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A therapy dog is a dog who visits places like schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Therapy dog training in Clarksville 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 Central Nashville 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!
Such a great experience working with Dog Training Elite. They did an amazing job training my dog! They did an even better job educating me so that way I can be consistent with keeping my dog well trained. Highly recommend their service! Worth every penny!— Branson Lewis
Posted May 9th 2024
Had a great experience with Shawn and would recommend 10/10— Jake Holmes
Posted April 26th 2024
Had a Great experience at the Dog Training Elite Clarksville. High recomend. Shawn was super.— Penny Hale
Posted April 25th 2024
Dog Training Elite has been life changing! Our lab is now the most obedient dog. If you’re looking for dog training, look no further!— Lindsay Robison
Posted April 21st 2024
I love Dog Training Elite and how far my dog has come with her aggression towards other dogs. It has given us so much freedom with her now! I am so thankful!— Andie Haslam
Posted April 21st 2024
Working with Parker has been so helpful! I learned so much and my dog has made so much progress. Can’t say enough good things about Dog Training Elite!— Hannah Mason
Posted April 21st 2024
Shawn is great with the doggos. He did amazing with my pup. You can tell he takes his job serious and loves these animals.— Alex Fotias
Posted April 20th 2024
Shawn is amazing with our dog. The connection they share is as if they have been together for the past 8 years. Highly recommend.— John Buie
Posted April 20th 2024
5-STARS all the way! I cannot recommend Dog Training Elite enough, especially thanks to Parker, their incredible dog trainer. Parker's depth of knowledge and expertise in canine behavior is truly impressive. His ability to teach both dogs and their owners is unmatched; he breaks down complex concepts into easy-to-understand lessons. What's more, Parker's patience knows no bounds. He takes the time to ensure every dog and owner feels comfortable and confident through out the training process. If you're looking for top-notch dog training, look no further! Thank you Parker and Dog Training Elite!— Alisa Kellington-Welsh
Posted April 19th 2024
We love elite! Izabel is the best and our Goldendoodle, Nash has made so much progress!— Kami Harold
Posted March 30th 2024
These dogs are the most well-trained and behaved dogs I've ever seen!— Katie Gurney
Posted February 20th 2024
Wow, so happy with my experience here. The amount of knowledge that I learned from dog training elite was incredible. My pup and I are so grateful for the experience.— Timothy Ochoa
Posted December 9th 2023
One of the most premier and professional dog training companies I’ve ever been affiliated with! If you live in the area and you’re looking for a good trainer in, look no further.— Ethan Seegmiller
Posted December 8th 2023
We met with Dog Training Elite earlier in the year and decided to go with them to train our Great Dane Shada. We could not be happier with them. The transformation that she has made is nothing short of spectacular. Before working with them she was eating poo and was very misbehaved. Now not only has those been rectified, we went even further and had her trained as my service animal. Their attentiveness, natural ability and hands on experience are second to none. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.— Jonathan Breckel
Posted November 28th 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 Central Nashville 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 Central Nashville 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 Central Nashville’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 Clarksville. 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 Central Nashville, 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 Central Nashville 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 Central Nashville?
The Dog Training Elite Central Nashville 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 Central Nashville 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 Central Nashville. Request your free training demo and in-home assessment today.
