Welcome to Therapy Dog Academy
Therapy Dog Training That Starts with Welfare, Trust and the Right Foundations Welcome to Therapy Dog Academy - a new home for people who want to do therapy dog work. Our welfare-led, professional training supports both handlers and dogs to work safely, ethically and confidently in schools, care settings, hospitals and community environments. If you want clear guidance, strong standards and a course that respects your dog as a working partner, you’re in the right place. Our Academy is designed for real people with real lives — offering flexible learning, expert guidance from one of the UK’s leading therapy dog educators, and practical training that builds the calm, reliable, and compassionate skills your dog needs to help others. If you dream of bringing comfort, connection, and emotional support to those who need it most, this is where your journey begins. Give us a call: 07388126729 Office Mobile
Approach and Learning Structure
The School of Dogs® Therapy Dog Academy is delivered through a blended learning model designed to build deep understanding, high‑level practical competence, and reflective professional practice. Across 6–12 months, learners follow a structured, evidence-based therapy dog curriculum that integrates multiple modes of delivery for maximum impact.
Why this matters • Because therapy dog work should feel safe, calm and positive for everyone involved - including the dog. • Because good intentions matter, but knowledge, structure and professional standards matter too. • Because people working in schools, care homes and community settings need to know they can trust the teams coming through the door.
What the programme includes • 120 online learning modules covering the theory of therapy dog work, dog welfare, the ethics of dog training, learning theory, and professional practice as a therapy dog team. • All lessons taught by Lee Ferry, drawing on over 20 years of experience training therapy dogs, assistance dogs, and working dogs. • A practical, in-person training weekend focused on real-world handling skills, dog welfare, and safe public interaction. • Training aligned with LANTRA-recognised standards, providing structured learning outcomes and nationally recognised benchmarks.
What this means for you and your dog • Clear learning progression and expectations. • Membership of the Therapy Dog Academy organisation. • Welfare-first training grounded in science. • Increased credibility when working in schools, care settings and community environments. • A strong foundation for working as a professional therapy dog team.
Is Your Dog Right for Therapy Work?
Every therapy dog starts with a heart full of kindness—but not every dog is suited to this special role. This course is designed to guide compassionate dog owners who want to explore therapy dog training and build the calm, connected team it requires. Your dog should be: Calm and composed in busy or unfamiliar environments Sociable—enjoys human attention without jumping up or overwhelming people Emotionally resilient—able to settle, reset, and stay grounded in new situations Bonded to their owner—trusts and listens even around distractions Friendly toward dogs and animals Show curiosity without excitement or reactivity
Are you able to do this course?
The Therapy Team - Two Halves of One Heart. Becoming a therapy team is more than training cues and brushing coats—it’s about emotional presence, self-awareness, and long-term partnership between human and dog. Do you have the time to visit people once you have completed the course? Do you have a caring nature? Do you have Good Emotional well-being? Do you have self-awareness, recognising your own stress, triggers, and emotional limits? Do you have emotional regulation? Your energy affects your dog and those around you. Do you have commitment to learning, open to feedback, evolving as a team, listen to instruction and take guidance? Do you have people skills? Are you able to engage with warmth and professional boundaries which supports both dog and clients equally? Do you have resilience and can remain steady and focused even when clients cry, vent, or behave unpredictably?
On Completion
Our LANTRA-accredited customised training course, offers more than just training—it’s a gateway to meaningful volunteering and professional recognition. What You’ll Gain - A nationally recognised LANTRA Customised Award that showcases your commitment to high standards in therapy dog training. Specialist Knowledge - Learn ethical, welfare-focused techniques to train your dog for therapeutic visits in schools, care homes, hospitals, and community settings. Volunteer as a Therapy Dog Team - Make a real impact by supporting emotional wellbeing in educational, healthcare, and social care environments. Join our Growing Network - Become part of our community of trained therapy dog teams advancing professional standards across the UK. Enhance Your Career - Whether you're in education, care, or animal welfare, or just want to make a difference, this course adds a valuable credential to your portfolio. Open to all, members of public & professionals
E‑Learning Modules
Learners progress through a carefully sequenced series of online lessons grounded in: - Canine psychology - Welfare science - Behaviour theory - Best practices in animal‑assisted interventions Our online learning platform provides: - 150+ lessons and HD training videos - Evidence-based modules - Interactive content and practical tasks - Self‑paced progression with academic rigour
Dog Training Skills
Participants learn to train their dogs to an exceptionally high standard of obedience and stability, ensuring they can work safely and confidently across varied environments. Training develops: - Positional and movement cues - Environmental confidence - Distraction-proofing - Emotional resilience - Advanced handler skill sets
Monthly Live Classes
Learners attend interactive, tutor-led online sessions each month with Lee Ferry, one of the UK’s leading therapy dog educators. These sessions provide: - real‑time feedback - structured peer discussion - reinforcement of key concepts - practical guidance for ongoing development
Intensive 3‑Day Practical Workshop
Towards the end of the Academy, learners and their dogs participate in a hands‑on residential workshop. This immersive experience allows them to: - apply theoretical knowledge in real‑world environments - practise structured therapy dog activities - develop confidence under close supervision - receive personalised coaching from experienced instructors
Ongoing Support & Mentorship
Throughout the Academy, learners benefit from direct access to Lee for professional advice, guidance, and mentorship. To progress to the required standard, participants must commit a minimum of 20 hours per month to study, reflection, and structured dog training. This ensures every graduate becomes a confident, compassionate, and competent therapy dog team.
Accreditation & Professional Development
Upon successful completion, learners receive a nationally recognised LANTRA Customised Award and full membership to the School of Dogs® Therapy Dog Academy, joining our professional network of therapy dog teams. The Therapy Dog Academy is more than a course, it is a complete professional development pathway for those who want to make a meaningful impact through therapy dog work.
Unlock the Journey
Therapy Dog Academy Full Programme: £1,475 Flexible monthly payment plans are available, with a deposit followed by spread payments to help make the course more manageable. To talk through the options and find the right fit for you or your setting, feel free to get in touch with our team. Telephone: 01388 309748 07388126729 On-site support is available across the North East, including: Durham, Sunderland and Newcastle Settings outside these areas are welcome to enquire. Additional travel charges may apply depending on location. Important information All payments must be completed before attending the practical training weekend.
Book Your Place
Pricing structure options available
School Support Package
Professional support for schools introducing a therapy dog. For schools that would benefit from hands-on support, we offer a dedicated School Support Package alongside the full Therapy Dog Academy programme. This package is designed for settings that want to introduce a therapy dog with confidence and train their dog to a professional standard. With on-site guidance from Lee Ferry, it helps staff build a calm, safe, welfare-led therapy dog team in the setting where the dog will actually work. What’s included Full Therapy Dog Academy programme Monthly on-site visits from Lee Ferry 90-minute practical sessions Delivered over 6 months Support for the designated staff handler in their own setting Guidance focused on welfare, handling, professionalism, and therapy-readiness Introducing a therapy dog into a school can be incredibly valuable, but it needs the right support from the start. This package helps your setting build confidence, maintain high standards, and develop a therapy dog team that is prepared for real-world work. Package Price Total: £2,015 Includes: Therapy Dog Academy Full Programme: £1,475 On-site practical support: £540 Want to find out if this package is right for your school or care home? Get in touch with our team. Payment plans are available. Flexible monthly payment plans are available, with a deposit followed by spread payments to help make the course more manageable. To talk through the options and find the right fit for you or your setting, feel free to get in touch with our team. Important information All payments must be completed before attending the practical training weekend.
Meet Your Instructor, Lee Ferry
Founder of School of Dogs® | Degree-Qualified Canine Behaviourist | Therapy Dog Specialist When schools and care homes choose the Therapy Dog Academy, they want to know they are learning from someone with real experience, strong values, and a genuine understanding of both dogs and people. Lee Ferry brings over 24 years of hands-on experience and has helped train more than 5,000 dogs using positive, science-based methods. His background combines academic study, practical dog training, therapy dog work, and many years working with people in education and community settings. That mix matters. It means the training is not just about teaching a dog skills. It is about helping the handler and dog work together safely, ethically, and confidently in real environments where welfare, professionalism, and trust all matter. Lee’s approach is calm, clear, and welfare-led. He believes therapy dog teams should be trained with compassion, professionalism, and respect for the dog as a working partner. Areas of expertise include: Canine behaviour and training Dog welfare and legislation Therapy dog training Working dog training School and care setting support Handler education and professional standards Professional therapy dog training for real-world settings The Therapy Dog Academy programme is designed to prepare you and your dog for professional therapy dog work in schools, care homes, hospitals, and community environments.
Curious to Uncover the Magic of the Therapy Dog Course?
If you’d like to discuss whether the School of Dogs® Pet Therapy Dog Training Programme is right for you, please contact our Course Coordinator. They’ll guide you through every aspect of the programme, answer your questions, and take the time to learn more about you and your goals. 📞 Office Hours: Monday to Friday 9:30am – 4:00pm We’re here to help you take the next step toward becoming a confident, compassionate, and professionally recognised therapy dog team. Telephone: 01388 309748
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Pet Business Insurance
We’re proud to announce our partnership with Pet Business Insurance, a leading provider of specialist cover for pet professionals. They share our commitment to excellence and have recognised the high standards of the School of Dogs® Pet Therapy Course. As part of this collaboration, graduates of our course will receive an exclusive discount on Public Liability Insurance when purchasing through Pet Business Insurance. This means you can protect your therapy dog work with trusted, comprehensive cover- at a reduced cost. Look out for the Pet Business Insurance logo on our site as a mark of quality and support for professional pet therapy services.