Coastal Therapy Dogs

CTD offers therapy dog certification through a two-part process: a control evaluation by a certified evaluator and 10 supervised therapy visits (minimum one hour each, with five visits to the same individual). Practice clinics are held several times a year to prepare teams using simulated environments with medical equipment and challenging scenarios. The Canine Good Citizen certification is also offered during clinics. All training focuses on preparing dogs and handlers for therapy work in healthcare and educational settings.

Pricing Summary

CTD does not charge for certification testing or clinics. Membership is volunteer-based and requires completion of evaluations and supervised visits. No pricing for training services is listed, as they do not offer paid training programs.

Policies

Visits must be supervised by a CTD member or qualified professional (e.g., Activities Director) who observes the entire visit and confirms the handler’s control of the dog. No cancellation or rescheduling policies are specified for clinics or evaluations.

Coastal Therapy Dogs (CTD) is a volunteer organization based in Savannah, Georgia, that provides therapy dog certification, training clinics, and evaluation services for dog owners seeking to certify their dogs as therapy animals. They offer practice clinics where handlers and dogs can be evaluated by experienced CTD volunteers using simulated hospital and nursing home environments to prepare for the official certification test. The organization emphasizes basic obedience skills such as sit, stay, down, loose-leash walking, and “leave it” commands, and requires dogs to be at least one year old, clean, vaccinated, and comfortable around medical equipment and mobility aids. CTD also offers the Canine Good Citizen certification during their clinics. They do not provide private or group training classes for general obedience or behavior modification outside of therapy dog preparation.

CTD’s unique advantage is their decades of local experience—over 50 years combined—in therapy dog visitation—and their structured, hands-on evaluation process that prepares teams for real-world therapy settings. They focus exclusively on therapy dog readiness, not general pet training, and provide guidance tailored to hospital, nursing home, and school visitation environments.

Membership requires passing a control evaluation by a certified evaluator, completing 10 supervised therapy visits (with at least five with the same individual), and submitting completed forms. CTD does not train dogs directly but supports owners through evaluation and mentorship.

They do not offer dog grooming, boarding, walking, or other pet services beyond therapy dog certification and clinic support.

CTD is not a traditional dog training business; it is a certification and volunteer organization for therapy dog teams.

Accomplishments

CTD has over 50 years of combined therapy dog visitation experience in the Savannah area. They provide certification and insurance coverage for volunteer therapy dog teams and have trained hundreds of therapy dog teams through their structured evaluation system.

How to Get Started!

Owners must first ensure their dog meets age and health requirements (at least one year old, vaccinated, clean). Then, they must pass a control evaluation administered by a certified behaviorist, trainer, or AKC CGC evaluator. After passing, they complete 10 supervised therapy visits and submit required forms to apply for membership.