BECOME SOMEONE'S DREAM TEAM
TRAIN YOUR DOG TO BE A THERAPY DOG
(VIRTUAL LEARNING, REAL-WORLD IMPACT)
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Team up with your dog to support others.
Teach your dog the skills of therapy dog work and discover just how big a difference you and your dog can make together.
Learn at your pace, on your schedule, right from your home.
13+
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3
12+
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Comprehensive, Step by Step Curriculum
Build Skills and Confidence (Both of You)
Get fully prepared for certification
READY WHEN YOU ARE
You and your dog will learn the essential skills needed for therapy dog work so that you both will be well prepared to work as a successful therapy dog team.
The course is designed to teach you effective positive reinforcement training skills and to teach your dog the 13 core skills and behaviors that therapy dog teams must be able to perform. You'll learn to read your dog's body language as well as how to keep therapy work sustainable and joyful for your team and therapeutic for those you are trying to help.
Through instruction, training exercises, videos, and remote coaching, you will teach your dog to be comfortable and confident performing the required skills and behaviors under conditions that simulate therapy dog work: among other dogs, in busy and noisy environments, with strangers, face-to-face with appealing distractions, and more. The course is set up so that you and your dog learn to navigate with confidence places like hospitals, nursing homes, libraries, school classrooms, and other environments where therapy work often takes place.
The curriculum culminates in the KPA SkillCheckTM Assessment for Therapy Dog Team Training. This is a practical training assessment designed to simulate the therapy dog certification tests used by many therapy dog organizations and the institutions they serve. The KPA SkillCheck Assessment helps you feel fully prepared for that certification step.
The course includes a thorough orientation to the therapy dog field, including the differences between therapy dog team work and other service animal work, options for being involved with therapy dog work, and the resources you need to take steps to become an active therapy dog team.
Overall, this course prepares you and your dog for therapy dog teamwork—whether you want to work with a therapy dog organization, work with someone close to you, or meet your own needs. Did we mention that you will have fun together?
See all 31 Learning Goals for this course
Note: Non-profit therapy dog organizations provide access to group insurance coverage for therapy dog teams. The organizations will require that you pass their certification test to obtain that insurance and become part of their network. This course prepares you for those tests and provides a simulation of the evaluation processes commonly used by the organizations.
MEET YOUR TEACHERS
Your Passion, Our Expertise.
EXCEPTIONAL TRAINERS & EDUCATORS COMMITTED TO YOUR SUCCESS.
Breanna Norris, KPA CTP
Owner/trainer, Canine Insights, LLCHiking • Cross-Country Skiing • Gardening
Breanna has worked with a service dog and therapy dog teams in both group and private settings and has taught in-person group therapy dog prep classes since 2016 for her own business Canine Insights, LLC, located in Maine and for others as well. Teams that Breanna has worked with have gone on to successfully work in hospitals, nursing homes, libraries, schools and universities. Her focus is on teaching people how to work as a team with their dog.
Breanna is a graduate of the Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) and a KPA Certified Training Partner. She is the Alumni Relations Coordinator at Karen Pryor Academy. Breanna has volunteered with a guide dog program, shelters and rescues. Her experience also includes teaching animal training and animal care courses and currently she guest lectures for universities and rescue groups on animal training topics. She holds a Master's degree in anthrozoology.
Pat Koven, KPA CTP
Chapter Leader, Love on a LeashTherapy Team Work • Writing • Daytrip with Dogs
In 2018, Pat and her Aussie Willy become a certified therapy team with Love on a Leash, visiting colleges, nursing homes, libraries, schools, children's centers and rehabilitation facilities. In early 2019, Pat became Chapter Leader for Love on a Leash for Kennebec Valley, ME, and in that position supervises new teams as they start their therapy dog journeys and coordinates therapy dog teams across 40+ service locations.
Pat is a graduate of the Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) and a KPA Certified Training Partner - Willy was her partner dog in the program. In 2019, Pat started her own company, Haulin’ Aus, Inc. which focuses exclusively on behavior modification and cooperative veterinary care; she works with veterinarians and vet behaviorists around the country. Pat also works for CattleDog Publishing/Low Stress Handling, where she edits and writes articles and courses on animal behavior and the human/animal relationship, continuing the legacy of Dr. Sophia Yin. Pat has been a licensed veterinary technician since 1992.
We'll Get Both of You There
Personalized coaching from the instructors.
Meaningful, engaged feedback so you both progress .
EARN YOUR DESIGNATION
SHOW YOUR SKILL
Build confidence through the KPA SkillCheckTM assessment process.
Show competence with the SkillCheck digital badge for Therapy Dog Teams.
Use on your social media and website.
See FAQs for more details.
$475 $380
IN-DEPTH THERAPY DOG TRAINING
ALL SKILL LEVELS, ALL DOGS
Includes
More than 12 hours of personalized instructor feedback and coaching
Unlimited access to the course lessons, training plans and videos, for a full year.
The KPA SkillCheck™ assessment for Therapy Dog Team Training
A proven training process that builds the bond with your dog
The full skills required for therapy dog work plus bonus behaviors
Feel fully prepared
Purchase this course now and start it later
We can place your course on hold for you for as long as you'd like. Immediately after purchase and before you access your course, please send an email to [email protected].