detailed, personable & knowledgeable, not only with owners but with my german shepherd. Took all the time needed & was able to change shepherd's behavior .— A Lester
Posted October 20th 2023
I really liked the amount of classes and additional dog socialization interaction classes. Brennan does a great job with the whole program and customizing to your specific needs.— Laura Lawrence
Posted September 26th 2023
We’ve had a really good experience with Brennan. He really listens to us and has helped with a lot of issues Howie has such as barking, pulling on walks, and distractions. He’s also very communicative, always on time, and always has treats! I highly recommend Dog Training Elite!— Kerry Lackner
Posted September 26th 2023
Brennan has helped us connect better with our pup, taught him some skills to make him more confident and happier, and it has been a fun process. Very much recommend.— Kelly Cox
Posted May 19th 2023
Brennan helped my grandma out with her dog and was prompt, professional, and consistent. He worked with her dog on a regular basis until her dog was fully trained. He really went above and beyond.— Exterior Revival
Posted March 31st 2023
The best dog trainers around! Brennan was so patient, understanding, and helpful! Would highly recommend!— Cassidy Clay
Posted March 22nd 2023
Thanks so much Brennan! Great improvement with the puppy after taking the course couldn’t have done it without you— garrett woerndle
Posted March 18th 2023
Brennan has done such a wonderful job training my dog Noomi. She is a very energetic bernedoodle that loves to play! I have always wanted to let her off leash but have been nervous that she would run away from me. Brennan has worked with her and has made me feel confident that I can take her off leash and she will listen to me. It makes her so happy and it gives me a peace of mind that she will be obedient to me. Thank you Brennan for the awesome work! My pup and I are so thankful for your help 😁— Logan Hunkus
Posted February 8th 2023
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 Columbus 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 Columbus 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 Columbus’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 Columbus. 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 Columbus?
The Dog Training Elite Columbus 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 Columbus 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 Columbus. Request your free training demo and in-home assessment today.
