National Capital Therapy Dogs upcoming events

Therapy Dog Training Class-SPRING (Laurel, MD) (May 02, 2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT

This training class includes 6 sessions.

Prerequisites:

Completion of Volunteer Training Course (only required once per handler)
Dog must be at least 9 months old by the first day of class
Dogs must have passed the AKC Canine Good Citizen test sponsored by the American Kennel Club by the first day of class
A copy of a current rabies vaccination must be provided by the first day of class
Dogs must currently have reliable basic obedience skills and appropriate temperament, including:

Sit, Down, Stay on command
Walk on loose leash (no pulling handler, or dragging behind)
Display interest in interacting with unfamiliar people

Class Goals:

To prepare teams to pass the therapy dog evaluation
To learn new training skills that can be used in therapy work, including dealing with distractions
Meet other NCTD volunteers, and learn from their visiting experiences
Gain exposure and a level of comfort around hospital equipment
Improve communication and control with your dog
To provide opportunities for interaction with successful therapy dog teams

Attendance Requirement:

Teams must attend 5 of the 6 classes to be eligible for the evaluation
The sixth class is a community outing so that teams may practice visiting skills in a public setting. The date, time, and location of this class will be determined at a later time.

All fees are non-refundable.

Evaluation-SPRING (Laurel, MD) (May 16, 2026)

Sat, 16 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT

This evaluation is for prospective therapy dog teams that have completed both the NCTD Handler's Class and the 6-week Therapy Dog Training Class.

Information regarding your 20-minute evaluation period will be provided during your therapy dog training classes.

Therapy Dog Training Class-SUMMER (Rockville, MD) (May 28, 2026)

Thu, 28 May 2026 22:45:00 GMT

This training class includes 6 sessions.

Prerequisites:

Completion of Volunteer Training Course (only required once per handler)
Dog must be at least 9 months old by the first day of class
Dogs must have passed the AKC Canine Good Citizen test sponsored by the American Kennel Club by the first day of class
A copy of a current rabies vaccination must be provided by the first day of class
Dogs must currently have reliable basic obedience skills and appropriate temperament, including:

Sit, Down, Stay on command
Walk on loose leash (no pulling handler, or dragging behind)
Display interest in interacting with unfamiliar people

Class Goals:

To prepare teams to pass the therapy dog evaluation
To learn new training skills that can be used in therapy work, including dealing with distractions
Meet other NCTD volunteers, and learn from their visiting experiences
Gain exposure and a level of comfort around hospital equipment
Improve communication and control with your dog
To provide opportunities for interaction with successful therapy dog teams

Attendance Requirement:

Teams must attend 5 of the 6 classes to be eligible for the evaluation
The sixth class is a community outing so that teams may practice visiting skills in a public setting. The date, time, and location of this class will be determined at a later time.

All fees are non-refundable.

Therapy Dog Training Class-SUMMER (Rockville, MD) (June 04, 2026)

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 22:45:00 GMT

This training class includes 6 sessions.

Prerequisites:

Completion of Volunteer Training Course (only required once per handler)
Dog must be at least 9 months old by the first day of class
Dogs must have passed the AKC Canine Good Citizen test sponsored by the American Kennel Club by the first day of class
A copy of a current rabies vaccination must be provided by the first day of class
Dogs must currently have reliable basic obedience skills and appropriate temperament, including:

Sit, Down, Stay on command
Walk on loose leash (no pulling handler, or dragging behind)
Display interest in interacting with unfamiliar people

Class Goals:

To prepare teams to pass the therapy dog evaluation
To learn new training skills that can be used in therapy work, including dealing with distractions
Meet other NCTD volunteers, and learn from their visiting experiences
Gain exposure and a level of comfort around hospital equipment
Improve communication and control with your dog
To provide opportunities for interaction with successful therapy dog teams

Attendance Requirement:

Teams must attend 5 of the 6 classes to be eligible for the evaluation
The sixth class is a community outing so that teams may practice visiting skills in a public setting. The date, time, and location of this class will be determined at a later time.

All fees are non-refundable.

Therapy Dog Training Class-SUMMER (Rockville, MD) (June 11, 2026)

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 22:45:00 GMT

This training class includes 6 sessions.

Prerequisites:

Completion of Volunteer Training Course (only required once per handler)
Dog must be at least 9 months old by the first day of class
Dogs must have passed the AKC Canine Good Citizen test sponsored by the American Kennel Club by the first day of class
A copy of a current rabies vaccination must be provided by the first day of class
Dogs must currently have reliable basic obedience skills and appropriate temperament, including:

Sit, Down, Stay on command
Walk on loose leash (no pulling handler, or dragging behind)
Display interest in interacting with unfamiliar people

Class Goals:

To prepare teams to pass the therapy dog evaluation
To learn new training skills that can be used in therapy work, including dealing with distractions
Meet other NCTD volunteers, and learn from their visiting experiences
Gain exposure and a level of comfort around hospital equipment
Improve communication and control with your dog
To provide opportunities for interaction with successful therapy dog teams

Attendance Requirement:

Teams must attend 5 of the 6 classes to be eligible for the evaluation
The sixth class is a community outing so that teams may practice visiting skills in a public setting. The date, time, and location of this class will be determined at a later time.

All fees are non-refundable.

Therapy Dog Training Class-SUMMER (Rockville, MD) (June 18, 2026)

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 22:45:00 GMT

This training class includes 6 sessions.

Prerequisites:

Completion of Volunteer Training Course (only required once per handler)
Dog must be at least 9 months old by the first day of class
Dogs must have passed the AKC Canine Good Citizen test sponsored by the American Kennel Club by the first day of class
A copy of a current rabies vaccination must be provided by the first day of class
Dogs must currently have reliable basic obedience skills and appropriate temperament, including:

Sit, Down, Stay on command
Walk on loose leash (no pulling handler, or dragging behind)
Display interest in interacting with unfamiliar people

Class Goals:

To prepare teams to pass the therapy dog evaluation
To learn new training skills that can be used in therapy work, including dealing with distractions
Meet other NCTD volunteers, and learn from their visiting experiences
Gain exposure and a level of comfort around hospital equipment
Improve communication and control with your dog
To provide opportunities for interaction with successful therapy dog teams

Attendance Requirement:

Teams must attend 5 of the 6 classes to be eligible for the evaluation
The sixth class is a community outing so that teams may practice visiting skills in a public setting. The date, time, and location of this class will be determined at a later time.

All fees are non-refundable.

Therapy Dog Training Class-SUMMER (Rockville, MD) (June 25, 2026)

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:45:00 GMT

This training class includes 6 sessions.

Prerequisites:

Completion of Volunteer Training Course (only required once per handler)
Dog must be at least 9 months old by the first day of class
Dogs must have passed the AKC Canine Good Citizen test sponsored by the American Kennel Club by the first day of class
A copy of a current rabies vaccination must be provided by the first day of class
Dogs must currently have reliable basic obedience skills and appropriate temperament, including:

Sit, Down, Stay on command
Walk on loose leash (no pulling handler, or dragging behind)
Display interest in interacting with unfamiliar people

Class Goals:

To prepare teams to pass the therapy dog evaluation
To learn new training skills that can be used in therapy work, including dealing with distractions
Meet other NCTD volunteers, and learn from their visiting experiences
Gain exposure and a level of comfort around hospital equipment
Improve communication and control with your dog
To provide opportunities for interaction with successful therapy dog teams

Attendance Requirement:

Teams must attend 5 of the 6 classes to be eligible for the evaluation
The sixth class is a community outing so that teams may practice visiting skills in a public setting. The date, time, and location of this class will be determined at a later time.

All fees are non-refundable.

Therapy Dog Training Class-SUMMER (Rockville, MD) (July 09, 2026)

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 23:00:00 GMT

This training class includes 6 sessions.

Prerequisites:

Completion of Volunteer Training Course (only required once per handler)
Dog must be at least 9 months old by the first day of class
Dogs must have passed the AKC Canine Good Citizen test sponsored by the American Kennel Club by the first day of class
A copy of a current rabies vaccination must be provided by the first day of class
Dogs must currently have reliable basic obedience skills and appropriate temperament, including:

Sit, Down, Stay on command
Walk on loose leash (no pulling handler, or dragging behind)
Display interest in interacting with unfamiliar people

Class Goals:

To prepare teams to pass the therapy dog evaluation
To learn new training skills that can be used in therapy work, including dealing with distractions
Meet other NCTD volunteers, and learn from their visiting experiences
Gain exposure and a level of comfort around hospital equipment
Improve communication and control with your dog
To provide opportunities for interaction with successful therapy dog teams

Attendance Requirement:

Teams must attend 5 of the 6 classes to be eligible for the evaluation
The sixth class is a community outing so that teams may practice visiting skills in a public setting. The date, time, and location of this class will be determined at a later time.

All fees are non-refundable.