Therapy Dog

What are therapy dogs?

A therapy dog is well-trained to provide affection and comfort to people in settings like hospitals, schools, and nursing homes.
Key characteristics include a friendly, patient, and gentle temperament.
Primary jobs include allowing physical contact from unfamiliar people and performing small tricks.
A therapy dog is not a service dog; it must be invited to a facility and has no public access rights.

Breed Requirements: There are no breed restrictions; the focus is on dogs that love people and other dogs

Visit to your Facility with our Therapy dog Teams

Congratulations on deciding to add the benefits of a therapy dog to your facility. Research has shown that positive interactions with animals can have a strong impact in health related settings. Positive change has been seen in people with developing resilience, self-reliance and in making progress in their treatment.

Positive interactions with animals can significantly impact health-related settings, helping people develop self-reliance, resilience, and progress in treatment
Documented benefits include improvements in mood, social attention, behavior, and interpersonal interaction.
Visits can reduce stress-related parameters, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol.
There is a reduction in self-reported anxiety and fear.
Mental and physical health improvements are noted, particularly in cardiovascular health.
Additional benefits include improved pain management, increased trust toward others, reduced aggression, enhanced empathy, and improved learning.

Therapy Dog Visit Application

Why Choose Pawsibilities Unleashed

Pawsibilities Unleashed holds a high standard for our therapy dogs. We ensue that each team is well trained and prepared to bring joy and healing to your oganizaiton.

The organization provides liability insurance for all current therapy teams.
Teams are required to complete an obedience class through the organization.
Therapy teams undergo annual re-evaluations to ensure continued suitability for the work.
All animals must meet specific non-aggression guidelines.
Handlers are required to adhere to a policies and procedures manual.
To be insured and certified, all handlers must pass a Therapy Dog course.

How to Become a Therapy Dog Team

We are excited that you want to be come a therapy dog team. Is it is very rewarding to see your dog bring joy and calmness to others.

Have your dog screened by your vet to ensure they are healthy, their vaccinations are current.
Earn a "Canine Good Companion Certificate". This ensures that your dog is ready to interact with people of all types, but in particular children, older folks and folks that are struggling health issues.
- There are many trainers in Lexington, but some of our teams have successfully used Rose Tree Training
Schedule a date when you can bring your dog to be evaluated by our trainer. The cost of the evaluation is $35. "Your dog cannot show any signs of aggression to people or other dogs/animals. Your dog must be spayed or neutered. Please email us a copy of your Canine Good Companion Certificate to therapydoginquiry@pawsibilitiesunleashedky.org.
Attend training. You will need to sign up for a 6 week course. The course fee is $250. If your dog passes the evaluation aboe, you and your dog can sign up for this course. There is an additional fee of $75 for your therapy dog insurance.
- Please fill out this questionnaire and You can schedule a training by emailing us your questionaire at therapydoginquiry@pawsibilitiesunleashedky.org

Once the course is completed, you can begin your therapy dog work as a team with other Pawsibilities Unleashed teams.

You will receive a K9 Therapy Certificate and Insurance which is good for one year. You will need to renew your certificate and insurance each year. You must have an updated certificate and valid insurance to do therapy dog work.

Temperment Testing Details