Therapy Dog

• Goal: Building a stable small dog that remains calm and emotionally stable around physical touch, medical equipment, and unpredictable environmental stimuli.
• Complex Handling Desensitization: Using Fear-Free methods to prepare the small dog for clumsy petting, hugging, and handling by unfamiliar individuals wearing medical gear such as masks, gloves, or gowns.
• Medical Equipment Neutrality: Systematic conditioning to ensure the small dog remains calm and indifferent around wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, rolling carts, and medical monitor sounds.
• Arousal Management: Teaching the small dog to maintain a low-arousal “Rest & Digest” state even in loud, emotional, or unpredictable environments.

• Goal: Developing the refined “soft-touch” behaviors required for professional therapy visits with tiny frames.
• Controlled Greeting Protocol: Teaching polite, low-impact greetings that allow the small dog to engage calmly without jumping, vocalizing, or invading personal space.
• Autonomous “Leave It”: Building an instant and reliable refusal of dropped medication, food, or medical waste — a critical safety skill in clinical environments.
• The “Visit” Position: Training the small dog to gently rest their head on a lap or maintain a calm stationary position beside a bed or chair for extended periods of therapeutic comfort.

• Goal: Preparing the small dog for the real-world sensory demands of therapy work and national certification evaluations.
• High-Traffic Navigation: Proofing focus and neutrality in busy public environments such as the Carriage Trail, parks, and shopping centers.
• Startle Recovery Training: Teaching the small dog to quickly recover from sudden noises, falling objects, erratic movements, or unexpected environmental changes.
• Mock Certification Evaluation: Conducting a complete mock evaluation based on AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) standards and therapy organization requirements such as Therapy Dogs International (TDI) or Alliance of Therapy Dogs.

• Standalone Professional Consultation — $150 plus applicable sales tax
  Includes a temperament and therapy-suitability evaluation tailored to small breeds. 
•  “Pro-Therapy” Program (8 Weeks) — $1,350 plus applicable sales tax8 private sessions, a professional “Therapy Dog In-Training” small-breed vest, and a full Mock Certification Evaluation.

Therapy work requires advanced social intelligence, emotional neutrality, and a genuine enjoyment of human interaction. Our specialists reserve the right to modify training protocols based on each small dog's sensitivity, physical stamina, stress levels, and social comfort. We prioritize the dog’s mental and emotional well-being to ensure they remain willing, confident, and happy participants in therapy work.