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Therapy Dogs Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Heartshare

Canine Handler (Must Have Dog)

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 ...

Final Two Survivor LLC

Dog Trainer

Clearwater, FL · On-site

$15 - $20/hr

... dogs. * Reliable, professional, and excited to learn and grow. * Must have reliable transportation and flexibility for evenings/weekends. Bonus points if you have: * Service dog or therapy dog ...

Final Two Survivor LLC

Dog Trainer

Clearwater, FL · On-site

$15 - $20/hr

... dogs. * Reliable, professional, and excited to learn and grow. * Must have reliable transportation and flexibility for evenings/weekends. Bonus points if you have: * Service dog or therapy dog ...

VETERANS MOVING FORWARD

Kennel Assistant

Kearneysville, WV · On-site

$15 - $20/hr

Veterans Moving Forward is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising and training service and therapy dogs for Veterans and Veteran organization at no cost. We pride ourselves on ensuring every ...

Woods Services

Animal Therapy Specialist

Langhorne, PA · On-site

$16.50/hr

Educates staff and residents about all safety protocols while riding/interacting with horses, therapy dogs, etc. Provides a variety of animal care classes for residents. * Apply for grant monies to ...

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Therapy Dogs information

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How much do therapy dogs jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for therapy dogs in the United States is $13.80, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $11.78 and $15.38 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much can therapy dogs make?

Therapy dogs themselves do not earn income; instead, handlers or organizations that provide therapy dog services may earn between $10 to $25 per hour, depending on the setting and location. Many therapy dog handlers volunteer or work part-time, and income can vary based on experience, certifications, and the type of facility served.

What are therapy dogs?

Therapy dogs are specially trained animals that provide comfort, support, and affection to people in hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and other settings. Unlike service dogs, which assist people with disabilities, therapy dogs are primarily there to improve emotional well-being and reduce stress or anxiety. They work alongside their handlers as a team and are evaluated for their temperament and ability to interact positively with a variety of people. Therapy dogs are not granted public access rights like service dogs but are invited into facilities to provide their therapeutic benefits.

What qualifications do you need to have a therapy dog?

To qualify as a therapy dog, the dog must be well-behaved, social, and comfortable around people. Owners typically need to complete training and certification programs that assess the dog's temperament, obedience, and suitability for therapy work, along with ongoing health and behavior maintenance.

How to get a job as a therapy dog handler?

To become a therapy dog handler, you need to have a certified therapy dog and complete handler training through organizations like Pet Partners or Therapy Dogs International. Certification typically involves passing a health and behavior assessment for the dog and completing a handler course that covers safety, communication, and client interaction. Maintaining ongoing training and certification is often required to work in healthcare, educational, or community settings.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Animal-Assisted Therapy Dog Handler, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Animal-Assisted Therapy Dog Handler, you need knowledge of canine behavior, animal training, and basic healthcare, alongside completion of therapy dog certification programs. Familiarity with therapy dog evaluation standards and organizations such as Pet Partners or Alliance of Therapy Dogs is important for proper credentialing. Excellent communication, patience, and empathy are essential soft skills for building trust with clients and ensuring animal welfare. These skills and qualifications ensure safe, ethical, and effective therapeutic interactions that benefit both clients and therapy animals.

What is the difference between Therapy Dogs vs Service Dogs?

AspectTherapy DogsService Dogs
Required CredentialsBasic training, certification from therapy dog organizationsExtensive training, certification, and often public access tests
Work EnvironmentHospitals, schools, nursing homes, therapy sessionsPublic spaces, assisting individuals with disabilities
Employer & Industry UsageTherapy organizations, hospitals, schoolsIndividuals with disabilities, federal and state agencies

Therapy Dogs and Service Dogs serve different roles. Therapy Dogs provide comfort and emotional support in settings like hospitals and schools, requiring basic training and certification. Service Dogs assist individuals with disabilities, undergo extensive training, and have legal access to public spaces. Understanding these differences helps clarify their unique functions and training requirements.

What are some common challenges handlers face when working with therapy dogs in healthcare settings?

Handlers often encounter challenges such as adapting to different patient needs, maintaining the dog's calm demeanor in busy or noisy environments, and ensuring infection control protocols are followed. Therapy dogs must be comfortable with unpredictable situations, such as sudden movements or medical equipment, and handlers need to be vigilant about their dog's stress signals. Effective communication with healthcare staff and understanding facility rules are also essential to ensure safe and successful visits.

Can your dog get paid to be a therapy dog?

Therapy dogs are typically not paid for their service; they are usually volunteers providing emotional support in settings like hospitals or schools. However, some organizations may compensate handlers for training, transportation, or specific programs, but the dogs themselves generally do not receive payment.
More about Therapy Dogs jobs
What cities are hiring for Therapy Dogs jobs? Cities with the most Therapy Dogs job openings:
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Therapy Dogs jobs near you
Infographic showing various Therapy Dogs job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 76% Full Time, 22% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $28,701 per year, or $13.8 per hour.
Canine Handler (Must Have Dog)

Canine Handler (Must Have Dog)

HEARTSHARE HUMAN SERVICES OF NEW YORK

Brooklyn, NY

$24.72 - $27.47/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 13 hours ago

HeartShare Human Services of New York rating

7.0

Company rating: 7.0 out of 10

Based on 7 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 specialequipment such as IV lines and wheelchair wheels 
  • Selection of appropriate environments and/or students for the therapy animalteam, giving due consideration to the animal’s experience and comfort level, theactivity level of the environment, and the additional oversight or support that isavailable 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, suchas 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/ormentoring/shadowing 
  • Each handler/animal team must have undergone a practical assessment of skills and aptitude todemonstrate 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 jumpingup 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 canexpect:

  • 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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