How My Pit Bull Became a Therapy Dog
Key takeaways:
Inspired by her mother’s love for therapy dogs, Alisha Benson got a pit bull named Duke and trained him to bring comfort and change perceptions about the breed.
She brings Duke to universities and hospitals to help people relax and connect through the human-animal bond.
Alisha says she wants to reduce the stigma around pit bulls and show that they can bring people comfort.
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When Alisha Benson’s mother was hospitalized, a therapy dog made a lasting impression. The dog brought her mother comfort in a way nothing else could.
“A therapy dog would come visit her, and that was the highlight of her hospital stay,” says Alisha, a 29-year-old content creator and small business owner in Washington, Utah.
“I thought, ‘When I get older, I want my dog to be a therapy dog.’ I knew how much it meant to my mom, and I wanted to make that impact on other people.”
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That dream came true in 2017. Just a couple of months after her mom passed away, Alisha got her dog Duke, an American pit bull-Staffordshire terrier mix. Alisha was 21 then, and Duke was just weeks old.
“I wanted a pit bull because they have a bad stigma behind them. And I knew that between my husband and me, we could try to be the change and advocate for that breed,” Alisha says. “I wanted to make sure my dog was well-trained and likable.”
How to train a therapy dog
From the beginning, Alisha approached Duke's training with a clear plan, focusing on building his confidence and teaching him essential skills.
1. Socialization
Alisha introduced Duke to car rides, pet-friendly stores, and busy public spaces to help him build confidence in different environments.
2. Obedience training
As Duke got older, he and Alisha completed a 2-month obedience course that cost about $300 and taught Duke commands such as “sit,” “stay,” “come,” and “leave it.” He also practiced being around other dogs.
3. Specialized training
They later joined a first responder therapy dog training program, which cost about $35.
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4. Health maintenance
Alisha also makes sure Duke stays up to date on vaccines and regular vet checkups.
Through this training, Alisha has learned to recognize Duke’s limits. “It's really important in therapy dog work to know if your dog is overwhelmed or tired or in a situation you need to get them out of,” she says.
Therapy dogs like Duke aren’t service dogs, Alisha explains. “They’re not task-trained. They are just there for people’s pleasure, to be able to de-stress and love on an animal.”
Bringing comfort at universities and hospitals
Duke started his therapy work at a short-term rehab facility, but it wasn’t a perfect fit.
“He's a big dog, so I couldn’t just set him on their bed,” Alisha says. “And because the patients are immobile, they can't get down to his level. So that didn't really work for us.”
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They found a better match volunteering at universities during finals week. Students would pet Duke to de-stress before exams.
“I’ve sat there while people cried, whether it’s because they’d lost their dog, or they’re at college away from home, so they missed their dog,” Alisha says. “I’ll engage in conversation, but I also try just to sit there and let the student enjoy petting a dog. It’s really special to see the joy it can bring. And a lot of students say, ‘OK, now I can go study for my final,’ or, ‘Now I can go take my test.’ It’s really cool to see that.”
Duke also visits hospitals a couple of times a month, offering comfort to patients, families, and staff.
“If there's a patient that has a dog at home or could really benefit from a dog visit, they’ll text me, and we’ll go in,” Alisha says. “And if not, we just walk around the hospital and see who’d like a visit.”
She also brings stickers and a “baseball card” with Duke’s photo and information about him, to leave a lasting impression.
One hospital visit stands out vividly for Alisha. “I’ve been in a room where someone hasn’t spoken or moved for weeks, and they petted Duke,” she says. “Something as simple as someone petting a dog when they haven't moved or talked is really incredible.”
She says Duke knows how to read a room. If the room is quiet and sad, he lies there quietly. If the energy is higher, he wags his tail and moves around.
After a hospital visit, Alisha takes Duke to the hospital cafeteria, where he gets two hamburger patties. He eats one-and-a-half, and they take the other half home to her other dog, who is more timid and not suited for therapy work.
Changing perspectives about pit bulls
Duke’s work not only comforts people but also challenges misconceptions about pit bulls, Alisha says.
At community events, such as firehouse visits for kids, Alisha often meets parents hesitant to let their children approach Duke. But she tries to highlight his ability to be a loving, gentle, and well-trained companion.
“It’s really cool for me to be able to tell parents they’re OK to pet him and that he will be friendly,” she says. “It kind of changes their perspective on the breed.”
Therapy dogs part of a movement across the country
Duke’s story is part of a larger movement. Across the country, therapy dogs visit hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and even courtrooms to bring comfort. Organizations such as Pet Partners and Therapy Dogs International have helped train thousands of animals to meet the rising demand for therapy services.
Science backs up the benefits of therapy dogs. A Frontiers in Psychology study found that therapy dogs significantly reduced stress in college students during exams. Other studies link therapy dog visits to improved mood, lowered blood pressure, and increased feelings of connection.
Taking a therapy dog on the road
Alisha and her husband plan to take Duke on the road in their motor home, visiting police stations and fire stations across the U.S.
“I was looking into the ‘Guinness World Records,’” Alisha says. “I’ve just started looking into how we could maybe set the [record for the] most miles a therapy dog has done or the most therapy dog visits. … He’s 7 years old, so my time is ticking.”
She’s brainstorming ways to fundraise for their travels. “He’s so special. Every time we visit with people, even if it’s just for 5 minutes, I think it really does bring some joy to their lives.”
Why therapy dog work matters
For Alisha, Duke’s work is about more than comfort — it’s about creating connections and changing lives.
“It’s definitely a lot of work to do the training, but it is so rewarding,” she says. “Even just volunteering with your dog an hour a month, I think it really can make a huge impact. It’s a really special thing that Duke and I get to do to give back to our community.”
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