Guide to dog therapy in the UK & training workbook bundle

Buy both guides together and save £2.

This digital guide and workbook has been developed to support anyone who would like to work with their dog in a therapy capacity.

Consisting of two parts;

What you need to know about dog therapy in the UK (36 pages)
Therapy dog practical assessment and training guide (35 pages)
Plus a bonus risk assessment template which you can adapt for your specific setting.

£24.99

With the lack of regulation surrounding pet therapy work in the UK, it can be confusing to know how to deliver a safe, compliant and effective service. This digital guide will provide you with the facts, provide guidance on the grey areas and help you to understand and communicate with your dog more effectively so that you have the knowledge and understanding needed to confidently step into the world of therapy work.

This guide consists of two parts, plus a bonus risk assessment template:

1. What you need to know about dog therapy in the UK; Getting started guide

This 36 page online guide provides you with the key information you need to get started with dog therapy work. Designed to be straightforward to follow, you will learn everything from understanding the specifics around therapy dog certification and the formalities surrounding insurance and risk, to learning how to better understand your dog’s body language and caring for them during their therapy visits.

Also available as a standalone guide. 

2. Therapy dog practical assessment and training guide

This 35-page downloadable guide, complete with images to support you with your training, has been developed to help prepare you and your dog for therapy work. Begin by working through the therapy dog behaviour assessment with your dog to highlight any areas for development, before progressing into the individual exercises. All training uses kind, fair, reward based methods.

Also available as a standalone guide. 

Full contents

1What you need to know about dog therapy in the UK; Getting started guide

  • What is a therapy dog?

  • Understanding the terminology surrounding canine assisted intervention

  • Does my dog need to be certified to become a therapy dog?

  • Routes into therapy work

  • Where do therapy dogs visit?

  • Finding a certified trainer or behaviourist to assess your dog

  • What characteristics are required of a therapy dog?

  • What is your dog trying to tell you (and others)?

  • Signs that your dog may be experiencing stress and anxiety

  • The link between pain and behaviour

  • Caring for your dog during the visit

  • Preparing your dog for their therapy role

  • The serious stuff

  • Insurance

  • Agreement / Memorandum of Understanding

  • Risk assessments

  • Disclosure Barring Service

  • Safeguarding for children and vulnerable people

  • Photographs

  • Additional things to think about

  • Getting started; in summary

  • PLUS a bonus risk assessment template which you can adapt for your specific setting.

  • 2Therapy dog practical assessment and training guide

  • Therapy dog behaviour assessment template

  • Reward based training

  • Training your dog; top tips

  • Forming behaviours

  • Foundation exercises

  • Teaching the behaviours

  • Preventing behaviours

  • Accessing the guides

    Once you have completed the secure checkout process, you will create an account allowing you to log in and download the guides at any time. You will also receive an email containing links to the guides. If you do not receive this, please check your junk or spam before contacting [email protected].

    About the author

    Kate Soames is a fully assessed and qualified member of the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers and holds a L6 Graduate Diploma in Applied Animal Behaviour. She regularly engages in continuing professional development to ensure that the knowledge she holds is the most relevant and up to date, as well as challenging pre-existing ideas to constantly evolve and adapt her skills. 

    Kate has been training dogs her whole life and first became interested in therapy work when her grandfather was diagnosed with dementia in 2013. Following on from this, Kate experienced first hand the benefits that dogs have on people in the office environment, and in 2020, she established Moment to Paws to help reduce stress and aid mental health within the workplace. 

    Through her work, Kate has consulted extensively with organisations, schools, care homes and other professionals to develop a thorough understanding of the intricacies surrounding therapy dog work, with a particular focus on canine welfare. 

    Based on her experience, there is a distinct lack of clear guidance available for people in the UK who are interested in dog therapy. It is therefore Kate’s aim to distill all the information she has garnered into a concise and actionable guide to give more people the confidence they need to engage in this life-changing work.  

    Guide to dog therapy in the UK & training workbook bundle
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