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A therapy dog is a dog who visits places like schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Therapy dog training in New Braunfels 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 New Braunfels 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!
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Posted November 20th 2023
I am absolutely overjoyed and grateful to have found Dog Training Elite in New Braunfels! This place deserves a solid 5-star rating for the exceptional service they provide. My 8.5-month-old Cane Corso named Loki attended their dog training program and is currently enrolled in their service dog training program. Thanks to the amazing guidance and expertise of the trainers at Dog Training Elite, Loki recently passed his public access test with flying colors, even in the midst of a crowded mall! It's incredible to see how much progress he has made under their guidance. From the very beginning, the assessment process with the owner, Whitley, was incredibly smooth and efficient. She was knowledgeable, professional, and truly understood our needs and goals for Loki's training. I cannot express enough praise and gratitude for trainers Geneva and Adakias. Their passion, patience, and dedication to their craft are truly remarkable. They have an incredible ability to connect with dogs and create a positive and nurturing environment for learning. Loki absolutely adores them, and it's evident that they genuinely care about his progress and well-being. I would also like to acknowledge trainers Wolf and Mckimmie for their contributions to Loki's training journey. Their expertise and support have been invaluable, and their passion for dog training shines through in every session. Overall, Dog Training Elite in New Braunfels has exceeded my expectations in every way. Their professionalism, expertise, and commitment to their clients and their dogs are truly commendable. If you're looking for a top-notch dog training facility with exceptional trainers, look no further. I highly recommend Dog Training Elite without any hesitation! Thank you, Dog Training Elite, for everything you have done for Loki and our family. You have made a significant impact on our lives, and we are forever grateful.— Anuj Kainth
Posted May 19th 2023
The trainers are very good at what they do! I am training my puppy to be a therapy dog and in just a few months of working with them, he can stay, sit, come, walk perfectly on leash, settle, and many more commands. The trainers have been patient and professional. They first show you how to work with your dog and then offer feedback as they observe how you work with your dog. I am so happy with my dog, Gilly’s progress!— Holley Digby
Posted April 23rd 2021
It was fantastic! Food was awesome! Also had plenty to eat! Seafood was cooked just right!— Teresa Wells
Posted December 30th 2019
We have a 1 year old pitbull, Athena. I’ve had Athena since she was 8 weeks old. I believed that we were educated and seasoned dog owners. We cared for her but built a lot of bad habits! She walks all over us! We called Whitley and have had three sessions. We are very happy with our experience to this point and are confident that Athena will become the service dog we know she can be! Today, Athena ran out our garage door, I used her collar and the come command, she came back!!!!!!! I cried out of joy, she has no concept of cars and will run fast if she “escapes” the house. She came running back and even sat down in front of my feet in the front yard!!!!!! I took my time going inside and she stayed with me. I am so excited about this!— Julia Tucker
Posted April 7th 2019
Today my dog, Little Ann, graduated from service dog training. She has come so far in this program and she has really helped me. Whitley and Melanie are amazing people who are amazing with dogs. The training that Whitley and Melanie do at Dog Training Elite is spectacular! And now my dog is fully trained and has good manners, and I am able to do everyday things much easier with her. Thank you guys so much, you are the best!!!— Maya Gaffney
Posted February 20th 2019
Whitley was so great with muffin. When we started I though muffin might be a lost cause because of her breed, but with Whitley's help she has come along way. We are very happy with how well behaved muffin has become. Thank you Whitley!— Angela Stevens
Posted October 16th 2018
Lets start with how Suds came into our lives, he was literally dump out of a vehicle at a club, we brought him home, just to foster, (yeah right), after 6 months trying to just teach him manners, frustration sets in, we needed help, first trainer, (not going to mention names), looked at other training, and found dog training elite, gave them a call, set an appointment (at our home, at no charge), gave us a evaluation, at no time did she push her program, just recommendations, Ellen and I discussed it, decided to sign up, enter Ms. Whitley. Ms. Whitley is amazing with Suds, (teaching us what not to do), very positive outlook for Suds, we get to start group sessions next weekend, there has been no question unanswered. Ms Whitley is so professional, genuinely interested in the training, care, safety, and your satisfaction, words can't describe her commitment, not only to us but our fur babies, don't hesitate to contact Dog Training Elite.— Scott Morgan
Posted April 28th 2018
I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful Whitley is with Suds, and how he has responded to her. Suds was our foster dog that we ended up adopting, he is full of nerves energy and the energy was not good. We took Suds to another trainer here in New Braunfels and she recommended that we leave him there for training, that was a month of training. When he came home no difference other then he knew how to sit. By Gods good grace we found Whitley! We have been working with her for 5 weeks and he is now ready for group lessons. We can walk him without pulling, he sits and stays, he lays down and stays, he no longer wants to chase cars. We have learned how to distract his nerves energy. We are now working with our other dogs to teach them the same method. If your looking for a great trainer, Whitley is your person, Suds has come so far ! It was a heart breaking situation for us until we found her.— Ellen Morgan
Posted April 28th 2018
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 New Braunfels 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 New Braunfels 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 New Braunfels’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 New Braunfels. 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.
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Why do Therapy Dog Training with Dog Training Elite New Braunfels?
The Dog Training Elite New Braunfels 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 New Braunfels 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 New Braunfels. Request your free training demo and in-home assessment today.
