Train Your Service or Therapy Dog in Richfield, MN

Structured Coaching | Real-World Skills | Weekly Support

Whether you’re training your own service dog or preparing your dog for therapy work, this structured program gives you everything you need: clear curriculum, expert support, and real-life practice.

Who Is This Program Designed For?

This owner-led training program is built for those preparing their dog for either public-access service work or certified therapy visits.

Become a Service Dog for disability support
Qualify as a Therapy Dog for emotional comfort visits
Develop consistent behavior in public, semi-public, or emotionally charged environments

We also welcome:

People unsure how to structure training on their own
Handlers who need help generalizing behaviors from home to the real world
Those seeking public access certification support

Legal Status and Functional Roles of Service Dogs vs. Therapy Dogs

Service Dog Handlers

Protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act
Legally allowed in public areas (restaurants, medical clinics, transit)
Must be trained to perform specific tasks that mitigate a disability
Requires high-level Public Access skills

Therapy Dogs (Non-service animals)

Visit hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and crisis centers
Provide comfort and companionship to others (not just handler)
Not covered under ADA — no guaranteed public access
Must exhibit impeccable manners, tolerance, and sociability

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are separate and not part of this training.

Service Dog vs. Therapy Dog – What’s the Difference?

Service Dogs	Therapy Dogs
Service Dogs are legally recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are individually trained to assist people with disabilities by performing specific tasks. Service dogs must meet strict Public Access standards to accompany their handlers in public spaces.	Therapy Dogs are not considered service animals and do not have public access rights. They provide emotional support and comfort to others in places like hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. Therapy dogs require excellent manners, handler engagement, and controlled behavior in different environments.

Service & Therapy Dog Training Curriculum Breakdown

Foundation Skills

Purpose: Establish responsiveness, handler focus, and emotional regulation

Sit, Down, Stay, Come
Focus work (name response, eye contact)
Leash engagement (with and without distractions)
Thresholds (doorways, vehicles, elevators)
Settle on mat
Go-to-place cue
Controlled greeting behavior

Public Access Training

Purpose: Prepare dogs for real-world functionality and public access readiness

Walking past loud crowds, carts, or distractions
Calmness in medical settings (clinics, labs, therapy centers)
Riding elevators, escalators, buses
Ignoring dropped food, people, or animals
Long down-stays in lobbies, stores, or appointments
Handling interactions from strangers (touch, questions)
Simulated Public Access Test

We simulate real-world experiences to ensure the dog can handle unpredictability, stress, and pressure with calm and control

Task Training (Service Dog Track Only)

Purpose: Teach functional, disability-mitigating tasks

Item retrieval (drop/fetch/bring)
Alerting: panic attacks, low blood sugar, migraines
Tactile grounding for anxiety
Balance support and brace tasks
Opening drawers, activating push plates

Each task is customized based on handler needs and capabilities.

Therapy Dog Prep (Therapy Track Only)

Purpose: Develop emotionally resilient, people-friendly dogs.

Controlled greetings (on and off leash)
Working around medical equipment: wheelchairs, walkers
Calm behavior under physical contact or crowding
Desensitization to noise, clapping, crying
Handler cueing for exit or redirect
Simulated therapy visit sessions (hospital and school scenarios)

Our Training Levels

Level 1: Foundation Training

Build reliable behavior and trust between you and your dog.

Dogs demonstrate:

Sit, down, and leash focus under mild distractions
Calm greetings and sustained eye contact
Mat settling with duration
Name response even in outdoor settings

Level 2: Public Access Training

Prepare your dog for high-pressure environments.

Dogs demonstrate:

Controlled walking in stores, clinics, and transit stations
Ignoring food, people, and sudden noises
Long down-stays with interruptions
Calmness around strangers and other dogs

Level 3A: Task Training for Service Dogs

Teach and reinforce task performance in dynamic settings.

Dogs demonstrate:

3 trained, disability-mitigating tasks
Response under stress
Task generalization across multiple locations
Ability to pass simulated Public Access Test

Level 3B: Therapy Dog Readiness

Finalize skills required for facility-based visits.

Dogs demonstrate:

Ability to remain calm with loud sounds, medical equipment, and crowds
Respond to directional cues in unfamiliar buildings
Calm, confident greetings with new people
Sustained focus and handler engagement in active spaces

Before diving into task-specific training, many teams benefit from foundational manners training to ensure their dog is responsive and reliable.

Our Class Goals

Meet Your Trainer

Myra F.

Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge & Skills Assessed (CPDT-KSA)
Certified Family Dog Mediator™

With over 30 years of experience, Myra specializes in service and therapy dog training, focusing on foundational manners, public access skills, task training, scent discrimination, tracking, search-and-rescue, and therapy dog work.

How to Sign Up

Go to the “Book Now” section on our website.
Scroll down to “Service Dog Membership.
Pay the monthly membership fee to get started.
A trainer will contact you with details about class!

For a broader look at everything we offer, explore our full list of dog training and behavior services.

Get expert guidance on service task preparation, therapy dog social skills, and public access behavior—all from a certified professional trainer.

Questions? E-mail: [email protected]