Your therapy dog!
We are thrilled that you and your dog are interested in becoming Underdog therapy dog volunteers. We look for pups of all shapes and sizes to help improve the lives of children. Animal-assisted therapy is highly rewarding for volunteers and dogs alike – and will make a tangible difference to the lives of the children you will meet.
Our programmes are proven to have a positive impact on the happiness, emotional well-being and brain functionality of children, plus these interactions promote kindness and empathy, which creates a more compassionate future for all.
The application process
1. Complete the survey. Once we’ve reviewed your questionnaire, a team member will be in touch by phone to talk through the next steps and how to begin your training.
2. Enrol at the Underdog School. We are the only UK charity to provide a dedicated online training programme for therapy dog volunteers in schools. Our online training is filled with just the right stuff for you and your dog to become successful therapy dog volunteers.
3. Undertake the assessment. Once you’ve completed your online training, one of our assessors will set up a relaxed meeting in a public place so that we can assess your dog’s behaviour in various scenarios. It normally lasts about 1 to 2 hours. Your assessor will report back to us, and we will contact you to let you know that you’ve passed, or we will provide feedback on any further training your dog may need. Once you pass, you will receive a contract to sign and we will require proof of address and identity (copy of passport and a utility bill).
4. Animal therapy begins. You will receive an Underdog animal therapy pack which includes an ID card and branded t-shirt for you, and a branded bandana for your dog. Plus, useful guidance when interacting with children, various Underdog policies, and next steps for the schools you will visit. We will have a meeting to discuss the different programmes we deliver in schools, match you up with a school, and provide the support you need to take the next steps.
*We only recommend positive reinforcement training, which you can find either on IMDT or APDT.
The application form
It is important that you and your dog feel comfortable during your visits to schools and events, and that your dog has the right temperament for this kind of interaction with children. To ensure our therapy dogs are happy and well-prepared for their visits, we require that all therapy dogs have completed our online programme via our Underdog Training School. This is a ‘virtual school’ so that you can train with your dog in the comfort of your own home. Below is a form that helps us find out about you and your dog. Tell us as much as you can - there are no wrong answers, we just want to learn as much as we can about your dog to know how we can best support you to achieve therapy dog status.
[Please note that at the moment, we only accept UK and Irish applications. We hope to expand to other countries soon]
The Underdog School
The first UK-wide, online therapy dog training programme - Underdog School - sets you and your dog up for success as therapy dog volunteers. We have curated a bespoke training programme to help you become the best therapy dog volunteers you can be. The training is split into five modules, which include working with children, dog behaviour and practical training videos delivered by our accredited behaviourists. These can be done at your own pace and you will have the full support of our team for any guidance you may need.
Additionally, we pride ourselves on being a thoughtful and personable charity so please reach out if you have special circumstances and we can discuss what we can do to support you.