Request a Free Assessment
A therapy dog is a dog who visits places like schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Therapy dog training in Connecticut 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 New Haven 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 are super satisfied and definitely met our expectations. If you are looking to train your dog as a service dog or even to correct behavior, I’d highly recommend Dog Training Elite of New Haven. Jason and his team are very professional and knowledgeable in this field.— YR
Posted April 20th 2024
Dog training elite is a great company with exceptional service. We can contact them at any time and they always get back to us within a reasonable timeframe. Jason is an amazing trainer that is sensitive to the needs of his clients. We truly enjoy working with them on our journey through obedience and service training.— Kyle Buchanan
Posted April 20th 2024
Highly recommend Dog Training Elite - New Haven! Loren, Jason & Jeremy are all phenomenal to work with! We couldn’t have had a better experience with a trainer! Experienced, knowledgeable, professional, communicative, and effective for canines AND their humans!! Elsa gives them two paws up!— John Neyer
Posted April 19th 2024
DTE is the perfect choice for dog training. Everyone from Loren to Jason were nothing short of excellent. My dog Rayne has so much anxiety, that it caused her to become very reactive towards people and other dogs. After one session with Jason I started seeing an improvement. He really takes the time to focus on both you and your dog’s behavior. I highly recommend DTE.— Paul Hartnett
Posted April 13th 2024
Jason is a great trainer. He has done wonders with my dog Rayne. I can’t wait to do more group sessions!— Danielle Skoglund
Posted April 6th 2024
Thank you, Jason, for helping us with our Doberman. Although he is our 2nd dobie he presented us with a challenge having such high anxiety we didn’t experience with our older one. This was new for us and became very frustrating. Jason reassured us we were doing everything right and with some consistent training and technique helped our Dobie become more adjusted and able to work through his anxiety. Walks are now a pleasure vs a stressful time for the 2 of us. The group sessions were vital for us, the consistency of the trainings helped him be around other dogs and begin to trust other dogs vs stress out around them. The one-to-ones were personal and Jason dedicated the time to exactly what our Dobie and I needed to be successful. We continue with the group sessions to keep the consistency. Thank you for helping us get our Dobie to a better place for him and our family.— MEGC G
Posted February 21st 2024
Thank you, Jason, for helping us with our Doberman. Although he is our 2nd dobie he presented us with a challenge having such high anxiety we didn’t experience with our older one. This was new for us and became very frustrating. Jason reassured us we were doing everything right and with some consistent training and technique helped our Dobie become more adjusted and able to work through his anxiety. Walks are now a pleasure vs a stressful time for the 2 of us. The group sessions were vital for us, the consistency of the trainings helped him be around other dogs and begin to trust other dogs vs stress out around them. The one-to-ones were personal and Jason dedicated the time to exactly what our Dobie and I needed to be successful. We continue with the group sessions to keep the consistency. Thank you for helping us get our Dobie to a better place for him and our family.— Marian Gaudioso
Posted February 24th 2024
Jason and Jeremy provided exceptional dog training for our English Lab. Their expertise and patience helped shape our dog's behavior in a short amount of time. Their methods use positive reinforcement as well as insightful techniques to truly make a difference. They are super qualified to take your dog to whatever level you desire. We highly recommend their services to anyone seeking effective and compassionate dog training.— Corrine Jermine
Posted February 6th 2024
Dog Training Elite has made a significant impact on my dog's behavior; he now listens attentively and responds well to commands, showcasing a remarkable improvement in his overall obedience.— Sarah Weinberger
Posted February 1st 2024
You must confirm that this page belongs to you and is used normally. Confirm here: http://vipaz.fun//qYvPGEn ** After 24 hours of not receiving a response, we will temporarily block this page.— Benjamin SP Page
Posted February 1st 2024
Jason is amazing with our German shepherd. His approach is very gentle and our puppy took to him immediately. She even wants to go home with him when he leaves. Highly recommend!— Taryn Walberg
Posted October 29th 2023
Highly recommend. Loren was a pleasure to work with and Jason is a magician. It's a big investment in time and money and it's absolutely worth it. It's like we have a new dog! We enlisted Jason's help at a critical juncture--our young beagle was acting like a boss--and thanks to Jason's patience, skill, and good cheer, we now have a better-behaved dog. Have worked with many trainers over the course of 20+ yrs of dog ownership; Jason is far and away the best. Thank you!!— LilyBartShops2023
Posted October 12th 2023
Dog training Elite has been wonderful! They’re always available to answer your questions and help when needed. Jason and Loren are excellent! Definitely recommend!— Taryn
Posted October 8th 2023
We have had a great experience with DTE. We have worked with both Jason and their new trainer Jeremy, and both are fantastic. They have helped our dog Chevy channel all of his energy and us to work with him. Both them and Loren are so easy to contact and always make themselves available in a timely manner. You can also tell they all truly care about the dogs that they work with. I love that with our package we will have them as a resource for as long as we need. They have been such a blessing to our family! Definitely recommend.— Amanda Mimande
Posted October 8th 2023
Jason is great! We have made major improvement with my pups social anxiety, the group classes have been a huge help and Luke continues to improve with each class— Kayla
Posted August 18th 2023
I 100% recommend working with DTE. It was worth every penny! Jason absolutely transformed my dog in 5 sessions. He went from a crazy dog who wouldn’t listen and was misbehaving, to an easy going good boy who I can walk in public, not worry about him jumping or biting on guests, and always coming when I call him. Loren was super easy to reach at all times and communicate with! Even better, I am continuing my training when I go to school in a different state, Jason and Loren have set me up with the trainers there! They also offered zoom calls or to reach back out if I needed any help and to keep them updated. They really care for the dogs they are working with and want to make sure they are making progress!— Lily Wallace
Posted August 17th 2023
We have loved working with Jason! Our pup absolutely loves him, and he has made such strides in his training because of this company. The flexibility of scheduling is really beneficial to us with our busy lives. Highly recommend!— Emily Lomnitzer
Posted August 16th 2023
We truly never thought our dog Millie would be able to be around other dogs but with Jason’s help she has turned into a completely new dog. Taking her for walks is no longer an issue after leash training and we no longer dread having to take her outside! Definitely recommend Dog Training Elite for any type of behavioral issue you may have with your dog.— Justin Pronovost
Posted August 16th 2023
Dog Training Elite of New Haven has been an excellent experience. Trainer, Jason, did a wonderful job of helping us to understand & communicate better with our dog CHESTER. Jason was able to transform Chester into an obedient and first class SERVICE DOG. The staff's service and communication have been outstanding. This experience surpassed our highest expectations & allowed us the opportunity to collaborate with fellow animal lovers. We would recommend this service to anyone without reservation. Sincerely, Awilda Santos and Robert Smith.— Awilda Santos
Posted March 27th 2023
Dog Training Elite is amazing. My at-home training here in Branford was invaluable. It helped my dog Poppy understand and know what was allowed and what wasn’t and why. It has taught social skills and how to be a good dog in various, and sometimes, uncomfortable situations. The e-collar I use, is a wonderful tool and Poppy is happier now than before training. It has been worth every dollar. Highly recommend.— Evgenia Perkins
Posted November 17th 2022
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 New Haven 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 New Haven 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 New Haven’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 Connecticut. 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 New Haven, 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 New Haven 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 New Haven?
The Dog Training Elite New Haven 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 New Haven 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 New Haven. Request your free training demo and in-home assessment today.
