Could a Dog Be Your Secret Superpower? The Unexpected Career Path You Never Considered

You love working with children. You’ve spent years supporting young people, watching them grow, helping them navigate their emotions, and being a source of comfort. But, let’s be honest—sometimes it’s exhausting.

Some days, you feel like you’re talking to a brick wall. You ask a child how they’re feeling, and you get nothing back but a shrug. You try everything—gentle encouragement, creative activities, even a bit of humour—only to be met with silence. It’s frustrating because you know they need support, but the walls are up, and no amount of talking seems to break through.

What if I told you that a four-legged friend could do in seconds what might take you weeks?

Meet Your New Best Colleague: A Therapy Dog

Imagine this. You walk into a room with a child who’s reluctant, anxious, maybe even a little disengaged. But instead of diving straight into a conversation, you simply sit down with your therapy dog beside you. The child’s eyes flick to the dog. They reach out—tentatively at first—to stroke its fur.

And just like that, the tension eases. Their shoulders relax. They start talking—not to you at first, but to the dog. They whisper secrets into floppy ears, giggle as the dog nudges them for more belly rubs, and suddenly, you have an open door to connection.

This isn’t just a fun idea. It’s science. Studies show that interacting with dogs reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, and releases oxytocin—the same hormone responsible for human bonding. That’s why therapy dogs are powerful partners in emotional and mental health work with children.

But here’s the best part—you don’t have to be a dog expert to make this work.

The Myth of the 'Perfect' Candidate (and Why You’re Already More Than Enough)

I know what you’re thinking. “I love working with children, but I’ve never done therapy work with a dog before.” Maybe you’re worried that you don’t have the right training or experience. Maybe you don’t even own a dog (yet!).

Here’s the truth: If you already have experience working with young people—whether as a teacher, mentor, counsellor, or social worker—you’re already halfway there. The rest? We help with that.

We provide training, support, and guidance to help you integrate a therapy dog into your work in a way that feels natural, comfortable, and incredibly rewarding. You won’t just be getting a job—you’ll be getting a superpower.

The Ideal Therapy Dog: It’s Not About Breed, It’s About Personality

So, what makes the perfect therapy dog? Here’s a secret: It’s not about having a pedigree show dog or a perfectly trained champion. It’s about temperament.

The best therapy dogs share a few key traits:

🐶 Calm & Steady: They don’t get overly excitable or anxious in new environments.

🐾 Gentle & Affectionate: They enjoy human contact and actively seek out interaction.

🎾 Sociable & Confident: They are comfortable around different people, including children.

🦴 Responsive & Trainable: They listen to their handler and can learn simple commands to work safely in sessions.

While breeds like Labradors, Retrievers, and Cockapoos often make great therapy dogs, there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’. Some smaller breeds or mixed breeds also have the perfect temperament. If your dog loves people, stays calm under pressure, and enjoys being stroked and cuddled, they might just be the perfect partner for this work!

Is This the Unexpected Career Shift You’ve Been Looking For?

If you’re feeling stuck—tired of the same challenges, craving something more meaningful, or just looking for a fresh way to do what you love—this could be it. A flexible, self-employed role where you can use your skills and bring a therapy dog into the equation? It’s a game-changer.

So, are you ready to explore a career where you and your dog make an unstoppable team? Let’s chat.

Drop a 🐾 in the comments if you want to know more!