When I held and petted Yadi I felt all the tension and sadness go out of me. Thank you for sharing him with me. I appreciate it.
Duo Touch Therapy Dogs
Duo Touch Therapy Dogs provide heart + soul to help you through challenging times.
275+
certified Duo Touch Therapy teams
130
healthcare, residential and educational facilities welcome Duo Touch Therapy teams annually
$0
cost to facilities to have a Duo Touch Therapy team visit
Duo Touch Therapy Dogs
Heart + Soul
Duo Touch Therapy Dogs provide heart and soul — enhancing a sense of unconditional love and interactivity. We’ll bring a sense of serenity and well-being and encourage activity and determination.
250,000+
individuals visited each year, on average
Duo has seen it time and time again — dogs have a special touch when it comes to comforting people during challenging times.
The Duo Touch Therapy program trains and certifies volunteers and their personal dogs to visit hospitals, treatment centers and residential facilities throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. Teams also visit local schools and libraries participating in our Paws for Reading program, designed to help young people by using dogs as an incentive to read.
To qualify for the Duo Touch Therapy program, applicants must provide proof of taking an adult group obedience class with their dog. This class may be taken at Duo Dogs or another group training facility. Puppy class, board & train, and 1:1 instruction does not meet this requirement.
Once obedience class documentation is received, Duo will provide a link to register for ‘Touch Prep‘ class. The Touch Prep class is a 6-week long course focused on preparing teams for their temperament evaluation and entry into the 12-week Duo Touch Therapy training semester.
Requirements for the Duo Touch Therapy program include:
- Handler(s) must have completed an adult group obedience course with the dog. (Puppy class, board & train, and 1:1 instruction does not meet this requirement)
- Handler(s) must pass a criminal background check.
- Handler(s) must be 18 years or older.
- Dog must be between 2 and 10 years old.
- Dog must never have received any aggression or protection training.
- Dog must be current on vaccinations including rabies, distemper/parvo, and bordetella.
- Dog must pass a temperament evaluation prior to enrolling in Duo Touch Therapy training.
- Handler(s) must have had the dog in their possession for at least one year.
General traits for Duo Touch Therapy dogs: obedient, confident, nice temperament, comfortable in new environments. General traits for Duo Touch Therapy handlers: good communication, control of dog, aware of dog’s behavior, recognition of stress signals.
Duo offers three sessions of Duo Touch Therapy training per year:
Winter 2025: January 7-March 29, 2025
Summer 2025: April 22-July 12, 2025
Fall 2025: August 12-November 1, 2025
Please note: Duo Touch Therapy handlers are Duo Dogs volunteers. In order for Duo Dogs to maintain a safe environment for our dogs, staff, and volunteers, Duo Touch Therapy teams are limited to working up to two hours at a time and are only allowed to visit Duo-approved and contracted sites. Duo Touch Therapy volunteers may not take their dogs to work and use them as therapy dogs at their place of employment, such as teachers, therapists, doctors, or psychologists. Duo Touch Therapy is a volunteer-based program.
To learn more about how to apply, or to request a visit from a Duo Touch Therapy team, complete our contact form.
Client Testimonials
