Home » Our Dogs & Programs » Therapy Dogs
Step into the world of compassion and companionship with our Therapy Dog program! Therapy dogs are in a special category of canines trained to provide comfort, affection, and support to people in various settings. They play a pivotal role in bringing joy and alleviating stress, positively impacting hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and beyond. We are incredibly proud of our therapy dog teams!
Request a Therapy Dog Visit at Your Location
If you are interested in having our therapy dogs visit your location, please submit a request here Therapy Dog Inquiry
Become a Part of our Growing Therapy Dog Program
- Your dog must be in good health, sound body, and be well groomed.
- All ages of dogs can participate.
- Handlers can be 13 and up (supervised by an adult if under 18).
- Your dog must be trained using only positive training techniques.
- Your dog may wear harnesses, flat collars, or head collars.
- No choke or prong collars are allowed.
- Your dog can never show fear, shyness, aggression, or agitation.
- If your dog gets startled, they should recover quickly.
- If your dog has not passed an AKC Canine Good Citizens Test, we recommend The Exceptional Pet for training/testing.
- Once your dog has passed their AKC Canine Good Citizens Test, please contact us for more info!
What Do Therapy Dog Teams Do?
Therapy dogs have mastered basic obedience and may even perform some tricks to make someone’s day. They volunteer with their owners in settings such as schools, hospitals, libraries, and nursing homes. They help people suffering from PTSD, Alzheimer’s, literacy challenges, chronic illness, or anxiety, to name a few. These teams help to relieve stress and loneliness while giving unconditional love with a wagging tail to everyone they meet.
Therapy Dogs break daily routines and help with emotional well-being. Petting a dog can lower blood pressure, improve the physical and emotional lives of those they visit, and can even be an antidote to depression. These exceptional teams are amazing ambassadors as they bring joy and put smiles on people’s faces everywhere, from seniors to young children. Therapy dogs are allowed into facilities where they have been invited or are open to pets.
Our Therapy Dog Teams must volunteer 10 hours a year promoting The Exceptional Sidekick at school events and fundraisers, such as the Newtown Labor Day Parade, Sandy Hook Career Day, Bridgewater Fair, and community outreach programs. In their spare time, teams visit places of their choosing that they feel passionate about helping. We have many Therapy Dogs that accompany their handlers to work as well.