Become a Handler
Love animals? Love people? Join a team dedicated to bringing comfort and connection. Getting involved with our pet therapy program means contributing to a mission that creates meaningful, restorative moments for those who need them.
Becoming a Registered Handler
Our registered handlers are the heart of our program, bringing comfort, connection, and calm to our community.
A great therapy dog is friendly, calm, people-oriented, and adaptable to new environments. But just as important is the handler: someone patient, attentive, and compassionate, with strong communication skills and a deep bond with their animal.
If you and your pup love people and are ready to make a difference, we’d love to meet you! You can expect training to take approximately one semester.
Requirements
- Be an employee of TWU
- Attend an info session
- Apply / Interview
- If selected
- Pass Pet Partners training program
- Pass Team evaluation and TWU required training
- Complete mock-event and pawp-up
Pet Partners
Pet Partners is a nationally recognized leader in animal-assisted interventions (AAI), providing training and registration for therapy animal teams since 1977. They register nine different species and adhere to the Standards of Practice in AAI, ensuring ethical, safe, and effective practices across all settings.
Handler Requirements
- Pass a background check
- Pass the Pet Partners Handlers Course
- Adhere to policies and procedures
- Pet Partners
- Texas Woman’s University
- Pass the Pet Partners Team Evaluation
- Cue or redirect animal without force
- Guide all interactions with confidence
- Recognize pet body language and behaviors
- Anticipate pet’s responses
- Advocate for the pet at all times
Animal Requirements
- At least one year old
- Reliably housetrained
- Currently vaccinated
- Welcomes interactions with strangers
- No history of aggression
- Lived with owner for at least 6 months
- Be responsive to owners direction
- Not be fed a raw meat diet
- No acute or chronic health conditions
- Comfortable in Pet Partners equipment
Training Timeline
Informational Meetings
- January 21, 2026, 3:00 pm | Session Link
- January 22, 2026, 10:00 am | Session Link
- January 23, 2026, Noon | Session Link
Jan 30 - Applications Due
Feb 2 - 13: Interviews
After acceptance:
Feb 20 - Pet Partners Training Course Due
March 20 - New Handler Evaluations
Teams that pass evaluations will continue with TWU required training.
Note: Timelines are firm and deadlines will need to be met to remain an active member of the cohort.
Page last updated 8:57 AM, January 14, 2026