Occupational therapy practitioners are increasingly interested in incorporating therapy dog programming into practice settings, yet many organizations are unsure how to begin, how to build meaningful partnerships, and how to develop programming that is safe, sustainable, and aligned with client and organizational needs. This interactive workshop will provide a practical roadmap for establishing and strengthening therapy dog programs across diverse settings, including K to 12 schools, higher education, outpatient and rehabilitation clinics, and hospital-based rehabilitation units. Drawing on the presenters’ experiences as educators, occupational therapy practitioners, students, therapy dog handlers, and program developers, attendees will examine key elements of program development, including identifying organizational fit, fostering stakeholder buy in, building cross departmental partnerships, defining handler and therapy dog roles, considering cost and service delivery models, addressing safety and sanitation considerations, and planning for implementation and long-term sustainability. Presenters will share practice-based examples from school district programming, university-based therapy dog initiatives, and rehabilitation partnerships, including collaboration with counseling, athletics, and hospital-based rehabilitation teams. Brief evidence-informed content will be incorporated to support program rationale, including findings that canine-assisted interventions can improve well-being and reduce stress and anxiety, as well as implementation factors such as logistics, scheduling, location, cost considerations, and access to appropriate therapy dog teams across settings. Through guided discussion and case-based planning, participants will begin translating workshop content into concrete next steps for their own setting. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for building therapy dog programming that is collaborative, safe, sustainable, and tailored to the unique needs of their organization and community.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the core components needed to develop a therapy dog program or partnership within an occupational therapy practice setting.
- Compare implementation considerations across school, higher education, clinic, and rehabilitation environments.
- Develop initial action steps for building a safe, feasible, and sustainable therapy dog program within one’s own organization.
