Join Your Therapy Dog

Is Volunteering with Therapy Dogs United Right for You?

There are two different types of therapy dog outreach programs available through Therapy Dogs United, and either option – if not both - may be a good fit for you and your dog.

Therapeutic visitation dogs, commonly referred to as simply "therapy dogs" - is the most widely used method of animal therapy. These dogs are household pets that make visits with their owner, referred to as a volunteer handler. Together, the dog and the handler work as a team to reach beyond traditional forms of therapeutic healing and treatment.


Animal-assisted therapy dogs assist physical and occupational therapists in meeting specific goals or "measured results" important to a patient's recovery. These dogs are used to help anyone suffering from a stroke, physical injury, or trauma. AAT (animal-assisted therapy) dogs and their volunteer handler team up with trained therapists to use agility equipment and recreational therapy techniques. The end result encourages a patient to regain mobility, strength, range of motion, balance and confidence.

Therapy Dogs United, Inc. is proud to offer both therapeutic and animal-assisted visitation programs. Once your dog is certified with us, we will help you choose which program is right for you and your dog.

We welcome volunteers with or without a dog. To request a TDU Volunteer Application, call (814) 456-3647 or Email Us. Please let us know if you want your application sent via Email, or standard mail.

Should I Become a Volunteer Handler?

Volunteer today. Here's why. Our Paw Power networks of certified therapy dogs provide hope. Please consider the following questions to decide if being a therapy dog volunteer is the right fit for you:

  • Are you friendly with other people and their pets?
  • Do you enjoy interacting with people of all ages?
  • Do you have the desire to interact with children and/or adults? (Realize that the people you come in contact with may be in poor health, or need special assistance).
  • Are you comfortable in a nursing home, or medical setting?
  • Do you have the time and energy to volunteer on a regular basis?
  • Do you have the time to continually train and update your dog's skill level?
  • Are you able to maintain your dog's appearance as required for all therapy visits?
  • Are you willing to keep your dog's vet records and shots up-to-date?

Is My Dog a Good Therapy Dog Candidate?

  • Is your dog friendly and accepting of strangers?
  • Does your dog get along with dogs of all sizes and breeds?
  • Is your dog calm, able to sit on command, and stay for a long period of time?
  • Is your dog comfortable around adults and children? Or prefer one to the other?
  • Is your dog able to walk calmly through a crowd?
  • Is your dog able to stay focused even with distractions?
  • Does your dog enjoy being groomed or pet by a stranger?
  • Is your dog confident and carefree?
  • Is your dog relaxed even with loud, disruptive noises?
  • Does your dog have good manners even when you're not in the room?
  • Is your dog comfortable in a new, or changing, environment?

Take the Test: Be a Certified Therapy Dog

Effective in November 2011, Therapy Dogs United, Inc. has changed its therapy dog testing standard.  If you plan to take the Therapy Dog Evaluation with us, it is mandatory that any potential volunteer handler must attend one 2-hour Informational Workshop prior to your scheduled Therapy Dog (TD) test date.  Our Workshop includes a therapy dog pre-test; information on our testing standards and therapy dog qualifications; therapy dog best-practices; policies and procedures and information on our diverse volunteer and visitation opportunities.  (Please note: our Workshop is for humans only).  Please click here to see our Workshop schedule or call (814) 456-3647.  Pre-registration is required with a $45 fee made payable to Therapy Dogs United, Inc. 

Therapy Dogs United, Inc. requires that every dog certified as a canine volunteer pass a very difficult and challenging obedience and temperament test.  New in 2012!  Therapy Dogs United will offer Basic Obedience Dog Training Classes and S.T.A.R. Puppy Obedience Training.  Our 6-week S.T.A.R. Puppy class starts in February 2012 ($100/per dog) in Erie.  To enroll your pup, call (814) 456-DOGS today!   Please call for additional class dates and times or see our Calendar of Events page.

Part One: Therapy Dog Obedience

We use the nationally-recognized AKC Canine Good Citizen test (commonly referred to as the CGC) as our obedience testing standard. This test is administered by a Certified CGC Evaluator. Every dog is required to pass the CGC before they can work in one of our programs. To learn more about the AKC Canine Good Citizen test requirements, visit the AKC online at: www.akc.org/events/cgc/training_testing.cfm

Part Two: Therapy Dog Temperament

After your dog successfully passes the Canine Good Citizen test - your dog must also pass the TDU Therapy Dog (TD) Evaluation. This test ensures that your dog is able to remain calm in difficult, distractive and stressful situations, and work in a group with other dogs. You can expect your dog to be exposed to a variety of distractions (often referred to as 'sights and sounds') that a canine volunteer would find 'out in the field.' Some of those distractions include a wheelchair, walker, wheelchair alarm, medical equipment, multiple children, and other dogs.

What if My Dog Doesn't Pass?

Not all dogs, even the most obedient and even-tempered dogs, pass the Canine Good Citizen test and the Therapy Dog Evaluation. In fact, more than half of the dogs tested do not pass both requirements the first time. There is no limit as to the number of times a potential therapy dog can be tested for either the CGC or TDU Therapy Dog (TD) Evaluation. There is no waiting period in-between testing should your dog fail to pass one or both evaluations. It is not required that both evaluations be taken on the same day. A dog, however, must pass both the CGC and the TDU Therapy Dog (TD) Evaluation to be certified as a therapy dog within our organization.

Does My Dog Qualify?

Therapy Dogs United requires that any therapy dog candidate be at least one year old. We also require that your dog has a current rabies vaccination and current dog license, and your dog is free of ticks and fleas. Some of our Member Agencies may require a bi-annual fecal check or that your dog is not on a raw meat diet.

We also require that all dogs pass both the CGC and TD evaluation on a slip, flat buckle or Martingale collar or a standard body harness with the leash attaching to ring on the dog's back (no jump harness or pull harness is permitted).  Our acceptable equipment requirements are the same as the AKC's CGC candidate requirements. 

You will not need to retest for the Canine Good Citizen test only if your dog was certified within 24 months of your CGC test date and therapy dog evaluation date.  If it has been longer than 24 months since your dog was certified with the CGC, you will be required to pass the CGC prior to your Therapy Dog evaluation.

If you have questions or concerns and would like to personally observe one of our therapy dog evaluations, call (814) 456-DOGS and ask for more information.

We believe dog training and education is not only a life-long commitment, but an ongoing process. Our therapy dog teams have a solid foundation in obedience and a paw-sitive working relationship with their volunteer handler! Our dogs and humans engage in a mutual partnership through training, socialization, trust and respect.

Can My Dog Earn the Official AKC Therapy Dog Title Through Therapy Dogs United?

Yes ~ provided you are an eligible therapy dog volunteer!  In June of 2011, TDU was approved as a Therapy Dog Certification agency through American Kennel Club.  Being recognized by the AKC means that we are able to verify the eligibility requirements of any therapy dog certified through our organization for the official AKC Therapy Dog Title.  

Eligibility Reqirements for the AKC Therapy Dog Title

To earn the AKC Therapy Dog title, you and your dog must meet the following criteria: 

  1. Perform a minimum of 50 visits with Therapy Dogs United, Inc..
  2. The dog must be registered or listed with AKC.

All dogs are eligible to earn the AKC Therapy Dog title, including purebreds and mixed breeds. To earn the AKC Therapy Dog title, dogs must be registered or listed with AKC and have a number in order to earn a title.  For more information on the AKC Therapy Dog Title, please visit www.AKC.org/akctherapydog/

To learn more about our therapy dog test requirements, or to schedule your dog for testing, please call (814) 456-DOGS or Email our office at pat@therapydogsunited.org

Can I Volunteer with TDU Even Without a Dog?

Yes!  We have a need for volunteers with - and without - a certified therapy dog.  We welcome the opportunity to meet you!  Please feel free to return our Volunteer Application.