---
title: "From Puppy to Therapist: How Dogs Are Trained for Canine-Assisted Therapy in Ukraine"
description: "Four canine-assisted therapy centres operate in Ukraine, where specially trained dogs help psychologists and rehabilitation specialists. Experts at the INNIKOS centre explained that innate stress tolerance and resilience matter more than breed for therapeutic work, and that selection takes place in three stages from puppyhood."
date: 2026-09-17T16:08:24.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/how-dogs-are-trained-for-canine-assisted-therapy-in-ukraine
tags: [canisterapy, dog-therapy, ukraine, mental-health, animal-training, stress-reduction]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# From Puppy to Therapist: How Dogs Are Trained for Canine-Assisted Therapy in Ukraine

![A specialist in medical scrubs trains a golden retriever wearing a therapy vest in a rehabilitation center](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/18/kak-v-ukraine-gotovyat-sobak-dlya-kanisterapii/kak-v-ukraine-gotovyat-sobak-dlya-kanisterapii-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Canine-assisted therapy is a complementary therapy in which the dog acts as a "bridge" between the specialist and the client, rather than replacing a doctor
- Innate stress tolerance, resilience, and sociability matter more than breed when selecting a therapy dog
- Selection takes place in three stages: an initial assessment in puppyhood, a re-test after the adolescent period, and a final certification
- INNIKOS is one of four canine-assisted therapy centres in Ukraine, whose work is supported by the public organisation "Communications for Change" and the Royal Canin Foundation
- The dog's well-being and comfort during work are considered a priority on par with helping people

Canine-assisted therapy is a complementary form of therapy in which a specially trained dog acts not as a treating physician, but as a "bridge" between the specialist and the client. This is how Marina Prokopenko, a dog trainer and head of the INNIKOS canine-assisted therapy centre, describes the essence of the method. In her words, the dog does not make diagnoses or prescribe treatment: its role is to help a psychologist, rehabilitation specialist, or other professional establish contact with the person who has come for therapy. For many patients, the animal becomes the main motivation to take the first step toward a specialist or to continue their rehabilitation. Scientific research confirms that interacting with a dog helps lower cortisol levels — the stress hormone — and stimulates the production of neurotransmitters associated with feelings of joy and safety.

### Nature matters more than breed

Becoming a "therapy dog" requires more than being an obedient and friendly pet. Daria Reznichenko, a dog trainer at the INNIKOS centre, emphasises that one of the most important qualities is innate stress tolerance: "We can teach a dog a great deal, but most of the traits needed for this work are laid down by nature." The list of key characteristics includes sociability, curiosity about new things, the ability to recover quickly from stress (resilience), a desire to interact with strangers, as well as strong food and play motivation. It is fundamentally important that the dog enjoys its work, rather than simply performing tasks on command.

### Three selection stages: from puppy to final testing

Preparing a dog for canine-assisted therapy begins in puppyhood, although an early start does not guarantee a successful outcome. The first assessment stage is carried out at a few months of age: specialists observe the puppy's reactions to new objects, people, and sounds, as well as its ability to refocus attention after a stressful stimulus (a sudden movement or unexpected sound). Only after a successful preliminary assessment is the animal recommended for further training. The second testing stage comes after the adolescent period, when genetically conditioned fears and phobias that were absent in puppyhood may emerge. Prokopenko advises, where possible, to study the dog's pedigree and observe its parents and older siblings in order to better predict behavioural traits. The final testing evaluates not only the level of training but also how comfortable the animal itself feels working with people and whether such a load harms its health.

### Breed is not a guarantee, but only a starting point

Canine-assisted therapy is most often associated with Labrador and Golden Retrievers — these breeds are traditionally considered good candidates thanks to their friendly temperament. However, as explained at INNIKOS, Labradors with the appropriate qualities are very hard to find in Ukraine. The specialists stress that breed alone does not determine suitability: the decisive factor is the individual innate qualities of a specific animal. Training a therapy dog continues for almost its entire life: the dog must react calmly to wheeled chairs, crutches and their swinging, the smell of medicines, loud noises, crying, and sudden human movements.

### The dog's well-being is as important as helping people

At the INNIKOS centre, it is emphasised that a dog working in canine-assisted therapy must enjoy its activity. The final testing includes an assessment of how the animal copes with the load, how quickly it recovers, and whether it experiences excessive stress from interacting with new people, objects, or unfamiliar environments. The dog's well-being is regarded as an equal priority alongside helping people. INNIKOS is one of four canine-assisted therapy centres in Ukraine; their opening and operation became possible thanks to the public organisation "Communications for Change" and the support of the international Royal Canin Foundation.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [The dog is not a doctor but a helper: how animals are prepared for canine-assisted therapy in Ukraine](https://styler.rbc.ua/ukr/useful/sobaka-likar-pomichnik-k-gotuyut-tvarin-kanisterapiyi-1789660102.html) - Основной первичный источник: интервью с Мариной Прокопенко и Дарьей Резниченко (INNIKOS). Все прямые цитаты и описания этапов отбора взяты из данного материала. Утверждения о четырёх центрах и поддержке Royal Canin Foundation подтверждены только этим источником. Текст обрывается на перечислении дополнительных пород.
- [Canine-assisted therapy: young Odesa residents with mental disorders learned to train dogs](https://dumskaya.net/news/kanisterapiya-yynye-odessity-s-mentalnymi-rasstr-139361/ua/) - Дополнительный контекст: подтверждает существование практик канистерапии и работы с собаками в Украине, в том числе с участием людей с ментальными особенностями. Не противоречит основному источнику.
- [Canine-assisted therapy: what it is in simple terms, how it works, how dogs help children with cerebral palsy and disabilities](https://www.championat.com/lifestyle/article-5870488-kanisterapiya-chto-eto-prostymi-slovami-kak-rabotaet-kak-sobaki-pomogayut-detyam-s-dcp-ovz.html) - Общий справочный материал о канистерапии. Подтверждает определение метода как вспомогательной терапии и его применение в реабилитации. Не содержит противоречий с основным источником.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What is canine-assisted therapy and how does it differ from treatment?
**A:** Canine-assisted therapy is a complementary therapy in which a specially trained dog helps a psychologist, rehabilitation specialist, or other professional establish contact with the client. The dog is not a doctor and does not treat: it acts as a "bridge" between the specialist and the person, facilitating the establishment of a trusting relationship.

### Q: What qualities are most important in a dog for canine-assisted therapy work?
**A:** According to the specialists at the INNIKOS centre, the key traits are innate stress tolerance, sociability, curiosity about new things, the ability to recover quickly from stress (resilience), a desire to interact with strangers, and strong food and play motivation. Breed alone does not determine suitability.

### Q: How many canine-assisted therapy centres operate in Ukraine?
**A:** According to the data provided in the Styler interview, four canine-assisted therapy centres operate in Ukraine. Their opening and operation became possible thanks to the public organisation "Communications for Change" and the support of the international Royal Canin Foundation. One of these centres is INNIKOS.

### Q: Which breeds are most often suited to canine-assisted therapy?
**A:** Labradors and Golden Retrievers are traditionally considered good candidates thanks to their friendly temperament. However, in Ukraine, according to INNIKOS specialists, Labradors with the appropriate qualities are very hard to find. The decisive factor is the individual innate qualities of a specific animal, not the breed.

### Q: How does the selection and training of a therapy dog take place?
**A:** Selection begins in puppyhood with an initial assessment of reactions to new stimuli. After the adolescent period, a second test is conducted for genetically conditioned fears. The final certification evaluates the level of training and, above all, the comfort of the animal itself when working with people. Training continues for almost the dog's entire life.