Assistance dogs bridge us back into the world.
These dogs play a significant role in improving quality of life for many people. They help individuals become more independent and capable in managing disabilities, mitigate symptoms, provide never-ending support, and assist their handlers in making positive life changes.
Think your dog could be a candidate?
Do you believe your dog may be a good candidate to become a service dog or therapy dog? Or do you need help finding and training an assistance dog to best fit your needs? Get a free evaluation and discover how your dog may make a significant impact on your life or the life of others.
Yvonne earned her Master’s at Bergin University of Canine Studies, founded by the inventor of the service dog concept, and works alongside Zahra, her own service dog, every day. Read more about her background.
What’s included
The Assistance Dog program is available as private lessons or board & train. It includes every command below, plus off-leash reliability, public access training, and the service dog tasks specific to your needs. Clients receive a training guide book supplemented with videos and pictures, along with lifetime support understanding the requirements and laws that regulate assistance dogs.
Foundation commands
- Come
- Break
- Sit
- Place
- Down
- Heel
- Off
- Drop
Public access
Stores, restaurants, transit, airports, museums, medical offices, and crowded events: relaxed, composed, and reliable wherever you need to go.
Lifetime support
Ongoing help navigating ADA requirements, housing and travel rules, and the laws that regulate assistance dogs.
Training is tailored to the individual’s needs and the tasks that best support them.
Some of the many examples include:
Environmental conditioning
Navigating different situations, settings, and environments with confidence.
Impulse control
Exuding self-control around the triggers and distractions they’ll commonly be exposed to.
Support
Adapting and feeling comfortable with kids, adults, and elderly folks specific to their job. Some examples include “stand” for mobility support, teaching to “touch” on a wheelchair or bed, or “place” into a lap.
Deep Pressure Therapy (DPT)
Grounding through tactile stimulation, which naturally alleviates stress and episodes experienced in various medical conditions.
Medical alert
Alerting to physiological and behavioral changes such as but not limited to: panic attacks, heart rate, sensory overload, dissociation, flashbacks, seizures, blood sugar changes, allergens, etc.
Guiding
Guiding their handler to their car, home, an exit, another person, or an item, and leading them around hazards.
Environmental alert
Alerting to the presence of others, scanning or clearing a room, or acting as a visual hearing aid.
Interactions
Crowd control (circling), summoning help, finding a specific person, or delivering items.
Interruption
Interrupting or redirecting distressing experiences and behaviors, such as dissociation, flashbacks, crying, freezing, panic attacks, repetitive behaviors, and nightmares.
Retrieval
Retrieving and holding items you point to, drop, or can’t reach. Some examples include medications, clothes, phone, keys, wallet, shoes, remotes, mail, etc.
Personal action
Turning lights on and off, mobility or brace support, opening doors and cabinets, retrieving and carrying items, medication reminders, waking or grounding the handler, removing blankets, etc.
Training where life actually happens.
Get a free assistance dog evaluation
Whether you’re starting with a puppy, evaluating your current dog, or looking for help finding the right candidate, the first conversation is free.