What is a Therapy Dog?
A therapy dog is certified to visit hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions. Their presence often increases emotional well-being, promotes healing and improves the lives of those they visit with. Therapy dogs are expected to be social and friendly with other dogs and people, know fundamental obedience skills to a high reliability and be under control at all times while visiting.
Where do I start?
Step 1: Sign up for an Orientation – Online or In-Person
Step 2: Attend group training classes. Puppy Class, Multilevel, Level 1 and Level 2 are designed to teach (or improve) the required obedience skills.
Step 3: Attend our monthly Canine Good Citizen (CGC)/Therapy Dog/Service Dog Prep Classes. This class is offered on the second Saturday of every month at 8:00 a.m., and is designed to familiarize potential teams to testing criteria. Please follow the link to read more about the class and to sign up! Therapy, Service and CGC Prep Training.
What other Therapy Dog training options are available?
- Private Lessons with one of our CGC/MPTD Evaluators
- 2-Week Boot Camp
- Daycare Training
Please call us at 412 364 4122 for more information about any of these extra learning opportunities!
Therapy Test Requirements
- Dogs must be at least 1 1/2 years old (18 months) on day of testing and handlers must be at least 18 years of age.
- Dog must have lived with the handler for a minimum of 6 months and have their Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification prior to testing.
- Dogs are to wear a Scruffy Guider Collar while testing.
- Rabies, Bordetella, and Distemper must be up to date (in accordance to Misty Pines vaccination policy).
- Dog and Handlers must attend 3 Misty Pines Obedience Classes prior to testing, which may be any combination of: Therapy Dog Preparation Class, Level One, Level Two and/or Multilevel.
- Handlers must obtain their own liability insurance through their home owners and proof of coverage must be presented prior to testing.
- Dogs with a bite history and females in heat are not permitted to test.
- This is a Pittsburgh based Therapy Dog program, and teams are only certified to visit facilities located in and around the Pittsburgh area.
Additional Requirements for the test: Handlers may use encouragement and praise throughout the test. Food treats and toys of any kind are not permitted. Reasons for immediate dismissal from the test include; defecating or urinating during testing, growling, snapping, biting, or any such attempts.
Misty Pines offers the Therapy Dog test several times per year.