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Therapy Dog Training

Therapy Dog Training

Training Importance

The Knallhart Process

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About Our Therapy Dog Training

Therapy dogs have a huge impact on the people and spaces they interact in. These dogs have the unique opportunity to work with a wide range of people and assist them with their various needs—this means that therapy dogs have to be trained correctly so that they exhibit stable temperaments and friendly, easy-going personalities.

Therapy dog training in Iowa City can seem like a hard program to find, especially one that is dedicated and showcases results that you want to see from your dog. That’s why Knallhart is proud to offer an extensive and results-driven therapy dog training program that certifies your dog while teaching them the basics that are needed to fully fulfill the needs of those that they are helping.

Therapy dogs have the chance to be able to volunteer their time with their owners to assist people within settings such as schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and more. By having a certified therapy dog you are able to give back to your community in one of the best ways—with a dog.

Reach out to us here at Knallhart today to register and learn more about our therapy dog and other dog training programs in Iowa City.

Why Are Therapy Dogs Important?

Therapy dogs have a big job to do, they are trained and equipped with tools and responses to help people control daily anxiety, regulate emotional arousal, improve mood, and much much more. These dogs are an asset to their communities and offer unconditional love and support to those they are around.

Therapy Dog Services

After sending your dog to train at our 12-week therapy certification program there are a few key things that they should be able to assist with:

Reduce Anxiety

Most therapy dogs are well-versed in how to comfort their owner or others when it comes to a person experiencing anxiety. By being trained on how to identify when people are having anxiety symptoms, the dog can provide support and aid to assist in keeping the person calm and in better control of their emotions.

Decrease Depression

It’s been scientifically proven that interacting with animals, especially dogs, when experiencing symptoms of depression can lighten and improve people’s moods—all by just having a dog that is comfortable and calm to be around. By certifying your dog with Knallhart’s therapy program from top Iowa City dog trainers, you’re giving the gift of improving the quality of life for others, all by just letting your pooch be there for others.

Social Benefits

The social benefit of having a trained therapy dog are numerous. A visiting therapy dog can easily promote greater self-esteem and focused interaction among people who are involved. Therapy dogs are known to bring about a sort of calm and sense of support that a lot of social situations may need or be craving. By your dog just being themselves they are helping and improving the lives of those around them.

The Knallhart Process
Time

Many owners don’t have the time to fully invest in their dog’s training themselves. With Knallhart’s state-of-the-art boarding & training services from expert dog trainers in Iowa City, we do the heavy lifting, so your dog returns to you happy, healthy, and well-behaved.

Quality

Dog training is hard—and that’s okay. After all, that’s the reason that Knallhart is here! Quality is something that Knallhart Kennels & Training Academy takes very seriously as a leading Iowa City dog trainer, especially when it comes to spending the time to get the best results for your pup and family.

Consistency

Knallharts board & training programs provide a controlled environment that allows us to observe, guide, and reinforce every behavior your dog displays while with us. This top-notch consistency is nearly impossible to achieve with any other means.

Customization

Having your dog here with us at Knallhart for multiple weeks gives us the unique opportunity to really get to know your dog on a deeper level. This allows us to develop an individualized strategy for your dog specifically. Meaning they’re getting the best program fit just for them.

Top Therapy Dog Training in Iowa City

Having a dog is a great experience, being able to experience the comfort, support, and love that they bring to your home is undeniably a gift and being able to share that gift with others is a true joy unto itself. We here at Knallhart know the importance of therapy dogs and the good they can bring about, which is why we are passionate about providing Iowa City’s #1 certified therapy dog program.

With our trainer’s extensive training, understanding of dog psychology, and of course love, our therapy dog training program is one of a kind and is sure to certify your pup with ease.

If you’re interested in certifying your dog as a therapy animal reach out to Knallhart today—we look forward to putting one paw in front of the other!

The Knallhart breeding program

We adhere to the American Kennel Clubs written standards (both in conformation and temperament), and produce healthy, sound, quality Newfoundlands and German Shepherd Dogs. We specialize in breeding a small amount of puppies consisting of the highest quality pedigrees. 

Knallhart Kennels

Boarding & Training Programs

And Pricing

Puppy Dog Programs

The puppy programs at Knallhart Academy are designed to give dogs a strong, confident start through balanced, positive training. Each program focuses on building good manners, emotional balance, and real-world skills to help dogs become well-behaved, happy companions.

Jump Start Puppy Program

  • Program Length: 4 Weeks
  • Price: $4,800

This program is designed for puppies (8-16 weeks) ready to begin their training journey right after leaving their litter or breeder. Our focus is on creating a positive foundation through crate training, socialization, name recognition, leash introduction, and early obedience commands.

We also guide owners on the best ways to build a strong relationship and lasting bond with their puppy—setting you both up for a lifetime of trust, communication, and success together. Because of the young age of participants, a waiver acknowledging the risks of early training must be signed, and specific health and vaccination requirements must be met for approval.

Older Puppy Obedience Program

  • Program Length: 4 Weeks
  • Price: $6,600

This program is ideal for puppies (16 weeks +) who already have a solid start and are ready for their next level of growth. It’s designed for young dogs without major behavioral challenges whose owners want to elevate their dog’s manners, focus, and reliability through a professional, psychology-based approach.

Throughout the program, your puppy will build confidence, consistency, and impulse control while mastering real-world obedience skills. You’ll gain the tools, structure, and guidance to maintain that progress at home, setting you and your puppy up for a lifetime of success together.

Advanced Puppy Obedience / Troublesome Puppy Repair Program

  • Program Length: 6 Weeks
  • Price: $8,400

This comprehensive program is designed for puppies (16 weeks +) who are ready to advance into the next phase of training, refining skills into reliable, confident behaviors that hold up in real-world situations. Over six weeks, we take their early skills and refine them into reliable, confident behaviors that hold up in real-world situations.

Your puppy will learn to maintain focus and obedience through distractions, walk politely on leash, hold extended stays, and recall promptly even with environmental challenges. We’ll strengthen impulse control, build calmness in stimulating environments, and introduce off-leash reliability in a safe, structured way. This program is also ideal for puppies needing behavioral support, such as fear, nervousness, or overexcitement. Using a psychology-based approach, we help them build confidence, trust, and emotional balance. By the end of the program, you’ll have a composed, confident young dog who listens, adapts, and thrives both at home and in public.

Family Dog Programs & Behavioral Modification

The Family Dog and Behavioral Modification programs at Knallhart Academy are designed to help everyday dogs build reliable obedience, confidence, and calm behavior in real-world settings. Whether your dog needs a solid foundation or more advanced support to overcome challenges like leash manners, impulse control, or mild behavioral issues, these structured programs use a balanced, psychology-based approach to create lasting, positive results for both dog and owner.

Basic Obedience / Behavioral Modifications

  • Program Length: 4 Weeks
  • Price: $5,200

Our 4-Week Program is ideal for dogs with little to moderate training who need to build reliable obedience, confidence, and calm behavior in everyday situations. During their stay, dogs work daily with our trainers to master key skills such as leash manners, place work, recall, impulse control, and polite greetings, while also addressing mild behavioral challenges like jumping or pulling.

This program is perfect for dogs who need structure, consistency, and focused training to reach the next level in their development. By the end of four weeks, your dog will return home with a stronger foundation, improved listening skills, and a calmer, more balanced mindset. You’ll also receive hands-on lessons and guidance to ensure lasting success once your dog transitions back home.

Intermediate Obedience / Behavioral Modification

  • Program Length: 6 Weeks
  • Price: $7,200

Our 6-Week Program is ideal for owners looking to take their dog’s training to the next level. Building on a strong foundation, this extended option allows for more practice, polish, and real-world proofing of skills. We focus on advancing obedience under higher levels of distraction and strengthening off-leash reliability in new environments.

This program is an excellent choice for dogs who benefit from a slower pace of learning or need extra structure to overcome mild behavioral challenges. The 6-Week Program gives your dog the time and consistency to internalize training more deeply—turning learned skills into dependable habits. You’ll notice a smoother, more confident response both at home and out in public, supported by our detailed guidance to maintain long-term success.

Advanced Obedience / Behavioral Modification

  • Program Length: 8 Weeks
  • Price: $8,800

Our 8-Week Program is designed for dogs who need the highest level of training or more intensive behavioral work. This most comprehensive program is crafted to create lasting change for dogs with complex challenges such as reactivity, fear, anxiety, or severe impulse-control issues, with a strong focus on emotional balance and real-world reliability.

Over the course of eight weeks, we build on all foundational and advanced skills, giving your dog the consistency and exposure needed to turn new behaviors into second nature. This program is also the best fit for owners pursuing off-leash mastery, therapy or service dog readiness, or complete behavioral transformation. You’ll receive ongoing communication and in-depth lessons to ensure a seamless transition home and continued success.

Working Dog Programs

The Working Dog programs at Knallhart Academy are crafted to develop highly capable dogs and handlers ready for meaningful roles beyond basic obedience. From the Certified Therapy Dog Program that builds calm, socially appropriate companions for community work to Service Dog and Advanced Service Dog training tailored to specialized tasks and public-access skills, each program focuses on advanced obedience, emotional stability, and real-world reliability to create confident, dependable working partnerships.

Certified Therapy Dog Program

  • Price: Inquire For Pricing

This program is designed for dogs and owners who want to make a positive impact in the lives of others. It focuses on creating calm, confident, and socially appropriate dogs who can provide comfort and connection in schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and community settings. Training includes advanced obedience, public manners, emotional stability, and exposure to real-world environments.

We also prepare both dog and handler for certification testing and public access readiness. Because every dog’s journey is unique, pricing for this program varies depending on age, temperament, and previous training experience. We’ll create a customized plan that fits your dog’s starting point and your specific goals. The Therapy Dog Program is more than training—it’s the foundation for a lifelong partnership that brings comfort, confidence, and joy wherever you go.

Basic Service Dog Program

  • Price: Inquire For Pricing

Our Service Dog Program is built for dogs who will provide essential support to their handlers through specialized training and reliable performance in public settings. This program focuses on advanced obedience, task-specific training, public access skills, and emotional stability, creating dependable service partners equipped to assist with daily life needs.

Each dog’s training plan is fully customized based on the handler’s requirements and the dog’s natural abilities. We work closely with each team to ensure consistent progress, clear communication, and full preparation for service certification and public access evaluations. Because service dog training varies greatly depending on age, temperament, and the type of assistance needed, pricing is determined after an individual assessment and consultation. This program is designed to create a confident, capable, and trustworthy service dog that enhances independence and strengthens the bond between dog and handler.

Advanced Certified Service Dog Program

  • Price: Inquire For Pricing

This program is designed for dogs and handlers requiring a higher level of precision, reliability, and task-specific mastery. It builds on foundational service training and moves into complex task work, advanced public access, and full certification readiness, with a strong focus on composure under stress and confident task execution in any setting.

Dogs in this program are trained to perform specialized tasks such as mobility assistance, deep pressure therapy, medical alert, or other individualized needs based on the handler’s requirements. Because every service team’s goals and needs are unique, pricing for this program varies depending on the level of task training, age, and prior experience. Each dog’s journey is carefully evaluated to create a customized plan for long-term success. The Advanced Service Dog Program represents the highest level of our training, crafted for those who require unwavering reliability, emotional balance, and the deepest partnership between dog and handler.

Work With Iowa's Most Experienced Dog Trainer

With 11+ years of dog training experience, we are excited to work with you and your best friend.

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