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A therapy dog is a dog who visits places like schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Therapy dog training in Omaha 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 Omaha 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 recently completed training with my dog, Islaroo, through Dog Training Elite Omaha, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the results! We went through their training program and group classes, and I’m thrilled to share that Islaroo just passed her test to become a certified therapy dog. The trainers were incredibly patient and always willing to listen and work through any issues we encountered. They work with dogs and owners at all levels of ability, which made the experience even more comfortable for us. Group classes can sometimes be unnerving because you never know how dogs will react or how much control the owners will have. However, I’ve never felt nervous or had any concerns during these classes. Their support and expertise gave me and my family the confidence to take Islaroo anywhere, and she now even goes off-leash in many places! I highly recommend Dog Training Elite Omaha for their dedication and personalized approach— Susan Bartman
Posted October 21st 2024
Where do I even begin… Bob, Mari, and Dave came into Maverick and my life at one of the lowest points in my life. From a really traumatic experience, I learned that I wanted my high energy, slightly out of control golden retriever to be my service dog. However, I didn’t know where to go to train him to sit let alone service dog tasks to help my mental health. But I found DTE and signed up for a consultation. From the moment I met Bob and his team, I immediately knew and trusted them to help me on this journey. A few weeks after our consultation I bit the bullet and decided to sign up with them officially and we got to work. Bob and his team are SO knowledgeable, kind, and patient. Not only have they helped me train my sweet Mavvy boy but they have supported me endlessly and as a result my confidence as a dog mama and a person has grown astronomically. I simply don’t have enough words for how grateful I am for DTE Omaha. If you are needing a dog trainer for ANYTHING. DTE is SO worth the investment, time, and energy.— Desteny Lashay
Posted October 19th 2024
Where do I even begin… Bob, Mari, and Dave came into Maverick and my life at one of the lowest points in my life. From a really traumatic experience, I learned that I wanted my high energy, slightly out of control golden retriever to be my service dog. However, I didn’t know where to go to train him to sit let alone service dog tasks to help my mental health. But I found DTE and signed up for a consultation. From the moment I met Bob and his team, I immediately knew and trusted them to help me on this journey. A few weeks after our consultation I bit the bullet and decided to sign up with them officially and we got to work. Bob and his team are SO knowledgeable, kind, and patient. Not only have they helped me train my sweet Mavvy boy but they have supported me endlessly and as a result my confidence as a dog mama and a person has grown astronomically. I simply don’t have enough words for how grateful I am for DTE Omaha. If you are needing a dog trainer for ANYTHING. DTE is SO worth the investment, time, and energy.— Desteny Miller
Posted October 19th 2024
Great trainers! My dog loves them and loves going to the group classes. Bob is really knowledgeable with service dog training. Overall we’ve had a great experience.— Sandra Lopez
Posted October 13th 2024
With the training our dogs have received we can take them anywhere with confidence. It has been so helpful— Brandy Clarke
Posted October 5th 2024
Work with Bob and Mari has been game changing for our dog and family. Within one session we saw a huge difference, and now, several sessions in, we have a different dog entirely. We can take her in public, she’s less reactive to other dogs, she follows commands and is obedient. The investment into training her was so worth it and has brought a sense of calm to our home we didn’t know we could have with a large puppy around. Give Dog Training Elite Omaha a call. You won’t regret it!— Stephanie Lewis
Posted August 16th 2024
We are so pleased with the work Bob and his team have done! Our dog is so much better behaved and we better owners because of the skills we have learned at each of our training sessions. My only regret is not having done this sooner. I would recommend this training regiment to any looking hands on approach to pet ownership.— Marc Lewis
Posted August 16th 2024
Amazing! Dog Training Elite Omaha exceeds our expectations for both of our pups! Before we confined our fur babies when visitors came. Now they are well-mannered and delightful hostesses. 😊— Lara Huskey
Posted June 2nd 2024
I would recommend Bob at Dog Training Elite daily! I had a reactive, misbehaved, and undisciplined Great Dane. I became overwhelmed and had no idea what to do with her behavior. I called Bob and he was confident that he could help me. After session one, I immediately saw a difference in behavior. I can now take Ellie with me almost anywhere! We had our first group class and not only was Bob extremely encouraging, everyone was so patient and very welcoming! Hiring Dog Training Elite was the best decision I have ever made for Ellie.— Harleigh
Posted June 1st 2024
Bob and his team did a great job of training Lucky (& us!). The one-on-one training sessions and group classes have helped Lucky master skills and be more comfortable in different environments around other dogs. Lucky has made great progress and we are so glad that we found Dog Training Elite. 💙— Katrina Wulf
Posted June 1st 2024
Bob has done such an amazing job with Max as well as teaching us how to train Max. Max has learned so many commands and executes them very well. I highly recommend Dog Training Elite Omaha and Bob.— Annis Clark
Posted May 31st 2024
We highly recommend Bob. Bode has come so far in his training and has become so well mannered. Bode has learned his commands so well in such a short time. Thanks, Bob!— Trish Kirby
Posted May 31st 2024
My daughter, Leslie, chose DTE Omaha for their special little man, in October, 2023. We noticed a night & day difference after Charlie's very FIRST in-home session! The patience shown to not just the dogs, but to the humans too, are unparalleled. In January, 2024, we had a sweet little girl choose us to be her Mommy & Daddy. I just put in the assessment request for Sadie to begin classes. I didn't need to 'shop around' after witnessing first-hand Charlie's transformation! For us DTE is a no-brainer! We're a military family, and very happy with the work & services DTE provides for the military community!— Meloney Smith
Posted April 13th 2024
Bob & Lyris at DTE-O are amazing!! They are so patient and understanding of my dog's trauma/reactivity. Zoe has made great strides in the 6 week (individual) classes and 2 (group) training sessions she has attended. Not only has the training helped her, it's been imperative for myself as well, to be "trained" and comfortable handling/correcting her behavior. Zoe has also gotten very good at "puppy push-ups," and seems to enjoy coming to work (class) as she is eager to listen and please. I'm so grateful to be working with DTE-O and I know for sure Zoe's outcome could've been much different if we had not found Bob & Lyris.— Audrey Carter
Posted April 6th 2024
Absolutely the best decision I ever made for my puppy!— Kayla Bullock
Posted February 23rd 2024
Bob has done a great job training our dog Remy to be a service dog. Bob does one on one instruction as well as group classes. He also provides a veteran/military discount.— Amanda Butler
Posted January 7th 2024
I was a bit apprehensive at first, but Bob quickly put my mind and heart at ease. The in home trainings have been foundational…with good results. Bob is a natural. He understands my dog’s temperament and works to create a connection. Briggs and I experienced our first group class last week. It was a well run class and well worth our time. There is real value in the group classes he offers! There is no hesitation in my recommendation of DTE Omaha!— Judi Huff
Posted January 2nd 2024
Bob is absolutely incredible! He is very kind and patient, not just with the dog but with us humans who get the training too! I have noticed a HUGE difference in my HUGE Bernese Mountain Dog and it’s all thanks to this training course and the classes we’ve taken. Bernie and family are all happy!— Brittany Marie
Posted January 1st 2024
Bob is absolutely incredible! He is very kind and patient, not just with the dog but with us humans who get the training too! I have noticed a HUGE difference in my HUGE Bernese Mountain Dog and it’s all thanks to this training course and the classes we’ve taken. Bernie and family are all happy!— Brittany Timperley
Posted January 1st 2024
I contacted Bob and Lyris after Ziggy and I got into a car accident. Ziggy became very fearful about getting into a car. With the help of Bob and Lyris, Ziggy loves to get back into the car once again for rides. I cannot say enough great things about Bob and Lyris. They have helped me train Ziggy into a great dog that listens to commands and they care about every dog they train. Thank you Bob and Lyris— Max Martin
Posted December 30th 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 Omaha 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 Omaha 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 Omaha’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 Omaha. 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 Omaha?
The Dog Training Elite Omaha 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 Omaha 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 Omaha. Request your free training demo and in-home assessment today.
