73 therapy-ready breeds

Best Therapy Dog Breeds

Calm, affectionate, and highly trainable dogs ideal for emotional support, hospital visits, nursing homes, and therapeutic work. These gentle breeds bring comfort wherever they go.

Boston Terrier - therapy dog breed

Boston Terrier

Small · Non-Sporting

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Whippet - therapy dog breed

Whippet

Medium · Hound

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - therapy dog breed

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Small · Toy

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Cavapoo - therapy dog breed

Cavapoo

Small · Hybrid

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Cavachon - therapy dog breed

Cavachon

Small · Hybrid

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
🐶

Havapoo

Small · Hybrid

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Havanese - therapy dog breed

Havanese

Small · Toy

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Coton de Tulear - therapy dog breed

Coton de Tulear

Small · Non-Sporting

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Keeshond - therapy dog breed

Keeshond

Medium · Non-Sporting

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Lowchen - therapy dog breed

Lowchen

Small · Non-Sporting

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Goldador - therapy dog breed

Goldador

Large · Hybrid

5/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Golden Retriever - therapy dog breed

Golden Retriever

Large · Sporting

5/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Goldendoodle - therapy dog breed

Goldendoodle

Medium-Large · Hybrid

5/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Labradoodle - therapy dog breed

Labradoodle

Medium-Large · Hybrid

5/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Portuguese Water Dog - therapy dog breed

Portuguese Water Dog

Medium · Working

5/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Collie - therapy dog breed

Collie

Large · Herding

5/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
White Swiss Shepherd Dog - therapy dog breed

White Swiss Shepherd Dog

Large · Herding

5/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Bernedoodle - therapy dog breed

Bernedoodle

Medium-Large · Hybrid

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Bernese Mountain Dog - therapy dog breed

Bernese Mountain Dog

Large-Giant · Working

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Sheepadoodle - therapy dog breed

Sheepadoodle

Large · Hybrid

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Shiloh Shepherd - therapy dog breed

Shiloh Shepherd

Giant · Herding

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Newfoundland - therapy dog breed

Newfoundland

Giant · Working

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Old English Sheepdog - therapy dog breed

Old English Sheepdog

Large · Herding

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Leonberger - therapy dog breed

Leonberger

Giant · Working

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Papillon - therapy dog breed

Papillon

Toy · Toy

5/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Staffordshire Bull Terrier - therapy dog breed

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Medium · Terrier

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Chinese Crested - therapy dog breed

Chinese Crested

Toy · Toy

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Doberman Pinscher - therapy dog breed

Doberman Pinscher

Large · Working

5/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Cockapoo - therapy dog breed

Cockapoo

Small-Medium · Hybrid

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Bichon Frise - therapy dog breed

Bichon Frise

Small · Non-Sporting

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Cardigan Welsh Corgi - therapy dog breed

Cardigan Welsh Corgi

Small-Medium · Herding

5/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Lapponian Herder - therapy dog breed

Lapponian Herder

Medium · Herding

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Stabyhoun - therapy dog breed

Stabyhoun

Medium · Sporting

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Poodle - therapy dog breed

Poodle

Varies · Non-Sporting

5/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Cocker Spaniel - therapy dog breed

Cocker Spaniel

Medium · Sporting

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Shetland Sheepdog - therapy dog breed

Shetland Sheepdog

Small-Medium · Herding

5/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
English Cocker Spaniel - therapy dog breed

English Cocker Spaniel

Medium · Sporting

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Chinook - therapy dog breed

Chinook

Large · Working

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Finnish Lapphund - therapy dog breed

Finnish Lapphund

Medium · Herding

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Icelandic Sheepdog - therapy dog breed

Icelandic Sheepdog

Medium · Herding

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Welsh Springer Spaniel - therapy dog breed

Welsh Springer Spaniel

Medium · Sporting

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
🐶

Whoodle

Medium · Hybrid

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Picardy Spaniel - therapy dog breed

Picardy Spaniel

Large · Sporting

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Schapendoes - therapy dog breed

Schapendoes

Medium · Herding

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Catalan Sheepdog - therapy dog breed

Catalan Sheepdog

Medium · Herding

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
King Shepherd - therapy dog breed

King Shepherd

Giant · Herding

5/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
English Setter - therapy dog breed

English Setter

Large · Sporting

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Rat Terrier - therapy dog breed

Rat Terrier

Small-Medium · Terrier

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Lancashire Heeler - therapy dog breed

Lancashire Heeler

Small · Herding

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Teddy Roosevelt Terrier - therapy dog breed

Teddy Roosevelt Terrier

Small · Terrier

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
American Pit Bull Terrier - therapy dog breed

American Pit Bull Terrier

Medium-Large · Terrier

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
American Staffordshire Terrier - therapy dog breed

American Staffordshire Terrier

Medium-Large · Terrier

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Alaskan Klee Kai - therapy dog breed

Alaskan Klee Kai

Small · Non-Sporting

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Japanese Spitz - therapy dog breed

Japanese Spitz

Small · Non-Sporting

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
American Hairless Terrier - therapy dog breed

American Hairless Terrier

Small · Terrier

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Pembroke Welsh Corgi - therapy dog breed

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Small-Medium · Herding

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
American Eskimo Dog - therapy dog breed

American Eskimo Dog

Small-Medium · Non-Sporting

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
🐶

Corgipoo

Small · Hybrid

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Miniature Schnauzer - therapy dog breed

Miniature Schnauzer

Small · Terrier

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Bracco Italiano - therapy dog breed

Bracco Italiano

Large · Sporting

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Schnoodle - therapy dog breed

Schnoodle

Varies · Hybrid

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Standard Schnauzer - therapy dog breed

Standard Schnauzer

Medium · Working

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
American Bulldog - therapy dog breed

American Bulldog

Large · Working

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
American Water Spaniel - therapy dog breed

American Water Spaniel

Medium · Sporting

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Boykin Spaniel - therapy dog breed

Boykin Spaniel

Medium · Sporting

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Field Spaniel - therapy dog breed

Field Spaniel

Medium · Sporting

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Portuguese Shepherd Dog - therapy dog breed

Portuguese Shepherd Dog

Medium · Herding

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Airedale Terrier - therapy dog breed

Airedale Terrier

Large · Terrier

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Barbet - therapy dog breed

Barbet

Medium · Sporting

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Irish Water Spaniel - therapy dog breed

Irish Water Spaniel

Large · Sporting

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Lagotto Romagnolo - therapy dog breed

Lagotto Romagnolo

Medium · Sporting

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Hovawart - therapy dog breed

Hovawart

Large · Working

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy
Gordon Setter - therapy dog breed

Gordon Setter

Large · Sporting

4/5
Trainability
Good with Kids
Energy

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a good therapy dog?
The best therapy dogs are calm, affectionate, patient, and highly trainable. They should be comfortable around strangers and in new environments. Top breeds include Boston Terrier, Whippet, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Cavapoo.
What's the difference between therapy dogs and service dogs?
Service dogs are trained for specific tasks to assist one person with a disability. Therapy dogs provide comfort and affection to many people in settings like hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. Therapy dogs don't have the same legal access rights as service dogs.
How do I certify my dog as a therapy dog?
Therapy dog certification typically involves passing a temperament test (like the AKC Canine Good Citizen test), completing a therapy dog training course, and registering with an organization like Pet Partners or Therapy Dogs International. Dogs must be at least 1 year old.

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