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Therapy Dog Training Lehigh Valley

Expert Therapy Dog Preparation Services

Prepare your dog for therapy dog testing and certification with structured professional training designed for Lehigh Valley dogs and handlers. Off Leash K9 Training, Lehigh Valley offers an 8-week Therapy Dog Preparation program that helps dogs and owners get ready for the therapy dog certification process.

Contact Off Leash K9 Training, Lehigh Valley at (610) 770-7158 to learn about therapy dog preparation.

Call (610) 770-7158 Your Free Consultation
Call (610) 770-7158

Why Therapy Dog Training Benefits Your Dog and Community

Therapy dog preparation helps dogs and handlers get ready for the testing and certification process required by the location where they plan to provide therapy services. For dog owners in the Lehigh Valley, structured preparation can help build obedience, confidence, and handler communication before pursuing therapy dog work. 

Enhanced Socialization

Dogs develop calm confidence around people in various environments, learning to remain composed whether meeting students on a campus or residents in care facilities.

Structured Activity

Therapy dog preparation gives dogs and handlers a clear training goal. The program helps build the obedience, focus, and calm behavior needed for therapy dog testing and certification.

Strengthened Bond

Training deepens the relationship between handler and dog through focused teamwork, building the kind of responsive partnership that therapy dog teams require.

Community Impact

Therapy dog preparation can help handlers work toward meeting the requirements of the therapy dog certification accepted by the location where they plan to volunteer or provide therapy services.

Proper preparation can help your dog build the obedience, handling skills, and confidence needed for therapy dog testing and certification. Results depend on the dog, handler follow-through, and the requirements of the certification organization or location.

Our Therapy Dog Training Services

Off Leash K9 Training, Lehigh Valley offers Therapy Dog Preparation designed to help local dogs and handlers prepare for therapy dog testing and certification. 

Therapy Dog Preparation Program

The Therapy Dog Preparation program is an 8-week, 8-lesson course that prepares dogs and owners for therapy dog testing and certification. The first four lessons are identical to the 4 Week Basic Obedience Package, which includes commands such as come, sit, extended sit, down, extended down, place, extended place, loose leash heel, and off. The final four lessons prepare the dog and owner for the therapy dog certification accepted by the location where they plan to provide therapy services. 

Program price: $1,100 with payment plan options available.

Therapy dog training Lehigh Valley white poodle in park

Certification Preparation

The website states that, upon successful completion of the Therapy Dog Preparation program, Off Leash K9 Training, Lehigh Valley can evaluate and certify the dog and handler through Therapy Pets Unlimited. Owners should also confirm which therapy dog certification is accepted by the location where they plan to provide therapy services. 

The final four lessons focus on preparing the dog and owner for the therapy dog certification process. The exact preparation may depend on the certification requirements accepted by the location where the dog will provide therapy services. 

Top 10 Essential Qualities for Therapy Dogs

  • Calm Temperament: Dogs preparing for therapy dog testing should be able to remain calm, responsive, and manageable around people and distractions.
  • Handler Responsiveness: A therapy dog candidate should listen to the handler and respond to direction during testing and public interactions.
  • Obedience Foundation: Basic obedience helps prepare the dog and handler for the therapy dog certification process.
  • Distraction Readiness: Dogs preparing for therapy dog testing should be able to stay responsive around distractions and new situations.
  • Appropriate Public Manners: Therapy dog candidates should be able to demonstrate polite behavior, calm greetings, and steady handler communication.
Therapy dog training Lehigh Valley terrier in field

Our Therapy Dog Training Process

Step 1: Initial Assessment

The first lessons focus on the foundation needed for therapy dog preparation. Off Leash K9 Training, Lehigh Valley evaluates, trains, and prepares the dog and handler for therapy dog testing while helping owners understand the obedience and handling skills required.

Step 2: Foundation Training

Therapy dog programs generally require dogs to complete basic obedience training and additional specialized training to handle specific tasks. Foundation training develops essential obedience commands from the Basic Obedience curriculum, including come, sit, extended sit, down, extended down, place, extended place, loose leash heel, and off. These lessons help strengthen handler communication before the therapy-specific preparation begins.

Step 3: Specialized Preparation

The final four lessons focus on preparing the dog and owner for the therapy dog certification accepted by the location where they plan to provide therapy services. This helps the handler understand what their dog will need to demonstrate during the certification process.

Step 4: Certification Readiness

The website states that, upon successful completion of the program, Off Leash K9 Training, Lehigh Valley can evaluate and certify the dog and handler through Therapy Pets Unlimited. Owners should confirm which certification is accepted by the location where they plan to provide therapy services.

Customer Testimonials

Rated 5 out of 5

“Fantastic and caring staff! I am training my dog to do therapy dog work and they have been extremely helpful with working with me to get problem behaviors corrected. I checked with the therapy dog organization to get names of training locations and Leader of the Pack was on TOP of the list! Graduation day was adorable!!!!! ”

Rated 5 out of 5

Denise Rider // Leghigh Valley

“Angela from Off Leash had Copper for 2 weeks and took his basic skills of commands to a whole new level along with transferring them to other settings. He no longer jumps on kids when playing and stays in the down position while our chickens move around him!   He is still eager and excited but it is now contained. Angela has been great with answering my questions and making suggestions since he has been home. I can’t thank Off Leash and Angela enough and can’t wait to get him in training to become a therapy dog. ”

Rated 5 out of 5

Deborah Marek // Leghigh Valley

Frequently Asked Questions

What age should dogs start therapy dog training?

Dogs preparing for therapy dog work should have a strong obedience foundation, manageable behavior around people and distractions, and a handler who can maintain clear control. Owners should contact Off Leash K9 Training, Lehigh Valley to discuss whether their dog may be ready for Therapy Dog Preparation. 

How long does the therapy dog preparation program take?

The Therapy Dog Preparation program runs for eight weeks and consists of eight private lessons. The first four weeks focus on building strong obedience foundations, while the final four weeks concentrate specifically on therapy dog testing preparation and certification readiness.

Do you provide ongoing support after certification?

Therapy dog volunteer requirements after certification. Owners should confirm ongoing requirements with the therapy dog organization or the location where they plan to provide therapy services. 

Is therapy dog training the same as service dog training?

No. Therapy dog training and service dog training are different. Therapy dogs are trained to provide comfort, support, and positive interaction in places such as schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and community settings.

Contact Us

Start Your Therapy Dog Journey Today

If you are ready to prepare your dog for therapy dog testing and certification, Off Leash K9 Training, Lehigh Valley offers an 8-week Therapy Dog Preparation program designed to help dogs and handlers build the necessary obedience and preparation skills. 

Call us for a free consultation today!

About Off Leash K9 Training
Dog Trainers Who Are Recognized Around The World!
Nick White, Founder Off Leash K9 Training
Photo: A&E

Nick White is the Owner and Founder of Off Leash K9 Training.  Nick is a former US Marine and former US Secret Service. He currently has over 130+ dog training locations throughout the United States. 

Nick is globally recognized as being one of the top dog trainers in the world.  He has 2 official world records in off leash obedience, named on Wikipedia as one of the top 20 dog trainers in the world, recently named top 10 trainer in the world by bestdogtrainers.org, has been featured in many magazines and shows, and he is regularly requested by the top celebrities and athletes! He has been called upon by people such as actor Ryan Reynolds, WWE’s John Cena, MLB All Star Max Scherzer, UFC World Champion Jon “Bones” Jones, and many more!

You can visit our YouTube Channel and watch over 1500+ before/after videos of Nick and his team’s work!  Off Leash K9 Training has more documented videos than any dog training business in the entire world!