Some dogs have a special ability to bring calm, comfort, and connection to people during difficult moments. Our Comfort Dog Team Training Workshops help prepare qualified dogs and handlers for meaningful volunteer work throughout the South Shore community.
Offered in partnership with the Cohasset Working Dog Foundation and its Canine Ambassadors program, these workshops guide teams beyond Canine Good Citizen training and into real-world comfort dog work. The program curriculum is recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as an approved therapy dog certification program.
Led by trainer/behaviorist Corey Steinberg alongside experienced therapy dog handlers and veteran Canine Ambassador teams, the workshops combine practical training, role-playing exercises, real-world preparation, and mentorship from volunteers actively working in schools, hospitals, libraries, senior centers, crisis response settings, and more.
Our goal is not simply to certify therapy dogs — it is to thoughtfully prepare calm, compassionate, reliable teams capable of bringing genuine comfort to others.
Workshop
The workshop series consists of four interactive 2-hour sessions offered twice yearly, typically in the Spring and Fall.
Topics Include:
- Therapy and comfort dog fundamentals
- Working with children, schools, and literacy programs
- Supporting neurodivergent and special education populations
- Senior center, hospital, and nursing home visits
- Navigating medical equipment safely
- Volunteer expectations and visit protocols
- Insurance, background checks, and onboarding
- Final assessments and graduation
Program Requirements
Eligible dogs must:
- Be at least one year old
- Demonstrate excellent manners and obedience
- Have calm, social, emotionally stable temperaments
- Enjoy gentle interaction with people
All participating teams must already hold AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification or equivalent foundational training. A meet-and-greet assessment is conducted prior to acceptance into the program.
More Than Certification
What makes this program unique is its emphasis on emotional intelligence, safety, preparation, and real-world community work.
Many workshop graduates continue on as active Canine Ambassadors, volunteering throughout the South Shore in schools, libraries, senior centers, hospitals, and crisis response settings where comfort dogs are needed most.
Helping develop future comfort dog teams — and watching dogs and humans grow together in the process — remains one of the most meaningful parts of the work we do.
