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A therapy dog is a dog who visits places like schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Therapy dog training in Worcester 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 Central Mass 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 want to express my sincere thanks to Barbara, Mark, and Marcus at Elite Dog Training for their incredible work. Training a pitbull was a big challenge for me and my family, but with their guidance and the tools they provided, our dog has come a long way. We now feel much more confident in continuing the training on our own. Their patience, expertise, and encouragement were exactly what we needed. I highly recommend Barbara, Mark, Marcus, and the Elite Dog Training team to anyone looking for professional help with their dog!— Ricardo Andino
Posted October 19th 2024
We couldn’t be happier with our experience working with Marcus! He is incredibly knowledgeable and patient, which has made all the difference in our dog’s training. Marcus takes the time to really understand both the dog and the owner, ensuring that the training is tailored and effective. His calm demeanor and expertise have not only helped our dog learn quickly but have helped how we speak and interact with our dog to make the training more successful and the whole process enjoyable. We highly recommend Marcus to anyone looking for a trainer who truly knows what they’re doing and goes above and beyond for their clients.— Jessica Costa
Posted October 17th 2024
We had our assessment today and it went great! Marcus was wonderful. I have confidence we will gain lots from training. Had our 1st class today with Matt K. He is very knowledgeable and is way to work with. Looking forward to more! Had our 2nd class today with Tiffany. We are all learning a lot and I believe I will have a better behaved and happier dog. Looking forward to next week.— Donna Pinkus
Posted October 4th 2024
This therapy dog training program is nothing short of amazing! My dog, who used to be reactive and easily dysregulated, has completely transformed into a calm, confident therapy dog. The trainers were incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and supportive, working closely with us every step of the way. Their approach is both compassionate and effective, focusing on understanding the dog’s needs and behaviors rather than just correction. The positive reinforcement techniques they taught us made a world of difference, and I saw progress from the very first session. The skills and confidence my dog has gained are truly remarkable. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to turn their dog into a therapy dog or even just improve their dog’s behavior. It’s been a life-changing experience for both of us! Five stars all the way!— Leeanne Hadsel
Posted October 11th 2024
Matt was wonderful to chat with! He is very knowledgeable and well spoken!— Chelsea Richard
Posted October 10th 2024
I was very impressed and satisfied with the team at Dog Training Elite. They focus on not only helping train dogs but also giving the owners the tools they need to continue making progress. They took a lot of the stress out of training our dog and the results have been excellent. Matt, Barbara, and the rest of the team are wonderful and I would highly recommend.— Travis Johnson
Posted October 7th 2024
Dog Training Elite is the best group of dog trainers I've ever worked with!— theresa bucher
Posted October 4th 2024
wow! we had a full consultation with Marcus. he gave real advice and real help. and gave us confidence to achieve our goals— kameron cole
Posted October 3rd 2024
Matt was professional, smart and a huge help highly recommend— Robert Merrill
Posted October 3rd 2024
We just finished our private lessons and I have a completely different dog know. I highly recommend Dog Training Elite to all my friend and family.— Calm In Chaos
Posted October 3rd 2024
Patrick came and did assessment of our dog and took time to listen to us and hear what we wanted to do with training for our almost 1 year old dog. i feel so relieved and happy that we will learn (and out dog) how to handle any situation with ease.— Anna
Posted October 1st 2024
Matt made us feel very comfortable and capable. I’m looking forward to our future sessions together.— Jaimee Greitzer
Posted September 30th 2024
Love Marcus!! Great staffs !My dog is getting better and better!— soo wang
Posted September 30th 2024
Matt was great! Excited to start my dog training already seen the difference in our first meet!— Dayi Sierra
Posted September 25th 2024
I am absolutely thrilled with the exceptional service provided by Marcus, a highly skilled dog trainer who visited our home today. Marcus delivered an engaging and informative presentation tailored to our new furry family member. Marcus's vast expertise in dog training, particularly in training dogs for diabetes assistance, was truly impressive. His passion and patience shone through as he addressed all our questions and concerns, putting our minds at ease. Marcus's friendly demeanor and genuine enthusiasm made the experience enjoyable and empowering. We feel confident and equipped to provide the best possible care for our doggie thanks to Marcus's expert guidance. We highly recommend Marcus to anyone seeking top-notch dog training. His dedication, knowledge, and compassionate approach make him an outstanding professional in his field. 5/5 stars from Natanael and Katherine.— Natanael Burgos
Posted September 21st 2024
Great trainers. Saw results immediately. Extremely pleased with the professionalism, knowledge and caring of all the staff.— Carol Benoit
Posted December 7th 2023
Dog Training elite of Central Massachusetts has been training my English bulldog since she was about 4 1/2 months old. She is doing amazing. Jamie is an awesome trainer. Always on time, lots of experience and is very patient. Matilda absolutely loves her. She’s now working with the E collar and is doing great. We Just had a session with Jamie. I thought Matilda had forgotten everything because we were on vacation. But I was wrong. We had a great session today. Matilda also learned a new game “find it”. She absolutely loved it. Something fun for us to do. Looking forward to working with Jamie and Dog Training Elite for a long time. I would highly Jamie as your dog trainer.— Lee Agnelli
Posted November 6th 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 Central Mass 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 Central Mass 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 Central Mass’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 Worcester. 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 Central Mass?
The Dog Training Elite Central Mass 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 Central Mass 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 Central Mass. Request your free training demo and in-home assessment today.
