The Service Dog Connection
The Service Dog Connection
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    • Home
    • Service Dogs
      • Our Service Dog Program
      • Current Dogs in Training
      • Placed Service Dogs
      • FAQ
    • Puppy Raisers
    • Board & Train
    • Adoptable Dogs
    • Therapy Dogs
    • Breeding Program
    • Adding New Program Dogs
  • Home
  • Service Dogs
  • Puppy Raisers
  • Board & Train
  • Adoptable Dogs
  • Therapy Dogs
  • Breeding Program
  • Adding New Program Dogs
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Customized service dogs for the individualized need

Customized service dogs for the individualized needCustomized service dogs for the individualized needCustomized service dogs for the individualized need

Located in Atascadero, CA

Customized service dogs for the individualized need

Customized service dogs for the individualized needCustomized service dogs for the individualized needCustomized service dogs for the individualized need

Located in Atascadero, CA

UPCOMING CLASSES

Canine Good Citizen Test: Sunday, May 22 from 9AM-11AM

The AKC Canine Good Citizen test will take place outside at our training facility in Atascadero, CA and the tester is Becky Pesicka of Dogtastic Training.  The Canine Good Citizen Test is a 10-point test and covers things like sit, down, loose leash walking (no treats, prongs, or e-collars allowed), calmly passing by other dogs, etc. and is a useful certification for trying to rent housing with your pet, and is required for some therapy dog certification programs, but it does not give you public access or anything else. 


$40 per dog.  To sign up for the course, email Becky directly at: dogtastictraining@gmail.com

8-Week Old Puppy Seminar: Four-day course held on May 28-29 & June 4-5 from 4PM-5:30PM

This two-weekend puppy seminar is a collaboration seminar between The Service Dog Connection and Dogtastic Training to help people prepare to bring an 8-week-old puppy home and set them up for success.  Each participant will get paired with one of our Golden Retriever puppies during the classes.  You do not need to already have a dog, and participants will NOT be allowed to bring their own pets for this class, as it is a safety issue for puppies not fully vaccinated.  


The seminars will be held outside at our training facility in Atascadero, CA and will cover the following topics:


-How to properly socialize a puppy

-Setting your puppy up for success

-Luring with treats & toys

-Increasing leash engagement

-Crate & Potty training

-Basic Manners

-Recall skills

-Place Stays

-Handling fear periods & building confidence


$180 per person.  To sign up for the course, email us at: theservicedogconnectionprogram@gmail.com

Pre-Public Access Service Dog Training Seminar: Four-day course held on July 16 & 17, 23 & 24 from 4PM-6:00PM

This two-weekend training course is a collaboration seminar between The Service Dog Connection and Dogtastic Training to help prepare service dog teams for public access (places pets aren't allowed) by practicing skills in places that are pet friendly.  Each day will be in a different location in San Luis Obispo, CA to give the dogs practice focusing in many environments.  


This seminar will cover the following topics:

-Heel: passing people, dogs & food

-Name Response & eye contact

-Leave it

-Down Stays with Distraction

-Walking with a cart

-Noise Distraction/Recovery

-Long down stays under tables/at outdoor patios


All participants must meet the following requirements:

-Dogs up to date on Rabies & done with puppy Parvo series

-Be friendly with dogs and people

-Be well groomed

-Participants must be over 18 or accompanied by a parent/guardian


$240 per person.  To sign up for the course, email us at: theservicedogconnectionprogram@gmail.com


***THIS COURSE DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT YOUR DOG IS ABLE TO BECOME A SERVICE DOG!*** This course is a great way for owners to get a professional opinion on if their dog has potential to be a service dog.

OUR TEAM

Kelly Sosa

Founder, Trainer, Executive Director

Kelly is a positive reinforcement service dog trainer with 17 years of experience. She grew up in Portland, Oregon obsessed with animals from a very young age, and was especially drawn to dogs.   Kelly began raising and training service dogs for Autism Service Dogs of America in 2005 and then Healing Hounds Service Dogs in 2016.  


In 2015 she received a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Southern Oregon University.  While living in Ashland for five years, Kelly worked closely with Jackson County Animal Services and their shelter dogs.  Her involvement with them included fostering and evaluating shelter dogs, and teaching classes for the shelter volunteers on positive reinforcement training and reducing dog reactivity to make dogs more adoptable.  She also spent four years working in mental health at a residential treatment facility for young adults, and managed a mental health crisis facility.


Kelly moved to San Luis Obispo, California and started Central Coast Dog Services in 2018, which later became The Service Dog Connection in 2021.  Today Kelly works to provide families with affordable service dogs and is constantly trying to brainstorm new ways to help clients become successful service dog teams.  

Dimi Hall

Service Dog Placement Trainer

Growing up on the Central Coast of California Dimi always found herself gravitating toward animals.  More specifically: dogs.  As a current psychology major, working for The Service Dog Connection is a perfect marriage of her two life interests.  Dimi started as a volunteer puppy raiser for a spunky Goldendoodle in February of 2020 and found herself wanting to learn as much as she could about training service dogs.  In July of 2020, Dimi officially joined our team!  Dimi says, "I have met so many wonderful canines and humans in the process and have loved every minute of it!"  We feel very lucky to have her as part of our program.


Dimi now does specialized task training and placements for many of our dogs.  She has an incredible gift of teaching others and has an amazing heart.

Natalie Craig

Service Dog Trainer

Natalie grew up in Southern California and has always had a passion for all sorts of animals. In high school, she volunteered for four years at the Shea Center for Therapeutic Riding which was her first experience merging her love for animals with assisting disabled individuals. Natalie graduated from Cal Poly SLO in June of 2021 with a degree in pre-vet animal science. During her time at Cal Poly, she worked at a dog daycare and boarding facility, volunteered for The Marine Mammal Center and the Central Coast Aquarium, and played horse polo!


Natalie started out as a volunteer with us and is the newest member of our team. She assists with training and daily activities at The Service Dog Connection. 

Contact Us!

Email: theservicedogconnectionprogram@gmail.com


 Find us on Instagram: theservicedogconnection


Like us on Facebook: The Service Dog Connection

CURRENT FUNDRAISERS

Help Elise de Groot through her battle with Cancer

Help Elise de Groot through her battle with Cancer

Help Elise de Groot through her battle with Cancer

https://www.gofundme.com/f/helpELiseamdherservicedogBEATCANCER?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=sms&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet

Elise has been an amazing part of our service dog community.  She received a service dog from us over a year ago and has since been dedicated to supporting other service dog teams, and fostering other service dogs in training.  They are a model team that has given back to this community immensely.  Now it is our time to help give back to her!

Support our Emergency Vet Bills Fund

Help Elise de Groot through her battle with Cancer

Help Elise de Groot through her battle with Cancer

https://www.gofundme.com/f/emergency-vet-fund-for-the-service-dog-connection?qid=328fbabacabdf7b7419d8f7b6c501ab9


Emergency Vet bills pop up randomly, and this fundraiser allows our program to cover these unexpected costs when they arise.  

This funding has helped us cover treatment for things like ingested foreign objects, ringworm, hip and elbow dysplasia, and most recently the treatment of one of our service dogs in training that was in a house fire.  Without your support, we couldn't do what we do for our dogs in the most stressful of times.

Help Anya Bershatsky Get a Service Dog

Help Anya Bershatsky Get a Service Dog

Help Anya Bershatsky Get a Service Dog

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-anya-get-a-service-dog?qid=86cdcb25800a8d10259fcecb88ceee25


Anya is raising money for a new service dog from us. The service dog in the photo is Maggie. Maggie supported Anya for two years, but was recently retired due to her own health issues. Now she needs to come up with the funds for a new service dog to support with medical alert, mobility, and more. A service dog will help get her independence back! Anya is also one of our volunteers that has raised service dogs for others with disabilities.  Now it is time to give back to Anya the way she has for others already.

Help Jack Penrod Get a Service Dog

Help Anya Bershatsky Get a Service Dog

Help Anya Bershatsky Get a Service Dog

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-me-raise-money-for-a-program-trained-service?qid=6966549a2607f6fd1362a50cb9ba9737


Jack is one of our applicants currently waiting for his future service dog, but he needs help fundraising for the deposit!

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