Our Service Dogs

We provide custom trained service dogs for disabled veterans and first responders at no cost.

 

Dogs receive around 300 hours of training before being matched up with the veteran/first responder.  They learn basic obedience commands (sit, down, stay/wait/hold, come, heel/pace/let’s go), service dog commands (under, go pee, close, follow, focus) mobility assistance commands (brace, lean, touch), PTSD commands (get my six, night terror mitigation, pressure therapy, alert, block) and many more.  Once the match has been made, any additional commands needed by the veteran/first responder will be taught to the dog.

 

Training with the veteran/first responder begins with creating a bond.  We have all the appropriate dogs meet-and-greet with the person and allow the dog to pick the person.  Much of the early training consists of spending time together to make/strengthen the human-dog bond.  Group training occurs in large areas, then one-on-one training smooths out the rough spots.  Eventually, the pair do “field trips”, where they practice together without the immediate supervision of the trainer, then return, and debrief.  As the pair become comfortable with each other, the dog will do several overnights at the veteran/first responder’s home, and finally reside with the veteran/first responder.  Training continues until the pair pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen Urban (Public Access Test).  At that point, their training is complete and the dog is formally presented to the veteran/first responder.

 

Recertification occurs annually after that.