How to Join
Becoming a member of our Caring K9s therapy dog team is easy, and it starts with a love for people and a strong bond with other dogs. All therapy dog teams participate in weekly training classes held in Brooksville, FL, where both dogs and handlers prepare for certification and learn essential skills to become effective therapy teams.
To become certified, you and your dog must meet the following requirements (subject to change without notice):
- Dogs must be at least 1 year old.
- Dogs must be up-to-date on all vaccinations required by Caring K9s, Inc.
- All necessary documents must be signed, and associated fees paid.
- Dogs must pass the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and AKC Community Canine (CGCA) tests assessed by one of our three AKC-approved evaluators.
- You and your dog must complete five supervised visits to various facilities.
- All members must complete a background check.
Once certified, dogs are trained to bring joy to people in hospital beds, wheelchairs, those using walkers, children, and individuals with disabilities. Our training typically spans three to six months per dog team, with opportunities for advanced training classes and annual canine first aid/CPR courses. Join us on this inspiring journey and witness the extraordinary difference your dog can make in the lives of others. If you're interested in becoming a part of Caring K9s, feel free to contact us—we'd love to hear from you!