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A Guide for School Counselors on Incorporating a Therapy Dog at Your School

Welcome, dear school counselors, to a new adventure in counseling that involves a furry friend! As advocates for the mental well-being of students, we are constantly seeking innovative ways to create a supportive and comforting environment. One remarkable avenue to explore is incorporating therapy dogs into your school counseling practice. In this blog post, I will guide you through the steps of getting your dog certified as a therapy dog, while also addressing the essential aspects of creating a district-wide process to ensure a smooth and controlled introduction of therapy dogs into the school environment.

Step 1: Assessing Your Dog’s Suitability

Not all dogs are cut out for the role of a therapy dog. It’s crucial to assess your furry companion’s temperament, obedience, and sociability. Therapy dogs should be calm, well-behaved, and comfortable in various settings with diverse individuals. If your dog has the right qualities, it’s time to embark on this rewarding journey together.

Step 2: Socialization

You’ll need to make socialization a top priority for your dog. Expose your dog to a variety of environments, people, and situations to ensure they remain calm and friendly in diverse settings. This is particularly important in a school where students may have different needs, and your therapy dog should be comfortable and adaptable to these varying circumstances.

I began socializing my dog the day I got him! I started taking him anywhere that allowed dogs (Hobby Lobby, TJMaxx, Ross, HomeGoods, JCPenney, Home Depot, Lowes, dog parks, outdoor restaurants/coffee shops, etc.).

Step 3: Basic Training

Before your dog can become a certified therapy dog, they need to master basic commands such as sit, stay, come, and leave it. Solid obedience skills are essential for ensuring your dog’s behavior is predictable and controlled in a school environment. A well-trained dog is more likely to provide comfort and support to students.

It’s important to note that you only need to train your dog to do the skills tested on the Canine Good Citizen test (CGC). I recommend reaching out to a local trainer in your area to sign up for basic training classes. If you’re on a tight budget, then you can train your dog on your own time. Remember, the trick to dog training is to be consistent and practice their new skills every day.

While in training, I highly recommend practicing your dog’s skills at school on the weekends. Practicing at school will help them feel more comfortable in the building and prepare them for their first day of school.

Step 4: Support & Guidance

I highly recommend joining the Facebook Group: School Therapy Dogs for support and guidance. The members are super helpful in providing resources on student lessons, school board presentations, district protocols, etc. The members are also helpful in providing feedback on any issues that may arise as you begin this journey, I’m so grateful for the knowledge and support provided by this Facebook Group.

Step 5: Choosing a Therapy Dog Organization

Select a recognized therapy dog organization that aligns with your values and goals. Popular organizations include Therapy Dogs International (TDI), Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD), and Pet Partners. Each organization has its own certification process, which typically involves a thorough evaluation of your dog’s behavior and your handling skills.

I reviewed the application process, the assessment process, the renewal process, and member benefits (specifically insurance options) for the 3 main therapy dog organizations listed above. I felt like ATD met my needs the best and I’ve been happy with their support so far. One thing to note is that ATD requires you to volunteer once every three months (4 times a year); bringing your dog to work does NOT count as volunteering. So you’ll need to find a place in the community to volunteer with your pup.

I will say the Pet Partners online handler courses are a great resource; even if you don’t register your dog through Pet Partners you can still take their online handler courses. I took several of their courses to familiarize myself with standard handler protocols and expectations; I found their courses helpful in building my confidence as a handler.

Step 6: Evaluation and Certification

Submit the necessary paperwork and undergo an evaluation with your dog to achieve certification from your chosen therapy dog organization. This may involve a visit to a healthcare facility or school-like setting to assess how well your dog interacts with individuals in need of emotional support.

Step 7: Creating a District Process

Work with your school district to establish a clear and standardized process for introducing therapy dogs into schools. Develop guidelines for certification, establish a registration process, and set expectations for handlers. This will help prevent random dogs from entering school premises and ensure that only certified therapy dogs are part of the counseling program.

Feel free to download my recommended district process here. It’ll be copied to your google drive and you’ll be able to edit the document to fit your needs (edit all highlighted sections to customize it to your district).

Step 8: Therapy Dog Insurance

Consult with your therapy dog’s organization to determine the type of insurance they provide to members. I joined ATD, whose insurance only covers my therapy dog while he’s volunteering (work does not count as volunteering). ATD offers supplemental insurance through Business of the Carolina’s, which covers my dog while he’s at work with me. If you’re struggling finding insurance, then I recommend reaching out to Business of the Carolina’s (well recommended in School Therapy Dogs-Facebook Group).

Step 9: Parent Letter Home

Inform parents about the introduction of a therapy dog program in the school through a formal letter. Clearly communicate the benefits of therapy dogs in promoting emotional well-being and assure parents that only certified therapy dogs will be involved. Include contact information for any concerns or inquiries.

Step 10: Teaching Students Expectations

Educate students about the presence of a therapy dog in the school and set clear expectations for their interactions. Conduct lessons about the purpose of the therapy dog, appropriate behavior around the dog, and the importance of respecting the dog’s role in providing emotional support. Here’s the student lesson I conducted at my school (similar to my staff presentation, but I removed slides 3-4 when I presented it to the students).

Step 11: First Day at School

Before your dogs first day, I recommend taking them to school on the weekends to get them familiar with the building/environment. Each weekend, spend some time practicing their skills and then give them some “down time” in your office. The goal is for them to feel comfortable at school before their first official day with students.

On their first official day, bring your dog to school for a few hours, gradually working your way up to half days and then full days. Keep in mind that being a therapy dog is exhausting, so limit their school visits to 2-3 days a week to ensure their well-being and effectiveness.

Congratulations & Good Luck

Congratulations, school counselors, on taking the leap into the world of therapy dogs! By following these steps, you can integrate your certified therapy dog into your school counseling practice, providing students with an extra source of comfort and support. As your counseling adventures continue, may the wagging tails and gentle paws of your furry companion bring joy and healing to all those you encounter.