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Are you adopting a dog that you hope to work with as a therapy dog in the future? You can help keep your dog in the right place by choosing a nickname that will be easy for others to use when your dog is out in public. We’ve collected therapy dog names for all kinds of roles, whether you’re hoping to work with your dog in a hospital or nursing home, as a reading dog, or other jobs.
What makes a good therapy dog name?
Names that are easy to say and easy to remember are the best choice if you think your dog might one day be in the business of dog therapy.
Whether your dog is working with kids who are learning to read, kids who are giving testimony in court, hospital or hospice patients, nursing home residents or people who are going through trauma, you definitely have to come up with an easy to remember name. In many cases, people are under stress and you don’t want to add to it by making them struggle to remember or say a difficult name.
Who Was The First Therapy Dog?
Many people believe that the first therapy dog was Smoky the Yorkshire Terrier, who was saved by a corporal named William Wynne during World War II. Smoky provided comfort to Wynne while he was in the hospital, and the dog was a huge shock to other patients as well.
Cute therapy dog names
From hospital therapy dogs to Crisis response dog teamTherapy dogs can bring a smile in times of stress – start with a cute name!
- Bambi
- Barney
- Bert
- Big bird
- Bingo
- Brownie
- Bubba
- Gum
- Balloons
- Butterball
- Butters
- Charlie Brown
- Cookies
- Cupcakes
- Donut
- Doodlebug
- Elmo
- Ernie
- Giggle
- Gumdrop
- Gummy Bear
- Honey Bunny
- Joker
- Lovey-dovey
- Fondly
- Miss the piglet
- Noodles
- Pancakes
- Pickles
- Puddin’
- Scooby Doo
- Smart pants
- Snoopy (don’t miss our post on other cartoon dog name)
- Snuggles
- Sprinkles (especially fun for a patterned dog or a dalmatian like a Dalmatian)
- Sweet pea
- Cake
- Tater Tot
- Teddy bear
- Waffles
Fun names to read dogs
Are you hoping to train your dog to be a literate dog? These calm, specially trained dogs sit quietly with young readers as a nonjudgmental listener and a calming presence.
- Alice (Alice in Wonderland)
- Amelia (Amelia Bedelia)
- Anne (Anne of Green Gables)
- Auggie (Wonder)
- Nerd
- Charlotte (Charlotte’s Web)
- Clifford (Clifford the Big Red Dog)
- Eeyore (Winnie-the-Pooh)
- George (curious George)
- Harry Potter (or any other book Harry Potter Characters Names)
- Horton (Horton listen to someone!)
- Lorax (Lorax)
- Madeline (Madeline)
- Paddington (Paddington Bear)
- Peter (Peter Pan or The Tale of Peter Rabbit)
- Piglet (Winnie-the-Pooh)
- Rocket (How Rocket Learns to Read)
- Sam-I-Am (Green Egg and Ham)
- Sophie (Friendly Giant)
- Thomas (Thomas tank engine)
- Tinker Bell (Peter Pan)
- Willy (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)
- Winnie (Winnie-the-Pooh)
- Wonka (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)
Names for nursing home therapy dogs
Many nursing home residents have spent their lives with dogs and enjoy visits from therapy dogs. Residents with memory and mental disabilities may find themselves remembering a beloved pet and telling stories about it, all because the presence of a loving dog reminds them of their joy. joy that a dog has ever brought into their life. From actors and actresses in Hollywood’s Golden Age to their youth songs, these names can bring joy when your dog visits a nursing home:
- Ava: Ava Gardner
- Bette: Bette Davis
- Big Bopper
- Bing: Bing Crosby
- Bogie: Humphrey Bogart
- Boogie Woogie: “Boogie Woogie Bug Boy”
- Buddy Holly
- Cagney: James Cagney
- Cary: Cary Grant
- Charlie: Charlie Chaplin
- Clark: Clark Gable
- Elvis: Elvis Presley (don’t miss our post on Elvis dog name)
- Errol: Errol Flynn
- Everly: The Everly Brothers
- Fats Dominoes
- Henry: Henry Fonda
- Frankie: Frank Sinatra
- Ginger: Ginger Rogers
- Hedy: Hedy Lamarr
- Holly: Holly’s best friend
- Jimmy: Jimmy Stewart
- Johnny: Johnny Cash
- Judy: Judy Garland
- Kelly: Gene Kelly
- Lana: Lana Turner
- Little Richard
- Lucille: Lucille Ball
- Marilyn: Marilyn Monroe
- Perry: Perry Como
- Rita: Rita Hayworth
- Tony: Tony Bennett
- Vivien: Vivien Leigh
Names that mean care, comfort and compassion
Therapy dog help encourage and comfort those who are going through difficult times.
- Aaron: “wonderful”
- Anna: “grace”
- Beatrice: “the one who brings joy”
- Charity
- Dylan: “a ray of hope”
- Trust
- Graceful
- Hannah: “grace” or “favor”
- Expect
- Jesse: “the gift of hope”
- Joyous
- Mercy
- Milagro: “miracle” (Spanish)
- Nadia: “hope”
Does your dog make a good therapy dog?
All types of dogs can be therapy dogs; It’s not their breed and size that matters, it’s their demeanor and training.
A therapy dog will:
- show a calm demeanor in the crowd
- Have a friendly attitude and are not shy or nervous when meeting strangers
- basic obedience training. For example, therapy dogs are not allowed to jump on people or take food from people’s hands. They will also have basic obedience skills and be trained to feel comfortable in wheelchairs, walkers, and other devices.
- be loved and enjoy the care
Therapy dogs have been known to provide many benefits to patients – mentally, physically, and emotionally. Some of the known benefits of therapy dogs include:
- Lower blood pressure
- Elevated spirit and elated mood
- Memory activation (this is especially noticeable in Alzheimer’s and dementia patients)
- Reduce stress
- Improved speech (especially noted in children with speech difficulties)
- Improves emotional outlook
Pin to memorize these Therapy Dog Names
