Insights From a Calais-Certified Therapy Dog Handler

Meet Lori Kertesz, a Calais-Certified Therapy Dog Handler, and her devoted companions Star and Brady. Together, this trio brought comfort, motivation, and joy to students at The Calais School as part of its unique therapy dog program, The Calais Method. In this role, they helped countless students reach their therapeutic and academic goals with compassion and dedication.

The Calais Method, developed at The Calais School, is a proprietary dog-and-handler training approach designed to integrate therapy dogs into educational settings. It supports students’ emotional, behavioral, and academic growth by harnessing the proven benefits of animal assisted interventions (AAI), helping children navigate life’s challenges both in school and beyond.

Lori began her journey slowly, starting with her black lab, Star, in spring 2021. It didn’t take long for her to see the impact they were making — and by February 2023, she brought her German Shepherd, Brady, to the team.

Throughout her tenure at Calais, Lori has observed the unique and powerful bond therapy dogs create with students. “While students often start sessions thinking they’re just going to pet a dog,” Lori said, “they quickly learn it’s about building a relationship—one where both the student and the dog benefit.” 

She has witnessed remarkable student transformations. “We’ve seen students mature, grow, and return to their home districts with the skills and confidence they didn’t have before. We’ve seen students who were bullied become stronger and more self-assured. They begin to celebrate their differences and feel accepted.” 

Lori describes the remarkable emotional and academic growth her students have experienced. “Students can relax and be fully present with therapy dogs. Dogs help build trust simply by being there—never judging or criticizing.” Reluctant readers have become confident and enthusiastic about reading. Others, who initially resisted participating in counseling or therapy sessions, became more willing when the dog could be involved.

“I wish every student who wanted to work with a therapy dog had the opportunity,” Lori Says, “I hope that one day there will be trained dog-and-handler teams in every school.” 

The Calais Method is a first-of-its-kind AAI training program designed specifically for the education environment.If you are a dog handler who wants to make a lasting impact in the lives of children, take the first step towards becoming a Calais-Certified therapy dog handler with our self-paced E-learning Course. Enrollment coming this Fall!