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A therapy dog is a dog who visits places like schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Therapy dog training in Fort Wayne 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 of Fort Wayne 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!
The training was exceptional. Both Nathan and Clint were fantastic. Knowledgeable and professional. My two older dogs 10 and 8 had never received training and really needed some help - I needed some help - and within a few sessions and I really saw a transformational change. I feel much more comfortable taking my dogs out in public. On walks. One of the best investments I’ve made. Highly recommend!!!— Patrice Jordan
Posted October 1st 2024
We had a fantastic experience with Dog Training Elite Fort Wayne! Our 5-month-old English Shepherd didn’t even know her name or how to wear a collar before we started training. Nathan and Clint worked with us over six sessions, and the transformation has been incredible. They not only helped her learn commands but also taught us why she behaves the way she does and how she responds to different situations. We learned what behaviors to watch for and how to set her up for success. Each session was informative, and they were always available to answer questions, review commands, and provide guidance for at-home training. Highly recommend for anyone looking to build a strong foundation with their dog!— Jenna Harter
Posted October 1st 2024
Our little Georgi had a great time learning from two great trainers, Nathan & Clint. They both loved on Georgi while training her and she looked forward to the training. They were very clear and consistent with their commands to Georgi and with explanation of the commands to both my wife and myself. We are able to continue our training throughout the week with ease. The 5 weeks flew bye and we look forward to the park visits on Saturdays. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to build a stronger relationship with their puppies.— Todd Mullins
Posted September 26th 2024
Our dog Pete has made a major transformation. Nate has been so helpful and has great knowledge. He has helped us to learn how to be better pet owners. Thank you Nate. We highly recommend Dog Training Elite.— connie McDaniels
Posted September 13th 2024
Nathan was my trainer and he was great. My dog is smart, but easily distracted and very stubborn. Nathan was very good with my dog. He was very good at explaining how the training works and giving me good tips when my dog was being challenging. I would recommend this training to anyone who wants their dog to be well trained and happy.— kelli faulkner
Posted September 5th 2024
Dog training Elite training program did wonders for my boy. They were fexible and accommodating to my schedule for training. Trained me as well as my boy. Great people to work with and their knowledge is extensive.— Brandi Bilger
Posted August 25th 2024
Clint and his team have done wonders for my 3 year old GSD. I would highly recommend their program.— Zack Solmonson
Posted August 18th 2024
We had a Soft Coated Wheaton who needed help with some behavioral issues (aggressive towards other dogs, barking, walking, etc.). Dog Training Elite has helped tremendously. The in home training was great for our whole family to learn together. Also the in home training helped our dog learn in a familiar environment (full of the usual distractions). Nathan the trainer was always kind, patient, and helpful in answering all of our questions. Nathan has taught our whole family tools and commands to help our dog improve tremendously with his behavior issues. We highly recommend Dog Training Elite.— Scott Herman
Posted August 4th 2024
Nathan is phenomenal! Our Great Dane Tiberius has transformed and became manageable. We are very grateful, and could not be happier with the results.— scott Tegtmeyer
Posted June 27th 2024
My 2 year old shih tzu, Buddy was driving me crazy with all the barking and lunging at other dogs and cars. I now have a much calmer dog - who listens when I give him a command. The difference is AMAZING! Nathan is great at communicating the method and why. It's obvious he loves dogs. I highly recommend Dog Training Elite!— Lisa Holler
Posted June 19th 2024
I would recommend Dog Training Elite of Ft Wayne to anyone that wants their dog to be awesome. In just the 2 months of private lessons, my husband and i have seen an improvement in our dog. And I want to give a huge shout out to Clint and Zandra to help me train Athena— Erica McNutt
Posted May 29th 2024
I got a golden retriever puppy September 2023. This pup was scared to get in a car & did not like walks. I hired Elite to help me with training. They were awesome!! Clint, Nathan & Zandra were all part of his training. He just turned 1 on 5/25/2024 & he is the best behaved dog I have ever had. He loves his walks and has no problem getting in the car. I recommend them highly!— Pamela Fike
Posted May 26th 2024
Bella was a pretty good dog, but with the help of Nathan and Clint, she is more well mannered and is ready to continue her journey as a therapy pup! Very thankful for Nathan and Clint at Dog Training Elite! Highly Recommend!!— Jenny Nott
Posted May 17th 2024
It's been an amazing experience training with my boy Khan. Clint's approach to dog training is highly effective. Looking forward to the group classes next.— Jeremy Potts
Posted May 14th 2024
We have recently wrapped up our 1 on 1 training sessions with Nathan from Elite. What a huge difference he has made in our young German Shepherd! When first contacting Elite, our pup was a bit out of control and had anxiety issues. With Nathan's help she is now well behaved and enjoys going out to meet the public. She has surprised us all with her progress. I can't wait to start our park group trips with her! A big THANK YOU to Nathan and Elite!!!— Lori Myers
Posted May 7th 2024
Clint, Nathan, and Janella were wonderful in training our GSD, Betty. They trained in our home and neighborhood, which was great for observing Betty in her natural environment. We regularly receive compliments on Betty’s manners and impulse control. For our previous dog, we used another local trainer for a 5 day boot camp at their facility. We found Dog Training Elite to be much more effective and have seen better results. We would definitely recommend them.— Kurt Beuchel
Posted April 28th 2024
Dog Training Elite is phenomenal. Clint and Nathan provided in home dog training for our 5 month old pups, Sami & Sofi. They were professional yet genuine in their training and methods. They made it an environment that was fun yet structured. As pet owner’s for years - we learned so much from them (as did our pups). This was one of the best investments we could have ever made, not only for our pups, but for us. The change has been truly amazing!— Jodi & Don Rowlands
Posted April 26th 2024
Clint is awesome. He listens as well as ensures your understanding of the method and why. Follow his training and you will have a dog that is adjusted and able to in public. No embarrassment from your fur buddy. You will not regret the call, unless you don't make it today. It's never to late or early to start training your dog.— *
Posted March 15th 2024
We started training with another trainer and it just wasn't working. Our girl wasn't catching on and she wasn't happy. We met a very happy Dog Training Elite customer and after their glowing review we immediately signed up. In just a few weeks Clint helped us take our girl from 'not so trained' to walking in a heel OFF leash! Her behaviors went from "meh" to 'what a well behaved dog!". She is happier and more confident. We couldn't be more pleased. Clint came and worked with our girl and taught us how to do the same. We put in the work between sessions and now we have a great dog! We highly recommend Dog Training Elite!— Alicia Scott
Posted April 24th 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 of Fort Wayne 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 of Fort Wayne 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 of Fort Wayne’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 Fort Wayne. 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 of Fort Wayne?
The Dog Training Elite of Fort Wayne 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 of Fort Wayne 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 of Fort Wayne. Request your free training demo and in-home assessment today.
