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A therapy dog is a dog who visits places like schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Therapy dog training in Atlanta 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 in Atlanta 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!
We were looking for in home training as that is where our girl has the most troubles and they gave us the tools to be able to help her get through the scary stuff (doorbells, knocking, other dogs, school busses to name a few) So happy to have found them and that we are more confident and so is our dog. Big thank you to Mike for being our trainer. Very easy and accommodating to work around busy life schedules as well.— Malynnda Witkauskis
Posted April 3rd 2024
Klaus has been the most headstrong German Shepherd I've ever owned. Mike helped me develop Klaus into an obedient and confident dog. Using the skills Mike taught, I was able to spend a half hour a day to work on what Klaus learned during the weekly training sessions. The results were amazing. In addition to being obedient, he is less reactive to other dogs and very well behaved in busy public places. So here we are, a German Shepherd who was literally expelled from dog daycare, to a well mannered four legged friend. What a difference! I look forward to continuing with group training! If you have a crazy dog, you should give Dog Training Elite NE Atlanta a call. You will love the results!— Aric Ellis
Posted March 28th 2024
My husband and I and Zeus, our 9-month-old working line German Shepherd, have made strides with Dog Training Elite and Michael! Zeus's tenacity and strong will were initially a challenge, but Michael expertly harnessed his energy. And guess what? Zeus has even won over some fans, despite initially facing unfair judgment from some people due to breed stereotypes! Michael has always seen beyond the breed and recognized Zeus's unique personality. He can become overstimulated and reactive in the presence of other dogs, especially with dogs that challenge him, but Michael's expert guidance and patience have helped us make progress. With continued training and socialization in group sessions, led by Michael and his wife Gosia, we're confident that Zeus will learn to navigate these situations with ease. We're eager to explore new horizons and continue growing our bond. If you want a training team who can bring out the best in your dog, look no further than Dog Training Elite.— Tina Cherry
Posted March 26th 2024
We had Mike. He was awesome! Super patient with our crazy girl. He was always willing to answer any questions that we had even if it wasn’t a training question but just a general dog parent question!— Sam Luftig
Posted March 15th 2024
Wow, I feel so lucky that of all the dog trainers in my area I hit the jackpot with DOG TRAINING ELITE! I admit I was a bit out of my league trying to train my Pug puppy on my own. The trainers at Dog Training Elite come to YOUR home, it makes so much sense because issues can be addressed related to your needs and schedule. Gosia was my trainer for the Puppy Prep Classes, but they offer several options . They cover socializing, manners, leash walking and well you name it! Gosia was very encouraging, patient , sweet and so knowledgeable. I highly recommend DOG TRAINING ELITE, success beyond my expectations— Rachelle Son
Posted March 14th 2024
Wow, I feel so lucky that of all the dog trainers in my area I hit the jackpot with DOG TRAINING ELITE! I admit I was a bit out of my league trying to train my Pug puppy on my own. The trainers at Dog Training Elite come to YOUR home, it makes so much sense because issues can be addressed related to your needs and schedule. Gosia was my trainer for the Puppy Prep Classes, but they offer several options . They cover socializing, manners, leash walking and well you name it! Gosia was very encouraging, patient , sweet and so knowledgeable. I highly recommend DOG TRAINING ELITE, success beyond my expectations— Rachelle Son
Posted March 7th 2024
They were so knowledgable and helpful with training our puppy! Definitely recommend!— Brittany Fagan
Posted March 4th 2024
We highly recommend Dog Training Elite to anyone with a puppy or any age dog. They work amazingly beside you teaching both parent & dog/pup to become the best we can be. We have a beautiful & stubborn sweet Rottie we got as a puppy & have gone through the puppy classes & the platinum program. Goshia, our trainer is trustworthy, kind & has given us skills to help Piper be an obedient growing part of our family & society. Goshia has become part of our family and we continue training in their group classes. We are so thankful we found them. They’re the best! 💙🐶— Sandy Wilson
Posted February 1st 2024
Great experience and great training for our Boxer Kobe! Gosia was great and extremely patient during the process and we very much enjoyed it!— Johnathan Johnson
Posted January 18th 2024
My trainer, Mike, was great with Elliott. I would recommend this training.— C Downs
Posted January 11th 2024
We had just adopted our dog and were looking to make her a psychiatric service dog. She was really sweet but we didn’t know much about her past. When Gosia met her she was able to quickly see her potential and gave us a lot of confidence in knowing that she’d be a great dog. It’s been a long hard road going through training, but they’ve been very understanding and accommodating of our needs. They treated our dog very well.Pretty grateful to have met them. We’re excited to have our service dog! She enjoyed all the training, all the praises, and is a very good girl!— Sixel Legan
Posted December 18th 2023
I truly cannot thank Dog Training Elite enough, it truly was a wonderful experience for both my family and my dog, Sapphic. Mike was so supportive and patient, making the training time really easy and comfortable. Thank you again!— Ngam Nguyen
Posted December 14th 2023
DTE NE Atlanta is great! Mike really helped us get better control of our wild guy! Murphy is a stubborn little dude so we do have some more practice/training to do, but I am so thankful for the trick and tips I learned from Mike. Thanks!— Katie Deriso
Posted November 16th 2023
Absolutely thrilled with the incredible work of Mike and Dog Training Elite NE Atlanta! My dog underwent a remarkable transformation, thanks to Mike’s expertise and dedication. Mike not only provided effective training but also instilled a newfound sense of confidence and comfort in my dog. I am genuinely impressed with the results and grateful for the positive impact on my sweet girl. We started to see a difference in her behavior after just a few lessons. Family members who haven't seen her since her training began are shocked at the difference in her behavior - we have gotten several comments about how she acts like a brand new dog! We are now approaching our final in home lesson and we couldn’t be happier with her progress. She is 6 years old and a rescue, so we chose to go with the Platinum package. I can 100% say that it was worth every penny! The entire team is so kind. I am a student in grad school and they have always been so helpful and gracious when it comes to working with my ever changing schedule. I highly recommend Mike’s program for anyone seeking a skilled professional who truly understands and connects with dogs. Thank you Mike for making such a positive difference in our lives!!!— Mirali P
Posted November 14th 2023
Dog Training Elite was such a pleasure to work with. Always on time, super accommodating. They have so much patience with my puppy who is so stubborn. I can t recommend them more.— Orit Plotkin-Evans
Posted November 8th 2023
We absolutely loved working with Mike and Gocia! They are both so knowledgeable, kind and understanding. After our initial evaluation, we decided it was best for us to do the platinum package, mostly due to our dogs reactivity and behavioral issues and we are so glad we did. In addition to the basic obedience commands we worked on throughout the nine sessions, we were able to share any other things that came up throughout the week and work on them as needed. After a few weeks, they were able to bring their dog as a neutral dog and although ours has not been comfortable around other dogs, I was SO surprised to see her able to walk side by side in a heel! We frequently talked about the research behind training methods and other ways we can work on connection with our pup. Mike was so attentive and helpful with our situation, and I’m so grateful we chose to train with them. We haven’t found perfection yet, but we will continue to work on her reactivity in group classes. After trying to do training on our own for so long, having a program to follow has been so beneficial.— Kori Silva
Posted October 10th 2023
I’ve been training my dog Luka with them for maybe a little over 3 months now and it has been the best experience I could’ve asked for. Mike who I did my training with was extremely flexible with scheduling but more importantly they are great with training dogs. I couldn’t recommend them enough.— Dallas Cowboys
Posted October 4th 2023
We are very pleased with Dog Elite Training. Gosia is amazing and was very thorough about training our baby Leia. We seriously recommended their services. Training goes a long way when it comes to everyday circumstances and we are glad that we decided to get Leia on board with their Gold program. Can’t wait to try their Therapy Dog program. We are so grateful about having all the support from Dog Elite to get Leia where she is now. Jessica was also very quick to communicate throughout the whole program and to accommodate schedule changes when needed. Kudos to their excellent customer service!— Karen S
Posted September 7th 2023
We are very pleased with Dog Elite Training. Gosia is amazing and was very thorough about training our baby Leia. We seriously recommended their services. Training goes a long way when it comes to ordinary circumstances and we are glad that we decided to get Leia on board with their Gold program. Can’t wait to try their Therapy Dog program. We are so grateful about having all the support from Dog Elite to get Leia where she is now. Jessica was also very quick to communicate throughout the whole program. Kudos to their excellent customer service.— Karen S
Posted September 5th 2023
I'd highly recommend Gosia Billedo, her passion for dogs and upbeat nature makes class engaging and enjoyable. She has a tremendous depth of knowledge with extensive experience in a wide range of training and behavioral situations. She teaches so much more than just sit and stay and educates owners about dogs and proper dog ownership.— Emely Gonzalez
Posted August 9th 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 in Atlanta 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 in Atlanta 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 in Atlanta’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 Atlanta. 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.
Proud Sponsor of The Malinois Foundation
At Dog Training Elite in Atlanta, we believe that Service Dogs save lives. It is our mission to make these life-saving companions available to our Veterans, First Responders, Women Survivors, and Children with Medical Needs. Whether it be for PTSD, Mobility Support, or Special Needs, Dog Training Elite in Atlanta works with the Malinois Foundation to heal and empower these individuals with a specialized service animal, a partner in life, and a new best friend.
Why do Therapy Dog Training with Dog Training Elite in Atlanta?
The Dog Training Elite in Atlanta 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 in Atlanta 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 in Atlanta. Request your free training demo and in-home assessment today.
