Becoming a Therapy Dog Team
Is your dog well-behaved, healthy, and enjoys interactions with unfamiliar people? If so, he/she may be qualified to become a therapy dog.
Paws4Friends members are registered with Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Alliance of Therapy Dogs is a National non-profit organization with its corporate office located in Cheyenne, WY. They were incorporated in the year 1990. Alliance of Therapy Dogs provides registration, support, and insurance for members who are involved in volunteer animal assisted activities.
Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD) registers only handler/dog teams. All breeds and sizes are welcome. However, for insurance reasons, ATD cannot register wolves or wolf-hybrids, coyotes or coyote-hybrids because the rabies vaccination has not been proven to be effective with these animals. Membership is open to handlers with all breeds of dogs.
This process is not difficult or time consuming!
To test a dog, it must be a year old and you must have had a close relationship with the dog for a minimum of six months. Formal dog training classes are encouraged, but it is not a requirement to complete this program.
6 Easy Steps to Becoming a Therapy Dog Team!
We invite you to visit the ATD website to learn more about Alliance of Therapy Dogs and what is needed to become a registered member with ATD.
We encourage all interested persons to explore the possibilities! If you are interested in getting your dog registered, Paws4Friends can help you through the process.
Paws4Friends members are registered with Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Alliance of Therapy Dogs is a National non-profit organization with its corporate office located in Cheyenne, WY. They were incorporated in the year 1990. Alliance of Therapy Dogs provides registration, support, and insurance for members who are involved in volunteer animal assisted activities.
Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD) registers only handler/dog teams. All breeds and sizes are welcome. However, for insurance reasons, ATD cannot register wolves or wolf-hybrids, coyotes or coyote-hybrids because the rabies vaccination has not been proven to be effective with these animals. Membership is open to handlers with all breeds of dogs.
This process is not difficult or time consuming!
To test a dog, it must be a year old and you must have had a close relationship with the dog for a minimum of six months. Formal dog training classes are encouraged, but it is not a requirement to complete this program.
6 Easy Steps to Becoming a Therapy Dog Team!
- Complete the Alliance of Therapy Dogs background check.
- Complete the Alliance of Therapy Dogs application; this can be found and printed from their website – www.therapydogs.com under “How to Become a Member”.
- Have your Vet complete the New Member Health Verification Form for your dog. This must include a physical health check up, a “Basic” negative fecal test and current Rabies shot.
- Contact and make an appointment with a Tester/Observer.
- Complete the Alliance of Therapy Dog test and the 3 required observations.
- Send in your completed package to the Alliance of Therapy Dogs Corporate office with the membership fee.
We invite you to visit the ATD website to learn more about Alliance of Therapy Dogs and what is needed to become a registered member with ATD.
We encourage all interested persons to explore the possibilities! If you are interested in getting your dog registered, Paws4Friends can help you through the process.
Note: This is a program to become a registered member of Alliance of Therapy Dogs. The Alliance of Therapy Dogs is a national non-profit organization.
Registered Alliance of Therapy Dogs members are able to visit any facility/or program that they would like or to which they have been invited within the U.S.
We are happy to assist you in becoming a registered therapy dog team.
Other than your fecal test and physical exam from your Vet there is no cost to
you until you submit your completed packet directly to the Alliance of Therapy Dogs
Offices.
While it is our goal to welcome new Paws4Friends members, you are
not required to join Paws4Friends to complete this program. If you are
interested in the Paws4Friends Club, please let us know by completing our Contact Form on this website.
Registered Alliance of Therapy Dogs members are able to visit any facility/or program that they would like or to which they have been invited within the U.S.
We are happy to assist you in becoming a registered therapy dog team.
Other than your fecal test and physical exam from your Vet there is no cost to
you until you submit your completed packet directly to the Alliance of Therapy Dogs
Offices.
While it is our goal to welcome new Paws4Friends members, you are
not required to join Paws4Friends to complete this program. If you are
interested in the Paws4Friends Club, please let us know by completing our Contact Form on this website.
