Joining Dogs on Call

No matter where you are in your training journey, if your dog is a good fit for therapy dog work we’d love to connect with you.  Once you complete the interest form, a Dogs on Call therapy dog handler or the program’s Volunteer Coordinator will reach out to you to help you navigate the remaining steps.

Dogs on Call Interest Form

All Dogs on Call teams must be registered with either Pet Partners (PP) or with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD). If you choose registration with ATD, your dog will also need to complete the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification. For a quick description of each, take a look at our Accepted Therapy Dog Organizations.

Once you have completed the registration process, email us a copy of your registration (if you registered with ATD, remember to also send us your CGC certificate).

The next step to joining Dogs on Call is for you to be cleared to volunteer at VCU Health. We will put you in touch with VCU Health’s Volunteer Services, who will provide the necessary volunteer orientation.  Again, there is no cost to become a hospital volunteer.

Next, we will send you a copy of our Dogs on Call Volunteer Manual, Policies and Procedures, and Code of Conduct for you to review.  After signing an agreement to follow the Dogs on Call policies and procedures, you will complete a series of three or more shadows.  The number of shadows is dependent upon both you and your dog's comfort levels in a hospital setting, your desire to get extra practice, and any observations made by a member of our staff.

1. You shadow a current Dogs on Call dog/handler team without your dog.
2. You and your dog do a practice visit in West Hospital with our staff present to support you. You can do as many of these as you'd like.
3. You and your dog visit in the hospital with a member of our staff accompanying you.

Many good dogs would not make good therapy dogs.  Therapy dogs don’t have to be perfect, but there are several skills that are essential to them doing the work well.  Good therapy dogs…

• Follow their handler’s instructions even when they are distracted or anxious.
• Enjoy visiting with strangers and receiving attention, but can also tolerate it when they are ignored.
• Rarely bark or lick people, and don't jump up on them.
• Tolerate being touched in ways that dogs do not typically enjoy (e.g. being pat on the head) and do not dodge or avoid attempts to pet/touch them.
• Face unknown environments with confidence, and recover quickly if something startles them.
• Ignore other dogs unless their handler gives them permission to engage.

The handler is just as important to the team’s success.  Good therapy dog handlers…

• Monitor their dog for signs of fatigue or stress.
• Advocate for their dog in all situations, including cutting visits short when needed.
• Vigilantly scan their surroundings for hazards to their dog (e.g. broken glass, medication on the ground, etc.).
• Remain professional and respectful at all times, especially towards people who do not reciprocate that professionalism or respect.

All dog breeds and dog breed mixes are welcome, but your dog must be at least one year old to join Dogs on Call.  We are honored to have had dogs of a multitude of different breeds join our program, from Maltipoos to Berners to mystery mixes that keep us guessing.  Regardless of breed, breed combos, size, color, or any other attribute, your dog must enjoy the work and be able to do it safely.

This varies greatly depending on factors such as the dog’s temperament, the handler’s training experience, and the strength of the bond between the dog and handler. Experienced trainers are often able to prepare a dog by the minimum age of one year. For most others this takes longer, and may require taking training classes with the dog, waiting for the dog to mature past the high-energy puppy stage, or building the dog's confidence so that they are more comfortable in novel settings.

Our visit requirements parallel the requirements of the therapy dog registering organizations we accept. At least one visit is required every three months.  The maximum visit time limit is 2 hours for a given day, but people may opt to bring their dog on more than one day per week.  It's entirely up to you and your schedule.  The hospital is open 24 hours a day and you can opt to visit at any time during the day or night.  We just ask that you schedule your visits in advance.

Please complete the Dogs on Call Interest Form if you would like to join us.  If you have additional questions, do not hesitate to ask us at chai@vcuhealth.org or by calling us at (804)827-PAWS.

Dogs on Call teams primarily visit patients, staff, and visitors throughout the VCU Medical Center, including at the Children's Hospital of Richmond and some outpatient clinics, and other VCU Health campuses including Stony Point, Short Pump Pavilion, Virginia Treatment Center for Children, Community Memorial Hospital, and Tappahannock. Dogs on Call teams also visit through out the VCU campus.