Confidence: Helping Therapy Animals Overcome Training Roadblocks

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Let’s say you’re halfway through a therapy visit and everything is going beautifully… until your dog freezes at the sounds from of a noisy oxygen machine. Or your cat panics when the elevator doesn't move smoothly. Or maybe your therapy dog was rocking it at the library—until the resident guinea pig peeked out from a cage in the corner and your pup suddenly remembered they’re, well… a dog.

Hoo boy. It happens. Even to the most experienced therapy animal teams.

Confidence isn't about being perfect. It's about building the resilience to bounce back when something unexpected throws you off. And as a therapy animal handler, the more you prepare for those moments before they happen, the better you can support your pet when they do.

Here’s how to help your therapy animal-handler team work through a confidence dip and come out stronger on the other side.

1. Prevent the Problem: Walk Through the Facility Without Your Pet First

Before your therapy animal-handler team ever step paw into a new facility, do a human-only walkthrough. This is seriously one of the most important steps in setting your team up for success.

Ask the volunteer coordinator or staff member for a tour. Take note of sights, sounds, smells, surfaces, and potential surprises. Talk through where you'll go, who you'll interact with, and what the general vibe is like. Don’t forget to look for unexpected factors like:

• Automatic doors

• Elevators (especially older, noisy ones)

• Medical equipment

• Animals already living in the facility (cats, birds, guinea pigs, goats... you might be surprised!)

• Common behavior from residents or kids, like yelling or grabbing

You’re not just gathering info; you’re building a strategy. Every detail helps you prep your pet for what’s ahead.

2. Train for the Expected and Proof for the Unexpected

Once you’ve scoped things out, it’s time to train. The more your pet has been exposed to weird and unpredictable situations before the real deal, the more likely they are to respond calmly and confidently.

Start with what you do know:

• Practice walking calmly past wheelchairs, walkers, and canes.

• Get them used to elevators, automatic doors, and slippery floors.

• Teach neutral behavior around things that beep, roll, swing, or surprise.

  
  

Then add in some creativity:

• Ask friends to swing backpacks or wear hats and costumes.

• Set up mock visits with kids screaming (yep, really).

• Use recorded sounds, odd textures, or unexpected objects like balloons or brooms.

  
  

Pro tip: Reach out to other local therapy teams. Ask, “What’s the weirdest thing that ever spooked your animal on a visit?” You’ll get some gold for your training list.

3. Don’t Skip Proprioception Work

If your therapy animal struggles with sudden changes in environment, proprioception might be a missing piece in your training puzzle.

Proprioception, your pet’s ability to understand where their body is in space, isn’t just about balance or coordination. It directly impacts their learning capacity and emotional well-being. Proprioception drills increase learning capacity including the ability to acquire information, retain information, sequence, and generalize.

Put simply: the more your pet moves with body awareness, the more mentally present they become. That means better focus, more calm, and a smoother response to new or scary things.

Try adding these proprioception-boosters into your routine:

• Walks over uneven terrain (grass, gravel, mulch, sand)

• Low platforms or balance discs

• Step-over obstacles (like broomsticks or rolled towels)

• Stutter step leash exercises

A dog or cat that feels balanced in their own body is less likely to go into fight, flight, or freeze mode during visits. And bonus? It’s fun and enriching too!

4. Advocate for Your Pet in the Middle of a Visit

If your pet gets startled during a visit, you are their voice. The best thing you can do in that moment is to pause, breathe, and advocate.

• Speak up. Politely explain that your animal needs a break.

• Step away. Find a quiet hallway or exit if needed.

• Don’t be afraid to end the visit early. Therapy work is emotional labor—for both of you.

Being willing to stop or leave entirely isn’t failure—it’s leadership. You’re showing your pet that you’re trustworthy and safe, even when things go sideways.

5. Make a Plan to Overcome the Trigger

Once you’re home, the real work begins.

Take a moment to reflect:

• What exactly triggered your pet?

• Can you recreate it in a controlled setting?

• Could you ask the facility if you can stop by without interacting with people, just to work through that challenge?

Let’s say your dog panicked at the elevator. Could you find another public elevator to practice with this week? Or maybe record the sound and play it quietly during calm time at home?

Therapy animals are allowed to be surprised. But we owe it to them to work through those challenges with care and intention.

6. Train. Proof. Repeat.

Confidence doesn’t come from exposure alone. It comes from success.

That’s why we practice until the new, weird thing becomes no big deal.

Start small.

Build wins.

Celebrate everything. From huge training wins to you taking a single calm breath in a hard moment, celebrate each step on your journey. (I like to call them #succestails)

This step can take days, weeks, or months depending on your animal’s sensitivity and your training schedule. That’s okay. You’re not on anyone else’s timeline.

Need help building a custom training plan for your therapy animal’s confidence? In the KCAT Club, I walk you through exactly how to build confidence through daily exercises, proprioception work, and calm-focused routines—all inside a supportive community of therapy-animal-loving folks just like you. Click here to join the KCAT Club and start turning your pet’s “oops” moments into growth.

7. Return to the Work When You’re Both Ready

And finally, when your therapy animal is showing confidence again, when they’ve worked through the challenge, when they’re wagging or purring and asking to engage... it’s time to get back to it!

Start small. Choose a familiar, low-pressure setting. Keep the visit short and sweet. And always leave on a high note.

You’ll know when they’re ready. And when they are? That return is powerful.

You’ve got this. So does your therapy pet.

Therapy animals are superheroes in our eyes—but they’re still animals. They have feelings, limits, and moments of doubt. Confidence isn’t a straight line, and it’s not built in a bubble. It’s built through trust, teamwork, proprioceptive development, and thoughtful training.

So if your therapy animal hits a roadblock, don’t give up. Dig in, make a plan, and work through it together.

Because on the other side of that challenge?

You’ll find a deeper bond, a more confident animal, and even more meaningful moments to share on every visit.

Love, purrs, and wiggle butts,