Request a Free Assessment
A therapy dog is a dog who visits places like schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Therapy dog training in Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati 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!
Alex is an outstanding dog trainer who worked wonders with our 6-month-old Bernedoodle, Snoopy! His kindness and patience were evident throughout the training sessions, and Snoopy responded positively to his techniques. Thanks to Alex, our family now and enjoys peaceful walks, and we no longer dread visitors at our front door. Alex’s expertise has greatly improved our relationship with Snoopy, and we highly recommend him for anyone seeking effective dog training. -The Fitch Family— Little Rascals Photography
Posted April 9th 2024
Alex is a fantastic trainer. His love for dogs is easy to see. We loved how quickly he learned our puppy’s personality and adapted training to optimize her strengths. The whole experience was easy and delightful. Everyone in the company is friendly, professional and supportive. I absolutely will use them on our next dog and strongly recommend them to everyone.— Jenna Meyer
Posted April 1st 2024
Our experience with Elite Dog Training was amazing! Alex our trainer was wonderful with my dogs. They have several physical limitations that he was respectful of and provided multiple options for them. I could tell each time that he thought about our dogs before each session and what might work best to help them. Above all I could tell that he loved what he does, which came through and helped to make our experience so successful. Not only are my dogs better behaved but I can see their confidence has increased. My dogs are both rescues who have bad cases of PTSD, so seeing them come into their own and feel comfortable has been the best part of my experience.— Amanda Boeshart
Posted March 23rd 2024
Our sweet puppy is doing so well with her training! Thank you, Alex, for the excellent training!! She’s about to pass her service dog training certification test and we are so excited!! She’s gone to many restaurants, group therapy, counseling and COSI for the day!! It’s so great to have her with us all the time!! Thanks so much!!— Sarah VanAs
Posted March 17th 2024
Excellent trainers. Friendly! Really cared about how my dog and I were progressing.— Josh VanAs
Posted March 16th 2024
I would highly recommend working with Dog Training Elite. Our basset hound rescue, Harold, was highly reactive and would not let us take care of basic needs like getting a harness on to go outside, grooming or going to the vet. We knew he needed training, but could not take him out of the house to a trainer. Michelle, the office manager, was very helpful in getting us set up for an evaluation and training. Scott and Jenn came to our home, evaluated Harold, and over a period of six weeks taught us how to deal with Harold's idiosyncrasies. They gave us the tools that we needed to work with Harold, BUT we had to put in the day-to-day work to utilize those tools, which we did. Within six weeks, we had a new dog. Harold figured out that he could trust us and that changed all of our lives.— Sue McFarland
Posted March 15th 2024
This company is amazing, if you are looking for dog training that works, then this is your company. We were thinking of re homing our dog due to his behavior. We thought he wasnt the right fit for our family, until Alex came out and after 5 weeks of training we now have a different dog. He responded to the training immediately, Alex.and this company really care about your dog and their progress. It has been the best decision we have made.— Joe Tinker
Posted March 14th 2024
Alex has been so great to work with. We have gained the confidence to be able to train our dog and be able to take him anywhere with us. We are so grateful for Alex's patience and knowledge to walk us through the process!— Shelly Buck
Posted March 7th 2024
Alex does a great job of listening to what you are trying to accomplish and uses proven techniques to help you train your furry friend. Training US was was the hardest part. 😁— Andy Buck
Posted March 7th 2024
Alex was wonderful with our German Shepherd. He paid attention to Gunner’s cues and took it from there. If you need someone to help with an anxious big dog like ours, I would not hesitate to call him.— Christy Westendorf
Posted February 12th 2024
We have a very reactive dog. Great with those she loves and aggressive with strangers. This includes pizza delivery, door dash drivers, or friends and neighbors! We’ve tried Very expensive dog training services in the past from specialized Behavioral Vets to those with many years of experience with reactive dogs. Scarlet received the meds she requires and we learned to read her behavior but her behavior didn’t really change. We decided to give “Dog Training Elite” a chance. Within 2-3 sessions with Alex, Scarlet became a different dog. The collar acts as gentle reminder to stop her crazy behavior and she then can focus on her commands. I’m confident Scarlet is a good dog with an extremely high amount of fear and anxiety. This training is helping her to calm her brain and organize her thoughts so she can control her behaviors. I highly recommend Alex and Dog Training Elite Cincinnati East. Alex genuinely cares for your pets and their success and is a highly motivated trainer. Run don’t walk if you are looking for dog training with a unique and effective system.— Kathy Harrison
Posted February 11th 2024
Alex did a great job with my Great Dane, she wasn’t awful before she just needed to learn some manners. He was detailed and took his time teaching her and myself all the tricks! Highly recommend.— Lydia Turner
Posted January 31st 2024
Dog Training Elite has been the most effective tools I’ve had for training my dog. Alex VanWeeldon provided superior instruction for me and my toy Golden-doodle and I can’t wait to get started on my other dog. Within a day of her training the high pitched excessive barking was completely under control. I have a very busy schedule but working only 15 minutes a day on her training has addressed all concerns for raising a happy, and well-behaved dog. I was amazed with the results because at 1-1/2 years old she had established some pretty annoying habits. The training absolutely works and I highly recommend Dog Training Elite and Alex!l— Bonnie Esposito
Posted January 19th 2024
Scott and Jen with Dog Training Elite are phenomenal! We have a 3-year-old mini Aussie/heeler mix named Mazie who is a big ball of anxiety and stubbornness, but is super sweet with the people she knows. When we started with DTE, Mazie was extremely reactive to new people in our house and when seeing dogs on walks. Scott and Jen have been tremendously patient working with us and Mazie and have guided us through numerous strategies to reduce Mazie's reactiveness. We are absolutely thrilled that Mazie is no longer reactive to people coming in our house! The in-home sessions were exactly what Mazie needed and she has started to join the group classes instead of watching from a distance while losing her mind. We are continuing to work with Mazie when she is around other dogs but she is miles ahead of where she was before we started the DTE program! We highly recommend Scott and Jen with DTE for anyone who struggles with a reactive dog :)— Micah Garcia
Posted December 27th 2023
I highly recommend Dog Training Elite Cincinnati to train your puppy/dog or emotional support pup. I loved their specialized services they offer. The trainers are so caring, reliable and a joy to work with.— Danielle Seymore
Posted December 18th 2023
They work wonders for your furry friends, excellent group of trainers!— Steve Lane
Posted November 20th 2023
It has been wonderful working with Scott and Jen to address the problems (primarily fights exuberant puppy/older dog) we were having with our puppy dogs. We gained insight into both dogs behaviors and know what to watch for to prevent fights. Also, they equipped us with training aids and worked with us individually to lay the foundation of obedience. After several weeks we began group instruction to work on obedience with distraction of other dogs in local park/public settings. I highly recommend Scott and Jen at DTE Greater Cincinnati! They changed our pack dynamics in the best way.🐾🐾— Emily Webb Miller
Posted July 14th 2023
It has been wonderful working with Scott and Jen to address the problems (primarily fights exuberant puppy/older dog) we were having with our puppy dogs. We gained insight into both dogs behaviors and know what to watch for to prevent fights. Also, they equipped us with training aids and worked with us individually to lay the foundation of obedience. After several weeks we began group instruction to work on obedience with distraction of other dogs in local park/public settings. I highly recommend Scott and Jen at DTE Greater Cincinnati!— Emily Miller
Posted July 14th 2023
Dog Training Elite is very professional and personable. Within a week of attending a training session, which was offered at the house, we could see immediate results. Our dog loves the training sessions with other dogs as well, and is always excited to attend. I highly recommend this company, well worth your money and time. Your search is over, you won't regret it!— Becky Lynn Bridgman
Posted June 26th 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 Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati’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 Cincinnati. 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 Cincinnati, 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 Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati?
The Dog Training Elite Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati. Request your free training demo and in-home assessment today.
