Find Service & Therapy Dog Trainers Near Me

A therapy dog is a canine companion that provides emotional support and comfort to individuals dealing with physical, mental, or emotional difficulties. Therapy dogs are specially-trained animals that help people who are struggling with mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or chronic illnesses. They provide unconditional love, companionship, and acceptance to their human counterparts.

The average cost of hiring a therapy dog and handler nationwide on Care.com is $19.73 per hour. It’s important to note that this is just an average and where you live, the type of therapy dog you’re looking for, and many other variables can impact how much you’ll spend on a therapy dog.

Most therapy dogs go through rigorous testing and training before being certified by a professional organization such as the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen Program or Therapy Dogs International. The tests assess the therapy dog's temperament, obedience skills, and ability to handle different situations or environments. The handler must also demonstrate an understanding of how to work safely and effectively with their therapy dog in public settings.

You can use Care.com to help find a qualified therapy dog. Once you find a therapy dog on Care.com, you can research the organization that certified the therapy dog to make sure they meet your individual needs. You can also interview the therapy dog providers to learn more about their training processes.

A variety of people can benefit from having access to a therapy dog including those dealing with psychological issues such as depression or anxiety; children suffering from autism or other developmental disabilities; elderly individuals living in nursing homes; veterans who suffer from PTSD; those undergoing physical rehabilitation due to an illness or injury; victims of natural disasters; those recovering from surgery; and individuals experiencing grief due to loss of a loved one.