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Upcoming events

  • Therapy Dog Training Class (Laurel, MD)

    • September 08, 2025
    • October 11, 2025
    • 6 sessions
    • North Laurel Community Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel, MD
    • 0
    Join waitlist

    This training class includes 6 sessions.

    Prerequisites:

    • Completion of Handler's class (only required once per handler)
    • Dog must be at least 9 months old by the first day of class
    • Dogs must have passed the AKC Canine Good Citizen test sponsored by the American Kennel Club by the first day of class
    • A copy of a current rabies vaccination must be provided by the first day of class
    • Dogs must currently have reliable basic obedience skills and appropriate temperament, including:
    1. Sit, Down, Stay on command
    2. Walk on loose leash (no pulling handler, or dragging behind)
    3. Display interest in interacting with unfamiliar people

    Class Goals:

    • To prepare teams to pass the therapy dog evaluation
    • To learn new training skills that can be used in therapy work, including dealing with distractions
    • Meet other NCTD volunteers, and learn from their visiting experiences
    • Gain exposure and a level of comfort around hospital equipment
    • Improve communication and control with your dog
    • To provide opportunities for interaction with successful therapy dog teams


    Attendance Requirement:

    • Teams must attend 5 of the 6 classes to be eligible for the evaluation
    • The sixth class is a community outing so that teams may practice visiting skills in a public setting.  The date, time, and location of this class will be determined at a later time.

     All fees are non-refundable.
    Show details

  • NCTD Workshop: Veterinary Nutritionist to Discuss Healthy Canine Diets

    • October 18, 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM
    • East Columbia 50+ Center, 6610 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD 21045
    • 8 registrants
    Register

    NCTD Workshop: Veterinary Nutritionist to Discuss Healthy Canine Diets

    How do you decide what to feed your dog? Should we provide supplements? Do nutritional requirements change with age? We are inundated with information about whether it’s best to cook for our dogs, subscribe to fresh foods delivered to our doors, serve raw foods, or grain-free diets – it can get quite confusing.

    NCTD volunteers are invited to a workshop and luncheon on Saturday, Oct. 18 featuring Dr. Lindsey Bullen, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. Dr. Bullen has a private practice, Peak Veterinary Specialists, in Raleigh, N.C. She is the founder of the Clinical Nutrition Service at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital of the Carolinas and co-founder of the Clinical Nutrition Service at Friendship Hospital for Animals in the D.C. area.

    Dr. Bullen specializes in maximizing nutritional care for pets, working with veterinarians and pet owners. “Our passion is helping pet owners and hospitals provide the best possible nutritional support for their furry friends.”

    Registration for this event is required by Wednesday, October 1 and is limited to active and emeritus NCTD volunteers and board members. Please register on the NCTD website. Go to the Calendar section and select the October 18 Open Floor link. Scroll down and click Register to complete your registration. There is no charge to attend.

    Location: East Columbia 50+ Center at 6610 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD 21045. Free parking is available adjacent to the building.

    Time: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

    Schedule: 9:30 Coffee and Introductions

    10:00 – 12:00 Dr. Bullen presentation and Q&A session

    12:00 – 1:30 Lunch

    We look forward to seeing you on October 18. Please register ASAP. Thank you!


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  • Evaluation (Laurel, MD)

    • October 25, 2025
    • 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
    • North Laurel Community Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel, MD 20723
    • 6
    Register

    This evaluation is for prospective therapy dog teams that have completed both the NCTD Handler's Class and the 6-week Therapy Dog Training Class.

    Information regarding your 20-minute evaluation period will be provided during your therapy dog training classes.

    Show details

Past events

August 16, 2025 Evaluation (Gaithersburg, MD)
August 07, 2025 Volunteer Training Course
June 26, 2025 Therapy Dog Training Class (Gaithersburg, MD)
June 07, 2025 Handler's Class (Laurel)
May 03, 2025 Evaluation (Seaford, DE)
March 30, 2025 NCTD Open Floor-Dental Health for Dogs
March 22, 2025 Evaluation (Gaithersburg, MD)
March 06, 2025 Therapy Dog Training Class (Seaford, DE)
January 27, 2025 Therapy Dog Training Class (Gaithersburg, MD)
January 04, 2025 Handler's Class (Gaithersburg)
November 09, 2024 NCTD Open Floor-Dog Trick Training
October 26, 2024 Evaluation (Laurel, MD)
September 16, 2024 Therapy Dog Training Class (Laurel, MD)
September 14, 2024 Handler's Class (Laurel)
August 24, 2024 Evaluation (Gaithersburg, MD)
June 20, 2024 Therapy Dog Training Class (Gaithersburg, MD)
June 08, 2024 Handler's Class (Gaithersburg)
May 04, 2024 NCTD Open Floor
April 27, 2024 Evaluation (Gaithersburg, MD)
March 04, 2024 Therapy Dog Training Class (Gaithersburg, MD)
February 24, 2024 Evaluation (Laurel, MD)
February 24, 2024 Handler's Class (Gaithersburg)
January 08, 2024 Therapy Dog Training Class (Laurel, MD)
January 06, 2024 Handler's Class (Laurel)
November 04, 2023 Evaluation (Gaithersburg, MD)
October 07, 2023 CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER: NCTD Volunteer Picnic
September 13, 2023 Therapy Dog Training Class (Gaithersburg, MD)
September 09, 2023 Handler's Class (Gaithersburg)
August 19, 2023 Evaluation (Rockville, MD)
June 21, 2023 Therapy Dog Training Class (Rockville, MD)
June 17, 2023 Handler's Class (Rockville)
June 03, 2023 Evaluation (Laurel, MD)
April 17, 2023 Therapy Dog Training Class (Laurel, MD)
April 15, 2023 Handler's Class (Laurel, MD)
March 11, 2023 Evaluation (Gaithersburg, MD)
January 18, 2023 Therapy Dog Training Class (Gaithersburg, MD)
January 07, 2023 Handler's Class (Gaithersburg, MD)
November 05, 2022 Evaluation (Columbia, MD)
September 21, 2022 Therapy Dog Training Class (Columbia, MD)
September 17, 2022 Handler's Class (Columbia, MD)
June 18, 2022 Evaluation (Ellicott City, MD)
April 16, 2022 Evaluation (Gaithersburg, MD)
March 02, 2022 Therapy Dog Training Class (Gaithersburg, MD)
February 26, 2022 Handler's Class (Rockville, MD)
February 12, 2022 Virtual Trick Dog Workshop
July 17, 2021 Evaluation (Rockville, MD)
August 02, 2020 Evaluation (Rockville, MD)
June 25, 2020 Therapy Dog Training Class (Gaithersburg, MD)
June 14, 2020 Handler's Class (Rockville, MD)
April 18, 2020 Evaluation (Rockville, MD)
March 05, 2020 Therapy Dog Training Class (Gaithersburg, MD)
February 22, 2020 Handler's Class (Rockville, MD)
November 16, 2019 Evaluation (Columbia, MD)
October 05, 2019 Therapy Dog Training Class (Columbia, MD)
September 21, 2019 Handler's Class (Columbia, MD)
September 04, 2019 Evaluation (Rockville, MD)
August 11, 2019 Evaluations (Rockville, MD)
July 28, 2019 Board of Directors Meeting (Rockville, MD)
July 02, 2019 Therapy Dog Training Class (Gaithersburg, MD)
June 23, 2019 Handler's Class (Rockville, MD)
June 15, 2019 Therapy Dog Training Class (Baltimore, MD)
June 01, 2019 Handler's Class (Baltimore, MD)
May 19, 2019 Board of Directors Meeting (Rockville, MD)
May 04, 2019 Dover Days Pet Parade
April 28, 2019 Paws in the Park
April 13, 2019 Evaluations (Rockville, MD)
March 07, 2019 Therapy Dog Training Class (Gaithersburg, MD)
February 23, 2019 Handler's Class (Rockville, MD)
November 03, 2018 Therapy Dog Team Evaluation (Columbia, MD)
October 27, 2018 Board of Directors Meeting (Rockville, MD)
September 25, 2018 Therapy Dog Training Class (Columbia, MD)
September 08, 2018 Handler's Class (Columbia, MD)
August 11, 2018 Therapy Dog Team Evaluation (Rockville, MD)
July 28, 2018 Board of Directors Meeting (Rockville, MD)
June 26, 2018 Therapy Dog Training Class (Gaithersburg, MD)
June 23, 2018 Handler's Class (Rockville, MD)
May 19, 2018 Therapy Dog Team Evaluation (Baltimore, MD)
April 28, 2018 Board of Directors Meeting (Rockville, MD)
April 14, 2018 Therapy Dog Team Evaluation (Rockville, MD)
March 31, 2018 Therapy Dog Training Class (Baltimore, MD)
March 24, 2018 Handler's Class (Baltimore, MD)
February 28, 2018 Therapy Dog Training Class (Gaithersburg, MD)
February 17, 2018 Handler's Class (Rockville, MD)
January 20, 2018 Board of Directors Meeting (Rockville, MD)
November 18, 2017 Therapy Dog Team Evaluation (Columbia, MD)
October 28, 2017 Board of Directors Meeting (Rockville, MD)
September 26, 2017 Therapy Dog Team Evaluation (Delaware)
September 16, 2017 Therapy Dog Training Class (Columbia, MD)
September 09, 2017 Handler's Class (Columbia, MD)
August 19, 2017 Therapy Dog Team Evaluation (Rockville, MD)
August 08, 2017 Therapy Dog Training Class (Delaware)
August 01, 2017 Therapy Dog Team Evaluation (Delaware)
July 22, 2017 Board Meeting (Rockville, MD)
July 05, 2017 Therapy Dog Training Class (Gaithersburg, MD)
July 01, 2017 Handler's Class (Rockville, MD)
May 13, 2017 Suzanne Clothier Seminar
April 22, 2017 Therapy Dog Team Evaluation (Rockville, MD)
March 01, 2017 Therapy Dog Training Class (Gaithersburg, MD)
February 25, 2017 Handler's Class (Rockville, MD)
February 11, 2017 Therapy Dog Team Evaluation (Rockville, MD)
December 08, 2016 Pause for Paws
November 12, 2016 Therapy Dog Team Evaluation (Columbia, MD)
November 03, 2016 American University Student De-Stressing Day
October 22, 2016 Therapy Dog Training Class - Mall Visit (Columbia, MD)
September 17, 2016 Therapy Dog Training Class (Columbia, MD)
September 10, 2016 Handler's Class (Columbia, MD)
May 07, 2016 Risë VanFleet Seminar

To bring comfort, healing, and learning to children and adults with certified therapy animals.

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NCTD is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

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