Did you know Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD) allows you to test with a dog you have had a relationship with for at least 6 months? Being the dog’s owner is not a requirement to become an ATD therapy dog team. There are instances when a person may want to get certified with a dog [...]
If you’ve been visiting with your therapy dog long enough, you’ve probably run into someone who doesn’t want to say hi to your therapy dog. There are a variety of reasons someone may not want to say hello to your dog; they’re in the middle of a task, they don’t want to get covered in [...]
Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD) has a set of Rules and Regulations that Members are expected to follow on all ATD visits. Every year, our insurance backs our Rules and Regulations and as long as Members follow those, they will be covered on a visit if an accident occurs. One of these rules is our [...]
Therapy dogs are often superheroes to those they visit. Through tactile interaction, kind eyes, and friendly presence, these amazing dogs bring comfort to people in places like hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and workplaces. While therapy dogs themselves are often the focus of attention, the emotional connection between the dog and its handler (the person who [...]
Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD) is first and foremost a 501c3 nonprofit. We are an international registry of certified therapy dog teams. At ATD, we provide testing, certification, registration, support, and insurance for Members who volunteer with their dogs in animal-assisted activities. Our objective is to form a network of caring individuals and their special dogs who [...]
What are Alliance of Therapy Dogs’ (ATD) Retesting Requirements? ATD requires teams to be retested if they have not made and logged a visit within 3 months of their previous visit. If you have gone over 3 months, but less than 6 months since your last logged visit, you are required to complete the ATD [...]
Volunteer In Retirement When you retire, the world seems full of possibilities. You can spend more time with family, travel the world, and even volunteer in retirement. Volunteering can be a way to help you connect with your community and help discover your life’s purpose - which yes, you can still do at an older [...]
How To Advocate For Your Dog As therapy dog handlers, our canine team members play an essential role in sharing smiles and joy. Though amongst the comfort and support therapy dogs provide, it’s important to focus on their safety as well. Follow our strategies to advocate for your dog to help create a safe and [...]
Alliance of Therapy Dogs is an international registry of certified therapy dog teams. Obtaining therapy dog certification involves passing our therapy dog certification process and following our rules and regulations at therapy dog visits. When there has been a lapse in visits, ATD members will need to complete a retest in order to maintain insurance [...]
Dog Conformation Training & Being A Therapy Dog Both dog conformation training and therapy dog training require a handler to have patience, determination, and an understanding of their canine’s abilities and body language. A therapy dog needs to be friendly and have a calm demeanor to provide comfort to those in need, while a dog [...]
