Working & Service Dogs
Therapy Dogs
Unlike a service dog trained to assist one specific person, a therapy dog’s job is simply to offer comfort to whoever needs it — in hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and disaster sites alike.
A Different Role Than a Service Dog
Therapy dogs are not granted the same public access rights as service dogs, since their role is comfort and visitation rather than performing a task for a single handler with a disability — a distinction worth understanding before pursuing certification.
Temperament Above All
A therapy dog needs an unusually calm, friendly disposition — comfortable with unfamiliar people, wheelchairs, medical equipment, and sudden noise — traits assessed carefully before certification.
Measurable Comfort
Hospital and nursing-home visits from therapy dogs have been associated with reduced patient stress and improved mood in numerous studies, part of why so many care facilities now welcome regular visits.
Did You Know?
Therapy dog visits are now a common presence not just in hospitals but at college campuses during exam season, a practice that has grown substantially over the past two decades.
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