Service Dogs Alabama

06/23/2026

We want our puppies to be fearless and adaptable.
Careful what you wish for. 😂

06/21/2026

A Service Dogs Alabama Dad Checklist: ✔️

☐ Claims he didn't want another dog
☐ Has 4,000 photos of said dog on his phone
☐ Shares snacks when nobody is looking
☐ Talks to the dog in a completely different voice
☐ Ends up being the dog's favorite person

Happy Father's Day to the dads who have been adopted by our dogs whether they planned on it or not.

06/20/2026

Razzle Dazzle turned 8 months old this month, and one of my favorite places to see her progress has been somewhere a little unexpected—Weight Watchers.

She’s been attending meetings with me since she was just 3 or 4 months old. Back then, she needed a crate and a good nap while I handled weigh-ins and coaching. Like any young puppy, staying still and settling for long periods was a big ask.

Fast forward to today, and she quietly sits under the weigh-in table, lays at my feet while I coach, and happily greets members as they arrive. The ladies have watched her grow from a tiny black puppy into the spunky, confident girl she is today.

Is she perfect? Not even close. Sometimes a stray toe on the scale looks awfully interesting and deserves a sniff. Occasionally she decides a leash is actually a chew toy. And when she's tired or feeling extra puppy-ish, she may still be tempted to tumble around and convince everyone it's playtime.

But for an 8-month-old Labrador? She's doing a stellar job.

One of the most rewarding parts of puppy raising is realizing that growth doesn't happen all at once. It happens in little moments—choosing to settle instead of seeking attention, relaxing through a meeting, or simply laying quietly while the world goes on around her.

We still have 4+ months left on our puppy-raising journey together, but it's fun to look back and see just how far she's come already.

And for the record, the ladies at Weight Watchers have made one special training request: they'd like us to teach Razzle to detect high-point foods and smack them out of our hands before we eat them. 😂

06/19/2026

Kirby: Serving Those Who Served

While most dogs spend their days chasing tennis balls, Kirby has been busy making a difference across Alabama.

With his latest "internship" at the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, Kirby has traveled throughout the state, visiting the Capitol, VA retirement homes, state veteran cemeteries, and veteran resource centers. Everywhere he goes, he brings comfort, connection, and plenty of tail wags to the men and women who have served our country.

Most recently, Kirby attended a Women's Veterans Day event, helping celebrate the incredible contributions and sacrifices of women who served in our armed forces. Events like these provide an opportunity to honor their service, share resources, and build community, and Kirby was right in the middle of it all, making new friends and brightening the day.

We are incredibly grateful to our volunteer, Sandra, for giving Kirby the opportunity to be such an outstanding ambassador for the veteran community. Her dedication allows Kirby to represent Service Dogs Alabama in a meaningful way across the state.

And of course, we're pretty proud of Kirby too.

06/16/2026

Weather report for today:

☔ Chance of rain: 100%
🐾 Chance of Razzle caring: 0%

06/12/2026

www.servicedogsalabama.org/news/5-reasons-you-should-not-become-a-puppy-raiser-unless

Thinking about becoming a puppy raiser? Before you picture endless puppy cuddles and adorable Instagram moments, let's have an honest conversation. Puppy raising comes with chewed shoes, early mornings, public training outings, and eventually, saying goodbye to a dog you've grown to love. In our

06/10/2026

Thanks to everyone that shopped our first SDA Pop-Up Shop. Orders are all processed and on their way! If you didn’t get a chance to get some SDA goodies, don’t dispare, the shop will be open again later this summer.

06/04/2026

Breaking News: In the next few weeks, TWO highly qualified yellow lab puppies will be seeking live-in staff.

Job duties include:
• providing snacks on a regular schedule
• chauffeuring to important appointments
• explaining why sticks are not food
• introducing puppies to the world
• offering cuddles when requested
• occasionally asking, "How did you get that?"

Applicants should be prepared for puppy breath, puppy zoomies, puppy shenanigans, and the possibility of falling completely in love.

The puppies will stay with their raisers until they are about a year old, learning the foundations they need to become future service dogs. You'll help them explore new places, meet new people, practice good manners, and build confidence.

The good news? You don't have to know how to train a service dog. Our team will provide training, support, classes, and guidance along the way.

The puppies are adorable. The mission is life-changing. The memories are unforgettable.

If you've ever thought, "You know what my life needs? A tiny yellow shadow with very big career goals," we'd love to talk with you.

Send us a message to learn more about becoming a puppy raiser. These two little recruits will be reporting for duty soon.

[email protected]

06/04/2026

Razzle Dazzle lived up to her name this morning.

She took her morning walk at the new Rural King in Prattville and quickly decided it might be one of the greatest places on earth.

There were new friends to meet, endless smells to investigate, and an entire store full of things she had never seen before. Deer feed? Sniffed it. Lawn seed? Sniffed it. Baby chicks? Very interesting. Real rabbits? Even more interesting. Husqvarna w**d eaters? Suspicious, but acceptable. Ariat boots? Thoroughly inspected. Popcorn? Definitely worth another sniff.

Of course, she eventually found the dog food aisle. Some things just call to a Labrador.

The highlight of the trip was her brand-new toy. OA few squeaks and suddenly people started appearing from down the aisles to see who was making all the excitement. Razzle was more than happy to greet her new fans and demonstrate her toy's impressive squeaking abilities.

What looks like a fun shopping trip is actually a fantastic training opportunity. New sounds, new surfaces, new smells, shopping carts, people, animals, and distractions all help build confidence and teach a future service dog how to stay calm and focused in the real world.

Today's verdict from Razzle:

⭐️ New friends: 10/10
⭐️ Toy selection: 10/10
⭐️ Smells: 1,000/10
⭐️ Dog toy aisle: Best part of the store

Safe to say she dazzled everyone she met this morning.

06/03/2026

Dog people know exactly who they are.

The Treat Dealer tee is the first release in our Working Dog Series—a collection inspired by the dogs, handlers, volunteers, and everyday moments behind the mission.

Available only during this week's Good Dog Shop pop-up.

Shop here: https://www.servicedogsalabama.org/shop

We train Service & Facility Dogs for veterans, youth & adults living with disabilities. 501c3