09/11/2024
Are you an active duty service member, a veteran, or part of a military family?
Do you need help overcoming barriers to service dog training?
Looking for a safe place for your dog to play or continue training?
Send us a message, and let’s discuss how we can help!
We're also looking for service dog training organizations to collaborate with.
**What does our program do?**
Thanks for asking! Our primary goal is to reduce and prevent veteran su***des, and we approach this in several ways:
1. **For veterans with dogs**: We connect veterans who wish to train their own dogs with qualified service dog trainers from our trusted network. These trainers, who are also veterans, offer a 40% discount on their services. (Note: we do not handle or collect any funds).
2. **For veterans without dogs**: We assist in finding the right dog that matches the veteran’s personality, family dynamic, lifestyle, and the specific tasks the dog will perform. These dogs come from local shelters or, for specific breed requests, from breeders. Our aim is to save two lives—a veteran and a shelter dog.
Veterans and their new dogs can join either a self-paced or trainer-assisted service dog training program, including AKC Canine Good Citizenship and advanced service dog training. Some veterans may only need emotional support training, and we offer flexibility to meet individual needs.
3. **Training space**: We offer a free, private training space for veterans and military families to practice and reinforce the skills learned in weekly lessons. This space is judgment-free and ideal for veterans who may feel isolated or live in areas without easy access to training facilities. It fosters camaraderie and communication—two things veterans often need.
4. **Low-cost services**: We also provide affordable vaccine and microchip services for veterans in need.
5. **Free resources**: We offer free training vests, collars, leashes, emergency dog food, and training aids to remove barriers to starting service dog training.
6. **Real-world training opportunities**: We organize group training sessions and social gatherings in real-world settings like bowling alleys, offices, and cafes to give veterans and their dogs practical, hands-on experience.
7. **Fully trained service dogs**: For veterans who prefer to receive a trained dog, we offer a six-month program where we select, train, and match puppies from our network to meet the specific needs of veterans.
Our program is designed to be flexible and supportive, focusing on the unique needs of each veteran.