Ocean County College’s Department of Continuing & Professional Education, in partnership with Caregiver Canines® and Compassionate Canine Training LLC, is once again offering Pet Therapy Preparation & Certification. This hands-on training course is for friendly dogs and their owners. Since 2017, 38 dogs have been trained through the program.

Pet therapy visits enrich lives, encourage personal connections, and provide the dogs with an opportunity to use interactive skills that help keep them mentally and physically fit. In addition to the connection between dog and the client, the handlers often form relationships with the people they visit.

Pet Therapy Preparation & Certification consists of four training classes to prepare both owner and pet to be tested, and hopefully certified, as a Therapy Dog Team on week five. The class helps touch up basic obedience cues and coaches partners to work as a team in the therapy visit environment. (NOTE: Dogs do not need to be perfectly obedient, but should enjoy new people and have a basis in cues.)

This certification allows you and your dog to volunteer with Caregiver Canines® and perform home visits in the local senior community, as well as independently visit any hospital, assisted living facility, school, or business that allows pet therapy visitations.

Two classes are open for registration this spring:

Saturdays, February 23 to March 16

9:00 am to 10:30 am + 11:00 am to 12:30 pm

Evaluations are to be scheduled for the following week: Saturday, March 23

To register, call the OCC Department of Continuing & Professional Education at 732-255-0409 or visit ocean.edu/programs-and-courses/register-pay-here/. Select ONLINE then NEW USER, then type in keywords “Pet Therapy.”