Denver Pet Partners does not train animals. We educate the human end of the leash (the Handler) on subjects such as risk management, infection control, engaging with different populations, recognizing stress signs in animals, and advocating for your therapy animal. To become a therapy animal/handler team, you must first take either an in-person Handler Training Class, which is for the handler only (there are no animals in the class) or an online Handler Training Class, which is offered by Pet Partners on their web site. After successful completion of either class, you and your animal can then be evaluated in a Team Evaluation, a 22-part skills and aptitude test. When you and your animal pass the team evaluation, you are ready to register as a therapy animal/handler team with Pet Partners. You must re-evaluate every two years.
You can sign up for the in-person Handler Training Class and Team Evaluation below. Classes and evaluations fill up quickly, so you are encouraged to sign up early. To sign up for the online Handler Training class, go to https://petpartners.org/learn/online-education/.
Pet Partners® Handler Training Courses – 2017
Our Handler Training courses for 2017 have completed. Registration for 2018 courses will open in the last half of October 2017. Please consider registering for one of those sessions.
Pet Partners® Team Evaluations – 2017
Our Team Evaluations for 2017 have completed. Registration for 2018 evaluations will open in the last half of October 2017. Please consider registering for one of those sessions.
Pet Partners® Handler Training Courses – 2018
Denver Pet Partners will be offering Pet Partners Handler Training courses on the following dates in 2018. Registration will open in mid to late October 2017.
- Saturday, January 20, 2018 (@ Parker Adventist Hospital)
- Saturday, April 21, 2018 (@ Parker Adventist Hospital)
- Saturday, September 15, 2018 (@ Swedish Medical Center)
Pet Partners® Team Evaluations – 2018
Denver Pet Partners will be offering Pet Partners Team Evaluations on the following dates in 2018. Registration will open in mid to late October 2017.
- Saturday and Sunday, February 10-11, 2018 (@ Rocky Vista University)
- Saturday and Sunday, May 19-20, 2018 (@ Rocky Vista University)
- Saturday and Sunday, October 6-7, 2018 (@ Rocky Vista University)