Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 62'400 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 62'400 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 12'000 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 112'000 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsNature & Environment
Therapiehundeführer/in
Use your own dog to bring therapeutic benefits to clinics and care homes
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
You accompany patients in clinics and care homes with your dog to support their recovery and well-being.
Therapy dog handlers use the special bond between humans and dogs to create therapeutic moments in various facilities. You visit hospitals, care homes, or schools together with your dog. In close coordination with the staff, you shape the visits so that the animals have a positive effect on the visitors. This role requires a lot of empathy and patience. The work is usually voluntary and enriches the daily lives of many people.
FieldNature & Environment
Education pathSpecialisation / Professional Function
IndustryAnimal Husbandry & Care
Swissdoc 0.140.35.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
No verified Swiss salary data is available for this profession yet.
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Therapiehundeführer/in.
Salary trend
-44% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2017-2019 | CHF 112'000 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 62'400 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
Swiss training pathway available in the full profile
- 🎓 Therapiehundeführer/in
Official education path
Training is provided by specialized associations. It includes theoretical lessons and practical exams for the team.
Typical training path
Therapiehundeführer/in
Prerequisites
- Sociability
- Empathy
- Patience
- Social commitment
- Good relationship with your own dog
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Empathy
- Patience
- Sociability
- Love for animals
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You stand in the waiting room and let your dog slowly approach the visitors. As the patients gently stroke the fur, you watch the reactions carefully and adjust the interaction gently.
- You plan the visits to clinics and care homes together with the staff.
- You gently introduce your dog to the patients.
- You ensure that the interaction remains safe and relaxed.
- You observe the visitors' reactions and adjust your approach.
- You regularly maintain the bond with your four-legged partner.
- You attend theoretical and practical training sessions.
Working conditions
Your workplace includes hospitals, psychiatric clinics, care homes, kindergartens, and sheltered workshops. The visits always take place in coordination with the facility managers and the care staff.
Where to learn
- Verein Therapiehunde Schweiz VTHS SekretariatWinkelbüel 2, 6043 Adligenswil
- Therapiehunde-Team SC Präsidentin Sandra Altorfer ObereWallisellerstrasse 6, 8152 Opfikon
- Verein Assistenzhundezentrum Schweiz Susan SchaffnerBifang 3, 5056 Attelwil Mobile
Strengths
- Empathy
- Patience
- Sociability
- Love for animals
Trade-offs
- Voluntary basis
- Emotional strain
- Planning effort
- Responsibility for the dog
06 · Similar
