Obedience, boarding, and behavioral training of dogs of all breeds over 15 pounds

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Therapy Dog Training — Kiln, Mississippi

Prerequisite: Completion of both In-House Obedience and Emotional Support Dog programs

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Therapy Dog Training in Mississippi

A therapy dog is a trained dog who provides comfort, affection, and emotional support to people in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, libraries, hospice facilities, courthouses, college campuses, disaster recovery sites, and other community settings. Unlike service dogs (who help one person with a disability) or emotional support dogs (who comfort one person — their owner), therapy dogs are trained specifically to interact gently and calmly with many different people, often strangers, in environments that would overwhelm an untrained dog.

Therapy dog work is genuinely meaningful. A 10-minute visit from a calm, friendly dog can change the entire trajectory of a hospital patient's day, give a hospice resident their first smile in a week, or help a child read aloud who's never had the confidence to read in front of an adult. We've seen it countless times. If you and your dog have the temperament for this work, becoming a therapy team is one of the most rewarding things you can do together.

Why Our Therapy Dog Program Requires Both Prior Stages

Therapy dog work is high-stakes. You're bringing a dog into hospitals, around children, into nursing homes where residents may be frail. There's no room for a reactive moment, a jump on the wrong person, or a dog who can't handle a wheelchair rolling by. That's why we require completion of our 49-day board and train (for rock-solid obedience) and our emotional support dog program (for advanced focus and calm presence) before adding the public-facing therapy work on top. The result is a dog who's genuinely ready, not just technically certified.

We work with dog/handler teams from across Mississippi, the Gulf Coast, and southern Louisiana. Our facility is in Kiln, MS — a short drive from Bay St. Louis, Waveland, Diamondhead, Pass Christian, Gulfport, Biloxi, and surrounding areas. If you're committed to the work and your dog has the right temperament, we'd love to talk.

Therapy dog visiting and comforting a hospital patient
Advanced Certification Program

From Personal Companion to Community Hero

Building on the rock-solid obedience foundation from our core program and the deep, attuned focus developed in our emotional support training, many exceptional dogs are ready to take the next inspiring step: becoming certified therapy dogs.

While emotional support companions provide unwavering comfort to their specific handler amid life's challenges, therapy dogs extend that gentle, calming presence to brighten the days of many—offering affection, joy, and emotional uplift in hospitals, schools, nursing homes, libraries, and community settings.

Our advanced therapy dog pathway refines social skills for handling unfamiliar people, and prepares your dog (and you) for rewarding volunteer visits as a team—turning your well-mannered partner into a community hero that spreads healing one gentle interaction at a time.

Prerequisites for This Program

Therapy dog training requires completion of both our in-house obedience program and our emotional support dog program.

View Obedience DetailsView Emotional Support Details

Advanced Therapy Dog Training Phases

Building on your dog's completed foundation programs.

1
1st Additional Phase (Days 50-61)

In this phase your dog will be brought to numerous public places or in-house environments to ensure that their attention is focused on the handler even amongst major distractions. The goal is that the dog is there for support of the handler. There will be a team session at the end of this stage.

2
2nd Additional Phase (Days 61+)

In this phase your dog will learn that they are allowed and expected to engage with people on command without any rough housing. This phase is critical to complete the program and will require that you do 2 sessions off site with the handler to ensure that you truly understand all of the commands in a real life situation.

What Makes Our Therapy Dog Program Special

Builds directly on your dog's completed obedience foundation and the deep handler focus from our emotional support program, preparing them for broader, multi-person interactions.

Refines advanced socialization skills to handle diverse people—including children, elderly, wheelchair users, and those with medical equipment—while staying calm and non-reactive.

Emphasizes gentle handling tolerance, accepting petting, hugs, and close contact from unfamiliar people without jumping or overwhelming.

Gives your dog a sense of purpose and enjoyment by uplifting the spirits of many people in your community.

Prepares your dog to go almost anywhere that they are allowed.

Program Benefits

Free 1-on-1 Tune Up/Problem Solving Sessions for the Lifetime of the Dog

After they complete this course

Our Client Handler Sessions Do Not Have Time Limits

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the prerequisites for therapy dog training?
To enroll in our therapy dog program, your dog must have completed both our 49-day board and train obedience program and our emotional support dog training program. This pathway ensures the necessary foundation is firmly in place before adding the demands of multi-person, public-facing therapy work.
Where can a certified therapy dog visit?
Therapy dogs can visit hospitals, schools, nursing homes, libraries, hospice facilities, rehabilitation centers, courthouses, college campuses during finals, disaster recovery sites, and many other community settings. Our program prepares your dog to handle diverse people and environments calmly and reliably.
How is a therapy dog different from a service dog?
A service dog is trained to perform specific tasks for one person with a disability and has full public access rights under the ADA. A therapy dog provides comfort to many people in approved settings through volunteer visits and does not have the same public access rights — they're invited into specific facilities, not granted blanket access to all public spaces.
How is a therapy dog different from an emotional support dog?
An emotional support dog provides comfort to one person — their owner. A therapy dog provides comfort to many people through structured volunteer work. They're trained for very different jobs: ESAs are about deep one-on-one bonding, while therapy dogs are about calm, gentle interaction with strangers in public settings.
How long does the therapy dog program take?
The therapy dog training adds approximately 3 additional weeks on top of the emotional support program, which itself follows the 49-day board and train. The full pathway from start to therapy dog is roughly 13+ weeks depending on your dog's progress.
What kind of dog makes a good therapy dog?
The best therapy dogs are calm, friendly, gentle, and unflappable. They genuinely enjoy meeting new people, don't get overwhelmed by unusual environments, and have zero reactivity toward children, mobility devices, or medical equipment. Breed matters less than temperament — we've certified Labradors, Goldens, Doodles, Standard Poodles, German Shepherds, mixed breeds, and many others.
Can a rescue dog be a therapy dog?
Absolutely. Many of the best therapy dogs are rescues. What matters is the dog's current temperament and whether they have the foundation training. We evaluate every candidate honestly — if a particular dog isn't suited for therapy work, we'll tell you upfront rather than push them through a program they're not ready for.
Do I need to be involved in the therapy dog visits?
Yes. Therapy dog work is a team activity — the handler is just as important as the dog. You'll be part of every visit, reading the situation, guiding interactions, and advocating for your dog if they need a break. The final phase of our program includes off-site sessions specifically to prepare you for that handler role.
What kind of certification do you provide?
Our program prepares your dog and you to perform reliably as a therapy team. Many graduates also pursue certification through national organizations like Pet Partners, Alliance of Therapy Dogs, or Therapy Dogs International, which provide insurance and access to participating facilities. We're happy to guide you through that process.
How often will we volunteer once certified?
That's entirely up to you. Some teams visit weekly, others monthly. Many facilities have ongoing needs and are grateful for any consistent volunteer time you can offer. The flexibility is one of the things our therapy clients love most about the program.

Have Questions?

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