Professional Therapy Dogs of Colorado

PTDC’s program consists of three steps: 1) A one-on-one pre-screen and interview to assess team suitability; 2) A two-day educational workshop covering therapeutic environments, canine communication, ethics, and clinical documentation; 3) A hands-on Handling Skills Test to certify the team for registration. The program is designed for professionals and volunteers working in mental health or related fields who wish to integrate therapy dogs into their practice.

Pricing Summary

Program costs $400 total, including a pre-screen interview, two-day workshop with a 160-page manual, and the Handling Skills Test. Three attempts are allowed to pass the skills test.

Professional Therapy Dogs of Colorado (PTDC) is a training and certification organization focused on preparing dog/handler teams for therapeutic work in mental health settings. Founded in 2011 by Carri King-Bussard and Pat Blocker, PTDC provides education, evaluation, and registration for teams seeking to participate in Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT). Their program includes a pre-screen interview, a two-day educational workshop covering canine stress signals, ethics, clinical documentation, and handling skills, followed by a hands-on Handling Skills Test. PTDC emphasizes positive reinforcement-based training and requires dogs to be reliable, predictable, controllable, affiliative, tolerant, confident, and able to work in stressful environments. While their primary focus is on professionals in mental health, education, and healthcare fields, dog owners interested in therapy work can participate if they meet the team criteria. All teams must demonstrate strong human-canine bonds and ethical practices. PTDC does not offer general obedience or pet training services for non-therapy purposes.

The organization is led by licensed mental health professionals with advanced certifications in Animal-Assisted Therapy, including Carri King-Bussard, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and adjunct professor with over 25 years of clinical experience. PTDC also trains non-clinical professionals such as teachers, occupational therapists, and speech therapists to integrate therapy dogs into their work.

PTDC does not provide general dog training for pet owners, boarding, grooming, walking, or other pet services. Their services are exclusively tailored to teams preparing for certified therapy work in institutional or clinical environments.

Accomplishments

Co-founder Carri King-Bussard holds a Master’s in Counseling, is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Colorado, and earned a Certificate in Animals and Human Health: Animal Assisted Therapy from the University of Denver. She is an adjunct professor in the Animal-Assisted Social Work certificate program. Co-founder Pat Blocker and instructor Lauren Kalvaitis also hold advanced credentials in social work and animal-assisted interventions. PTDC has trained and registered numerous therapy dog teams since 2011.

How to Get Started!

Interested teams begin with a pre-screen and interview with a PTDC team member to assess suitability, discuss intended work environments, and review the Handling Skills Test. After approval, they register for the two-day educational workshop, followed by the skills evaluation.