Therapy Dog Training Cost – What to Expect

Therapy dogs play an important role in our society today, where they spread positivity and joy to individuals in need in different settings. Some of the common places where therapy dogs are utilized include schools, hospitals, and nursing homes.

Although therapy dogs are commonly mistaken for service dogs and emotional support animals, they require specialized training different from service animals or emotional support animals (ESA). Our article will provide an overview of therapy dog training with a focus on its cost. Read to the end to learn everything about therapy dog training costs.

What Is a Therapy Dog?

A therapy dog is a dog that’s specifically trained to provide comfort, affection, and support to individuals. While this definition reminds many of emotional support animals, they are not the same.

A clear distinction between dogs that are emotional support animals and therapy dogs is where they are employed. ESAs are solely companions that are owned by individuals with a mental disability. They are essentially prescribed by a mental health professional to ease their owner’s symptoms.

On the other hand, therapy dogs are affectionate and friendly dogs that undergo training to remain calm and undistracted in various settings.

For instance, a big part of therapy dog training is to make these dogs keep their composure in different environments, whether there are loud children running around or seniors walking with a cane.

Therapy Dog Training Cost Summarized

The cost of training a therapy dog depends primarily on the training method and whether or not you have a dog suitable for therapy dog training. Below, we’ll explain how these reflect on the therapy dog training costs.

Acquiring a Dog

If you have a dog that’s suitable for therapy dog training, you won’t need to purchase one to start training. Understanding whether your dog is suitable for therapy dog training requires evaluating temperament, breed, and age.

Breeds like the golden retriever, Labrador retriever, poodle, border collie, and Newfoundland are among the most popular therapy dogs. As with any other dog training, younger dogs pick up therapy dog skills quicker than older dogs. If your dog has behavioral issues and isn’t friendly towards strangers, they will need more socialization work before they can begin therapy dog training. It is also likely that they may not be suitable for this type of training due to their temperament.

If you don’t already have a dog or your dog doesn’t have the ideal characteristics for therapy dog work, purchasing a puppy can cost anywhere between $1,000 and $5,000, depending on the breed. Since therapy dog training isn’t as extensive as service animal training, this step can be costlier than training itself. Also, checking your local shelter and animal rescues should also be an option. Who knows, you may even find a fully trained therapy dog looking for a new home.

Therapy Dog Training

Obedience and socialization form the core of a therapy dog’s training before they get into specialized tasks like learning to be patient and interact gently with everyone. Therefore, a well-socialized dog finishing advanced obedience training will have the foundation to become a therapy dog. This part of therapy dog training with a professional trainer can cost between $1,000 and $3,000.

Once your dog has the needed obedience training for therapy dog work, they can start specialized therapy dog training. This includes teaching them skills like being petted without discomfort, developing patience to stay focused, and not being startled easily. These specialized classes typically cost $30 to $120 per session.

Online therapy dog training can also be an option – it is also much more affordable than hiring a professional trainer. Many courses include obedience and the necessary skills therapy dogs must have in their program, allowing dog owners to train their dogs for therapy work at their own pace. These online courses can cost $50 to $350.

Therapy Dog Certification

There isn’t a regulating body for therapy dogs. Still, certification from reputable organizations comes in handy to confirm your therapy dog’s training and temperament when volunteering.

Certifications like this require an exam that tests your therapy dog’s obedience and temperament. It will have an initial cost ranging between $25 and $150 in addition to small yearly renewal expenses.

If your therapy dog also doubles as an emotional support animal, a certification can help provide some extra peace of mind when dealing with landlords and property owners.

Understanding Therapy Dog Training Costs

Training a therapy dog from scratch can cost upwards of $5,000 with the cost of acquiring a dog suitable for this kind of work. When you also add care expenses, like feeding and health, therapy dogs require a significant investment. However, unlike service dogs and emotional support animals, which only assist their handler, highly trained therapy dogs can earn money by participating in therapy programs. This can allow the handler to offset some of the therapy dog training costs or even make a profit.