What is a Therapy Dog

Therapy Dogs are highly trained and certified to conduct themselves properly according to the facilities and individuals they visit.

A therapy dog is, most simply, a comfort creature, a dog who offers affection and solace to people who can use a lift.

Lots of dogs do this, especially for their families.

Therapy Dogs are pets with polish!

What makes a dog a Therapy Dog?

Temperament and Skills.

A CHAMP Therapy Dog is a pet that has a calm and amiable temperament, excellent basic obedience skills and has additional training for Therapy work.  Our handlers join CHAMP to improve and perfect Therapy Dog skills and to learn the ropes of volunteering with a dog in places where people are usually experiencing some degree of stress. They visit people of all ages, mostly as a warm, gentle presence to be touched and loved on during a social visit.

Please note: Every event or facility where the dog will visit as a Therapy Dog MUST have a current signed Service Agreement on file with CHAMP Assistance Dogs.

Facilities that CHAMP visits must be within a 50-mile radius of the CHAMP office. CHAMP visits may be recurring or one-time events. Examples of CHAMP Therapy Dog visits are: •Visiting patients and staff at a hospital •Visiting a library for a children’s reading program •Visiting a school or college during finals week •Attending an educational program about pet care and responsibility

What about breed?

Therapy Dogs come in all breeds and all sizes.

We have Toy Poodles, an Irish Wolfhound and every thing in-between. There is no best breed for therapy. What they have in common is a calm, serene temperament.

Are Therapy Dogs the same as Service Dogs?

Therapy dogs are not service dogs, nor are they covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Therapy dog handlers do not have the right to be accompanied by their therapy dogs in public settings. They only visit facilities where contracted by CHAMP.