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A therapy dog is a dog who visits places like schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Therapy dog training in Omaha 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 Omaha 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!
My daughter, Leslie, chose DTE Omaha for their special little man, in October, 2023. We noticed a night & day difference after Charlie's very FIRST in-home session! The patience shown to not just the dogs, but to the humans too, are unparalleled. In January, 2024, we had a sweet little girl choose us to be her Mommy & Daddy. I just put in the assessment request for Sadie to begin classes. I didn't need to 'shop around' after witnessing first-hand Charlie's transformation! For us DTE is a no-brainer! We're a military family, and very happy with the work & services DTE provides for the military community!— Meloney Smith
Posted April 13th 2024
Bob & Lyris at DTE-O are amazing!! They are so patient and understanding of my dog's trauma/reactivity. Zoe has made great strides in the 6 week (individual) classes and 2 (group) training sessions she has attended. Not only has the training helped her, it's been imperative for myself as well, to be "trained" and comfortable handling/correcting her behavior. Zoe has also gotten very good at "puppy push-ups," and seems to enjoy coming to work (class) as she is eager to listen and please. I'm so grateful to be working with DTE-O and I know for sure Zoe's outcome could've been much different if we had not found Bob & Lyris.— Audrey Carter
Posted April 6th 2024
Absolutely the best decision I ever made for my puppy!— Kayla Bullock
Posted February 23rd 2024
Bob has done a great job training our dog Remy to be a service dog. Bob does one on one instruction as well as group classes. He also provides a veteran/military discount.— Amanda Butler
Posted January 7th 2024
I was a bit apprehensive at first, but Bob quickly put my mind and heart at ease. The in home trainings have been foundational…with good results. Bob is a natural. He understands my dog’s temperament and works to create a connection. Briggs and I experienced our first group class last week. It was a well run class and well worth our time. There is real value in the group classes he offers! There is no hesitation in my recommendation of DTE Omaha!— Judi Huff
Posted January 2nd 2024
Bob is absolutely incredible! He is very kind and patient, not just with the dog but with us humans who get the training too! I have noticed a HUGE difference in my HUGE Bernese Mountain Dog and it’s all thanks to this training course and the classes we’ve taken. Bernie and family are all happy!— Brittany Marie
Posted January 1st 2024
Bob is absolutely incredible! He is very kind and patient, not just with the dog but with us humans who get the training too! I have noticed a HUGE difference in my HUGE Bernese Mountain Dog and it’s all thanks to this training course and the classes we’ve taken. Bernie and family are all happy!— Brittany Timperley
Posted January 1st 2024
I contacted Bob and Lyris after Ziggy and I got into a car accident. Ziggy became very fearful about getting into a car. With the help of Bob and Lyris, Ziggy loves to get back into the car once again for rides. I cannot say enough great things about Bob and Lyris. They have helped me train Ziggy into a great dog that listens to commands and they care about every dog they train. Thank you Bob and Lyris— Max Martin
Posted December 30th 2023
I highly recommend Bob with Dog Training Elite! Milo and Cooper loved working with him and felt so much more comfortable because the trainings were held at our own house. They are so much better behaved in all ways and I am so thankful for everything that Bob has done! If you have ever considered dog training, 10/10 recommend Dog Training Elite!— Addy Combs
Posted December 30th 2023
Bob has done a great job not only training our mini Aussie Beau, but also training my wife and I how to handle Beau. Before our first session Beau wasn’t able to interact with people or dogs without barking or fearful aggression, but he has had a drastic improvement and we are very proud of his progress. Would definitely recommend Bob and Lyris of Dog Training Elite to anyone who is having difficulty or behavioral issues with their dog! Our friends and family have even verbalized the improvement in our dog’s behavior! We also enjoy the socialization Beau gets during group class on Saturdays!— Jay Lorts
Posted October 20th 2023
Thanks to Bob, my puppy turned into the most well behaved dog and has been the sweetest lovebug. We went from him dragging me on walks to healing. He used to jump on everyone and now he knows his manners! Dog Training Elie has been the biggest God send and they are worth every penny!!!— Leslie Smith
Posted October 8th 2023
Bob Wiegand is the BEST! We were at our wit's end trying to train our dog, Nova, ourselves. Bob knew exactly what was wrong and how to turn it around. Nova's a different dog now. She's much happier doing her job and follows commands as we progress through the course. Thank you, Bob, for your compassion, your skills and your confidence in our family and in Nova. - Ruth, Sarah, Tim— Ruth Leacock
Posted October 7th 2023
I cannot say enough good things about Bob and Lyris. I have two Australian Shepherds who have a lot of energy, anxiety, loved to bark and were not good on walks. I can happily say that these boys are completely different dogs in all ways. Bob and Lyris truly care about my dogs, their continued success as well as our success as owners. If you are looking to train a new puppy or even just refine some behavior of your dog, please contact Bob and they will go above and beyond to ensure you see the desired results. The best part, the training happens right in the comfort of your own home so that your dogs are comfortable and safe. Thank you Bob and Lyris!!!!— Addy Combs
Posted September 30th 2023
Bob and Lyris make up an incredible team, and are so vastly intelligent. They have helped us understand our dogs Milo and Cooper and become better dog parents. They no longer bark at passing neighbors/cars, and can take them on walks with us. Thank you for being such a bright light.— Isaiah Keck
Posted September 30th 2023
Dog Training Elite has been wonderful to work with! We loved the free in home estimate where Bob got to meet our Ally and walk through exactly what we wanted to work on and his plan to accomplish it. We completed our 6 sessions and couldn't be happier in the progress we've seen with our dog. Bob is very easy to talk to and does a great job explaining to us the "why" behind dogs do what they do, in addition to, how to correct the behavior. He was very knowledgeable and loving with Ally! Definitely recommend!— nrender
Posted June 23rd 2023
I can’t say enough positive things about our experience with Dog Training Elite! Bob is experienced, insightful, and truly in tune with animal behavior. He helped take our stubborn, no-personal-space Aussie and turned him into a well-behaved, socialized dog who knows boundaries and respects them. Mav is still completely himself but walks and home life are much more pleasant now! I know longer have to fear getting pulled down the street when he sees a dog on a walk or fear him jumping on visitors. It is obvious how much Bob cares for animals and desires to create a harmonious relationship for people and their pets. We will be bringing any future dogs right to Dog Training Elite to start them off on the right foot!— Sophie Cox
Posted June 21st 2023
Everything was as expected. Great training and wonderful handling of my puppy. We got compliments from people about how well Benji minded and even heeled with the 5 year old granddaughter. He stayed with her when she was running. Stopped at street corners. It was wonderful to get told they couldn't believe he wasn't pulling her with his lease.— Chris Summers
Posted August 23rd 2022
Bob is truly an amazing dog training! My dog was an out of control fun loving, over bearing, jumping dog, that could not settle down and meeting new people and it was extremely embarrassing. Bob trained our oversized, sweet Bernedoodle how to be a polite, well mannered, fun loving, enjoyable dog!! The change is amazing. We absolutely enjoy him now and love taking him out in public and on long walks. He is so well behaved and loves playing with other dogs. Thank God for Bob and DTE training!— Annie E
Posted April 30th 2023
Bob is an awesome trainer. Our fur baby, Rocky, who is 7 years old has changed for the better. I highly recommend Dog Training Elite Omaha.— Latina Jackson
Posted December 16th 2022
We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Bob and Dog Training Elite. Our large-breed puppy used to pull on walks, jump up on people, and run away from us when trying to get her inside. Now walks are a dream and I don’t worry about her jumping up or dragging me by the leash. I feel confident about taking her places and actually enjoy our walks now. Bob is professional, friendly, and so easy to work with. Our dog loves him and responds really well to his correction and guidance. Having a well-trained dog has made a huge difference in our home. If you have a dog, they deserve to be trained and you and your family will enjoy the benefits of a well-trained dog for years to come.— Tanya McFarlin
Posted December 12th 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 Omaha 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 Omaha 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 Omaha’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 Omaha. 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 Omaha, 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 Omaha 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 Omaha?
The Dog Training Elite Omaha 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 Omaha 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 Omaha. Request your free training demo and in-home assessment today.
