In this video, I’m answering Samantha’s question: “I’m interested in training my dog to become a therapy dog.” When I think about therapy dogs—especially Cavaliers visiting nursing homes or schools—I always start with personality. Your dog will be meeting lots of people they don’t know, and I don’t just want them to tolerate it. I want them to be genuinely happy, comfortable, and enjoying the attention and interaction. I also talk about environmental confidence, because therapy visits aren’t just about people—they’re about new places, too. Schools and nursing homes can have loud noises (like floor-cleaning equipment or unexpected alarms), and the flooring is often slippery, shiny linoleum or hardwood, which can intimidate some dogs. I share what I use with Dexter—ToeGrips—to help with traction, and I explain why basic obedience matters. You don’t need “show ring perfect,” but you do need reliable sit, down, and stay. Finally, I recommend choosing a therapy dog organization to evaluate with by starting with the facility you want to visit, because they may already partner with a specific group.