How to Earn AKC Therapy Dog Titles
AKC honors therapy dogs for the visits they make to hospitals, schools and care homes. Each title counts documented visits made with an AKC-recognized therapy dog organization.
Track Your Progress
Track Your ProgressFree, in the Dog Sports Title Tracker. Nothing to sign up for.
What the THD takes
- THDN: 10 visits
- THD: 50 visits
- THDA: 100 visits
- THDX: 200, THDD: 400 and THDS: 600 visits
Step by step
- Certify or register with an AKC-recognized therapy dog organization.
- Log each visit - one per facility per day counts.
- Apply to AKC when you reach a title's number of visits.
- Keep logging for the next title.
The titles around it
THDN - Therapy Dog Novice
Needs 10 therapy visits (one per facility per day, with an AKC-recognized therapy dog organization).
THD - Therapy Dog (this page)
Needs 50 therapy visits (one per facility per day, with an AKC-recognized therapy dog organization).
THDA - Therapy Dog Advanced
Needs 100 therapy visits (one per facility per day, with an AKC-recognized therapy dog organization).
THDX - Therapy Dog Excellent
Needs 200 therapy visits (one per facility per day, with an AKC-recognized therapy dog organization).
THDD - Therapy Dog Distinguished
Needs 400 therapy visits (one per facility per day, with an AKC-recognized therapy dog organization).
THDS - Therapy Dog Supreme
Needs 600 therapy visits (one per facility per day, with an AKC-recognized therapy dog organization).
Requirements from the current AKC regulations. AKC records a title once it processes the results; check your dog's AKC record. Every AKC title, A to Z.
Common questions
Do I need a CGC for AKC Therapy Dog titles?
AKC's title needs a dog certified or registered with an AKC-recognized therapy dog organization; many of those organizations require their own test first.
Do two visits on the same day count twice?
Only at different facilities. Visits count one per facility per day.
What is the highest therapy dog title?
The Therapy Dog Supreme (THDS) at 600 visits.