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Therapy Dog Handler Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Heartshare

Canine Handler

Brooklyn, NY · On-site

$24.72 - $27.47/hr

The Canine Handler brings their therapy dog into school-based settings to support students' social-emotional learning, emotional regulation, and engagement. The handler is responsible for managing ...

Heartshare

Canine Handler

Queens, NY · On-site

$24.72 - $27.47/hr

The Canine Handler brings their therapy dog into school-based settings to support students' social-emotional learning, emotional regulation, and engagement. The handler is responsible for managing ...

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How much do therapy dog handler jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for therapy dog handler in the United States is $17.97, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.87 and $18.75 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some typical settings where therapy dog handlers work, and how do their responsibilities vary?

Therapy Dog Handlers often work in environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools, rehabilitation centers, and community events. Depending on the setting, handlers may assist with patient visits, provide emotional support to students, participate in therapeutic activities, or help reduce stress in high-pressure environments. Your responsibilities can include coordinating visits, ensuring your therapy dog’s well-being, maintaining certification requirements, and documenting visits or progress. Handlers regularly collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, or volunteer coordinators to maximize the benefits of animal-assisted therapy for those they serve. This variety provides meaningful opportunities to make a positive impact across different communities.

What is a therapy dog handler?

A Therapy Dog Handler is responsible for managing and guiding a trained therapy dog during visits to hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and other facilities. Their role is to ensure the dog remains calm and responsive while providing comfort and support to individuals in need. Handlers coordinate visits, follow facility guidelines, and maintain the dog's training and well-being. Unlike service dog handlers, therapy dog handlers do not rely on the dog for personal assistance but facilitate interactions to benefit others.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a therapy dog handler, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Therapy Dog Handler, you need a solid understanding of canine behavior, basic animal care, and experience in training or handling dogs, often supported by certification such as AKC Canine Good Citizen or Therapy Dog International. Handlers may use training tools like leashes, harnesses, and clickers, and are often required to maintain documentation for therapy dog organizations. Exceptional interpersonal skills, patience, and the ability to engage compassionately with diverse populations, including children, seniors, and individuals with special needs, set outstanding handlers apart. These skills ensure positive, safe, and impactful interactions that foster comfort and support in various healthcare, educational, and community settings.

More about Therapy Dog Handler jobs
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Therapy Dog Handler jobs near you
Infographic showing various Therapy Dog Handler job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 90% Full Time, and 9% Part Time. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $37,374 per year, or $18 per hour.

Canine Handler

Heartshare

Brooklyn, NY • On-site

$24.72 - $27.47/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 9 days ago

HeartShare Human Services of New York rating

7.0

Company rating: 7.0 out of 10

Based on 9 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

This is a hands-on, full-time role for a therapy dog handler who already owns and works with a licensed, trained therapy dog (1 year or older).
The Canine Handler brings their therapy dog into school-based settings to support students' social-emotional learning, emotional regulation, and engagement. The handler is responsible for managing all student/dog interactions, following safety and confidentiality protocols, and coordinating with school staff.
The Canine Handler will incorporate specially trained animals into goal directed, educationally relevant teaching plans designed to promote development student skills in areas such as cognition, social functioning, personal growth etc.
Primary Responsibilities and Essential Functions of Position:
Have training specific to animal-assisted intervention on topics including, but not limited to:
  • Ensure appropriate interactions between the students and the animal
  • Use techniques for responsive stress management to support the animal
  • Proactive positioning of the animal relative to the student, considering special equipment such as IV lines and wheelchair wheels
  • Selection of appropriate environments and/or students for the therapy animal team, giving due consideration to the animal's experience and comfort level, the activity level of the environment, and the additional oversight or support that is available from onsite staff
  • Enforce any applicable confidentiality requirements, such as the Health
  • Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
  • Identify signs/symptoms in the handler or animal that preclude interactions
  • Identify risks to the handler and animal that preclude an interaction, such as posted precautions
  • Facilitate interactions with students:
  • Adhere to a Social Emotional Learning plan
  • Create a schedule, meet with staff and communicate lesson plans
  • Act as a liaison for the program who will become knowledgeable of the policy and procedures of the therapy dog program
  • The liaison will be responsible for the coordination of services between the facility and therapy dog organization
  • Remain present during therapy dog activities as a means of further ensuring safety for all participants
  • Maintain records of the session, including documentation of any problems that may have arisen during a specific session
  • Have access to continuing education, including formal coursework and/or mentoring/shadowing
  • Each handler/animal team must have undergone a practical assessment of skills and aptitude to demonstrate its ability to interact with students safely and effectively
  • Handlers should have a relationship with the animal for at least six months
  • Basic canine obedience skills such as walking on a leash without pulling, not jumping up on people, no face-licking, etc. are all important attributes for dogs to have
  • All animals should welcome touching from a variety of people in a variety of ways, including people with poor motor control, or people with varied tones of voice
  • Maintain health standards for the animal
  • Care for the dog is allocated towards the salary.

Completion of formal training in animal-assisted intervention, including:
  • Handler must have an established relationship with the dog for a minimum of six months.
  • MUST PROVIDE DOG. Animals should be one year of age or older.
  • DOG MUST BE LICENSED as required by article 7 of NYS agriculture and Markets Law
  • Trauma-informed engagement canine stress signs and safe handling
  • Intervention planning
  • Risk reduction and environmental assessment
  • Must maintain ongoing professional development through coursework, mentorship, or shadowing.

Benefits
At HeartShare we offer a comprehensive benefit package based on full-time/part-time status. You can expect:
  • Rewarding Work in a team environment.
  • Paid vacation, sick, personal days, and holidays.
  • 403(B) retirement plans with employer contribution.
  • Health, dental, vision and life insurance.
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
  • Flexible spending account (Dependent Care, Medical, Parking, and Transit).
  • Employee Appreciation Programs and Events.
  • Tuition Assistance Program.
  • Professional Development opportunities.
  • Wellhub Discount
  • Verizon Wireless Discount.
  • BJs Membership discount.
  • Discounts on Broadway tickets, movie tickets, theme parks, sporting events, gift certificates & more

HeartShare is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). If you need to request accommodation during the recruiting process, please reach out to Leaves@heartshare.org.
About Heartshare
Who WE ARE:
For over 150 years, Heartshare has been dedicated to championing and empowering New Yorkers society has too often overlooked and underestimated. To learn more about HeartShare, please visit our website at www.heartshare.org or Follow us on Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Facebook
#INDHP

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