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A therapy dog is a dog who visits places like schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Therapy dog training in St. George 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 St. George 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!
Best dog training place in St. George. My dogs never behaved, but after working with Sarah and Hayden, I have seen such an improvement in the behavior of my dogs. Highly reccomend!— Dracozu
Posted September 12th 2023
Hayden and his team of trainers have been so wonderful to work with training our dog! About a year ago we started working with Dog Training Elite to service train my dog and we have had nothing but positive exprience from day one. Even now, if I ever have an issue or concern with my dog, the trainers are more than willing to help out. 10/10 best investment for my pup!— Shantel Baker
Posted March 17th 2023
Sarah and Hayden have done such a great job for us and our dog Lil'bit. They helped us to be more confident which has given our dog an opportunity to rise to his confident self. With all the preparation we were so happy when Lil'bit was introduced to other dogs. Hayden did such a great job helping Lil'bit understand how to interact with other dogs. Both Sarah and Hayden have helped us to be confident with our dog around other people and other dogs. Thank you for bringing more freedom to our home.— Kaimana Allen
Posted February 22nd 2023
I adopted Watson two years ago after losing my 18 year old Peekingese. I have gotten older and I needed help with Watson's training. I am so glad I called dog training elite. The e-coller has never left any marks on my dog however it does help him to pay attention to what is being taught. Hayden (the trainer) is professional, dependable and very patient with me. Hayden explains the training techniques thoroughly and I am seeing real results. Thank you Dog Training elite!— Cynthia Guptill
Posted January 4th 2023
In the beginning, I was involved with the shock collar for my dog, and I was not comfortable with doing it, and really didn’t want to believe in it. But after being educated about the guard and how it teaches the dog faster and more relevant to the situation. So it took me a little while but I grew into it and now it’s become an every day lesson with my dog.— Shane Davis
Posted December 8th 2022
I can’t even tell you how happy I am with the results of training our puppies with Dog Training Elite St. George. I guess since I’m submitting a review I will try. I have 2 dogs ages 5 and 1. We have all but given up on our five year old ever responding to us when we call him (unless it’s on his schedule). When we got the new puppy, we decided to make the extra investment to train him right. We really want to have a well behaved dog that doesn’t freak out in public. Hayden from Dog Training Elite trained both dogs for us! Now, when people come over, the dogs will stay in their place. They don’t jump up on people. We can take them for walks or to festivals and they are so well behaved. Now, I’m one of the cool dog owners that has the awesome dogs- not just one, but two! Also- we have trained our little dog to be a service animal and he gets to visit the kids in the hospital and they love it.— Leslie Seal
Posted October 22nd 2022
I would definitely recommend working with them to train your dog! Very clear instruction and results.— Katelyn Bryner
Posted October 20th 2022
Hayden at DTE has been absolutely outstanding in getting my crazy German Shepherd Dog under control. He has taught me a great deal on how to control my dog’s behavior. In just a few short weeks I am able to walk my pup with confidence without all the barking and pulling. Thanks Dog Training Elite! Money well spent.— Bobby Cuomo
Posted August 16th 2022
Hayden has been great!! We have 6 dogs. 4 pit mixes (all rescues) one heeler and one Dane. My Dane and male pit mix are having some aggression towards one another and my main goal was creating an overall more structured/peaceful home for them. DTE has been super accommodating! I live in Mesquite and Hayden comes to my house every week! And worked with my goals. We still have a long way to go but he has truly helped me and my four legged kids. As someone who has years of experience with animals of all kinds, having his outside and professional skills has dramatically improved our lives. Pic of our two boys together!— Alexandra Imbach Lagenour
Posted July 16th 2022
A life giving experience. We were ready to find a new home (or possibly put down) our aggressive dog after he had bit several people including us multiple times and a random kid. We were completely lost with what to do, it was a very emotional time. We called Hyden with Dog Training Elite out of complete desperation. Within a few weeks our aggressive puppy that we loved so much was making huge strides. Not only is he not aggressive anymore, he has learned basic and advanced obedience techniques. We would HIGHLY recommend Dog Training Elite for anyone with an aggressive dog or anyone who is looking to improve their dogs’ behavior.— Andrew Jensen
Posted May 1st 2022
Hayden has been absolutely wonderful to work with. (As well as Grayson who has been great with appointment reminders and any questions I have!) Super professional, reliable and patient. I adopted my 1 year old dog, Bat, a few months ago, he is extremely sweet with some pretty reactive behaviors, I already see so many positive changes in my dog and we just started the program. I feel that both Bat and I are very supported in the training and I’m excited for the weeks to come.— Megan
Posted April 26th 2022
We have a rescue aggressive dog who has so much potential it was hard to not get her the help she needs. Everyone turned us away except the dog training elite. They have gave my dog a life just in a few short lessons. She’s a whole new dog it’s been amazing to watch her progress. I never thought she would do this good ever, but thanks to them she will be able to live a happier life. I would completely wholeheartedly recommend the trainers at the dog training elite above everyone else we have tried training with. They work around what you have so it’s not more out of pocket and they are very accommodating when it comes to working around my crazy schedule. They have been nothing but kind and very patient with our sweet girl.— Sara Burgess Schwartz
Posted April 22nd 2022
They were so kind and helpful with training my puppy. So grateful for everything that they did.— Treena Schweikart
Posted April 19th 2022
Working with our trainer was such a great experience, I highly recommend Dog Training Elite.— Stacy Schmalz
Posted March 23rd 2022
We have enjoyed working with Dog Training Elite! Their puppy course helps us to curb some of the undesirable puppy behavior. With the one on one training our little guy is so well behaved and happy. He gets excited when his trainer comes over and is sad when he leaves! Thanks Dog Training Elite!!— Maggie Doty Yunker
Posted October 26th 2021
Working with Dog Training Elite has not only a great experience for my family, but for our dog as well. He gets so excited when his trainer comes and we have noticed significant changes! Thanks Dog Trailing Elite!!— Maggie Yunker
Posted October 24th 2021
I love DTE!! They do such an amazing job with all types/sizes of dogs and all their behaviors. Most reasonably priced I’ve ever found as well. Give them a try and I promise you won’t regret it!!— Seirra Lovell
Posted October 12th 2021
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 St. George 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 St. George 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 St. George’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 St. George. 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 St. George, 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 St. George 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 St. George?
The Dog Training Elite St. George 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 St. George 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 St. George. Request your free training demo and in-home assessment today.
