Customized service dogs for the individualized need
Located in Bend, Oregon & San Luis Obispo, California
Customized service dogs for the individualized need
Located in Bend, Oregon & San Luis Obispo, California
RECENT Program NEWS
WE ARE LOOKING FOR OREGON VOLUNTEERS!
Check out the Volunteers page of this site to get involved.
PUPPY RAISERS: Our amazing volunteer puppy raisers can be anywhere in the state of Oregon (out-of-state puppy raisers are also allowed if they have prior service dog puppy raising experience). They take a service dog in training into their home, teach them house manners and basic obedience (with our guidance), and expose the dog to lots of different environments. Puppy raising for us is a 3-8 month commitment and puppy raisers can work with the baby puppies, or adolescent service dogs in training. We supply food, leash, vest, collar and crate. We also cover the cost of veterinary care for the dog.
SERVICE DOG SITTERS: Dog-sit our service dogs in training short term when our puppy raisers and trainers go out of town!
SOCIALIZERS: Volunteers meet up with our trainer to help take a group of service dogs in training out in public for socialization and working on specialized skills in 2-hour shifts.
WHELPER HELPERS: We run a service dog breeding program and need lots of volunteer help when we have litters of puppies! The job of Whelper Helpers is to help with cleaning, socialization, baths, nail trims and feeding. Whelper Helpers sign up for 2-hour shifts.
WE MOVED TO BEND, OREGON
Our headquarters is getting moved to Bend, Oregon on September 23, 2023. One-on-one service dog and pet training sessions can be booked for Central Oregon locals. Virtual sessions can be booked for anyone outside of the Central Oregon area.
We are in the process of looking for a new property for our program to operate out of. Once the property and permits are acquired, we will be offering Board & Train services once again.
Our puppy coordiator in San Luis Obispo is still offering board & train for service dog prospect puppies under 4 months of age. She will also be supporting our local puppy raisers and running puppy raiser meetings.
EVEREST GRADUATED!
Everest is a Golden Retriever from our breeding program. He was placed in September, 2023 as a psychiatric, mobility & medical response service dog in Altadena, California. Everest has been task trained to respond to breathing changes, interrupt signs of anxiety, respond to panic attacks with deep pressure therapy, pick up dropped objects, cary items, open doors, push handicap buttons, and pull an alarm to get help in the event that his handler has a seizure or faints.
Everest's person started out as one of our volunteers, but as her health declined she decided she needed a fully trained multipurpose service dog herself. It took a while to find just the right dog, but Everest fits that role perfectly. We are so excited for their journey together.
OUR MIDWEST SERVICE DOG NETWORKING ROAD TRIP HAS BEEN COMPLETED!
We met with 14 service dog programs on our 3-week MidWest road trip. The connections we make on these trips are absolutely incredible. We learn so much, and leave feeling excited and inspired to keep doing what we do.
Thank you to the following programs that met with us:
Silver State Service Dogs - Nevada
Puppy Jake Foundation - Iowa
Retrieving Freedom - Iowa
Patriot K9s of Wisconsin - Wisconsin
OccuPaws Guide Dog Association - Wisconsin
Partners with Paws Service Dogs - Wisconsin
Paws with a Cause - Michigan
MidAmerica Service Dogs Foundation - Illinois
Paws Giving Independence - Illinois
Illini Service Dogs - Illinois
Indiana Canine Assistance Network - Indiana
M.D. Dogs - Kentucky
4 Paws For Ability - Ohio
Four of our newfoundland/labrador pups went off to join other programs
We put our heart and soul into the pups from our breeding program litters, but we are a relatively small program that can only keep 2-3 pups per litter. We are so thrilled that the remaining four pups from Louise x Ringo's litter that tested well as service dog candidates are going to be service dogs in training with amazing programs all over the country.
Meeko joined Partners with Paws Service Dogs in Wisconsin.
Hermie joined Summit Assistance Dogs in Washington.
Zora joined Angel Paws Assistance Dogs in California.
Journey joined K9s 4 Mobility in Wyoming.
LABRADOR PUPPIES COMING MID DECEMBER 2023!
Freedom Service Dogs is a service dog program in Englewood, Colorado placing fully trained service dogs for individuals with Autism, PTSD, and mobility challenges all across the country. Beck is a yellow Labrador with many generations of service dog lines. He is an easy-going guy with good focus. We are so grateful to Freedom Service Dogs for letting us use him in this pairing with Bitsy.
Bitsy is an amazing dog that loves to work and is very tuned into her people. She is a wonderful mom and this is going to be her second litter. She is one of our program service dogs in training.
On September 8th we confirmed Bitsy's pregnancy via an ultrasound.
Our pacific northwest Networking road trip has been completed!
We spent two and a half weeks on the road meeting with service dog trainers and programs in Northern California, Oregon and Washington. Big thank you to the amazing community of people dedicated to training such special dogs for people in need.
In California we met with the National Institute of Canine Services and Training (that runs Dogs4Diabetics and First Response K9s), Service Dog Trainer Angela Gardner, First Responder Therapy Dogs founder Heidi, and Paws As Loving Support.
In Oregon we met with Southern Oregon Dog Training, Joys of Living Assistance Dogs, Paws Assisting Veterans, and Charlo Dog Training.
In Washington we met with Atlas Assistance Dogs, Wolfie Working Dogs, and another First Responder Therapy Dogs team.
our SOUTHWEST USA Service Dog Networking Road Trip
We met with twelve service dog programs on our Southwest USA road trip and had the best time. It was so beautiful meeting with like-minded people in the service dog community, sharing ideas, and having awesome training outings.
Big thanks to all of the amazing programs that made time for us!
Canine Support Teams - Murrieta, CA
Next Step Service Dogs - Escondido, CA
Angel Paws Assistance Dogs - San Diego, CA
The Foundation for Service Dog Support - Phoenix, AZ
Assistance Dogs of the West - Santa Fe, NM
International Hearing Dog Inc - Henderson, CO
Faithfully K9 Service Dogs - Aurora, CO
Victory Service Dogs - Colorado Springs, CO
Canine Partners of the Rockies - Aurora, CO
K9s 4 Mobility - Cheyenne, WY
Silver State Service Dogs - Las Vegas, NV
New Life K9s - San Luis Obispo, CA
This is the first of many networking road trips that we intend to do.
Elmo & Elaine graduated!
Elmo is a Golden Retriever from our breeding program. He was placed in April, 2023 as a psychiatric service dog in Ivoryton, Connecticut. Elmo has been task trained to respond to breathing changes, interrupt signs of anxiety and respond to panic attacks with deep pressure therapy.
Elaine is a chocolate Labradoodle that was being rehomed because she had too much energy for her first owner. We harnessed that energy into a job, and this dog thrived! She was placed in May, 2023 as a psychiatric and seizure response service dog in Rockville Centre, New York. Elaine has been trained to interrupt signs of anxiety, provide deep pressure therapy, block people from getting too close to her handler, and alert others if her handler is having a seizure.
Two of Bitsy's labrador puppies headed to topaz assistance dogs in naples, florida
Rickey & KC are two puppies from our recent Labrador litter that tested very well as service dog candidates. As a small program we are unable to keep all the service dog candidates from each litter, so we are happy to know that they went to such an amazing program and will one day help people in need. Topaz Assistance Dogs trains and places service dogs for Autism, Seizure Response, Diabetic Alert, and Mobility Assistance.
You can follow along on their training journey by following Topaz Assistance Dogs on Instagram: @topaz_assistance_dogs
Louise & Kelly became First Responder Therapy Dogs' 100th certified therapy dog team
First responders are there for us when we need them most, so we are excited to be there for them when the job gets extra stressful. First Responder Therapy Dogs is a 501(c)3 program with the goal of making therapy dogs accessible to all first responders nationwide.
Louise was their 100th certified First Responder Therapy Dog! She is available for free therapy dog visits to law enforcement and fire stations throughout SLO County. Email us if interested in scheduling a therapy dog visit.
The STAFF DOGS
Princess Mango
Princess Mango
Princess Mango
Louise
Princess Mango
Princess Mango
Guillermo
Princess Mango
Guillermo
Kahlua
Princess Mango
Guillermo
CURRENT FUNDRAISERS
Support our Emergency Vet Bills Fund
Help Elise de Groot through her battle with Cancer
Help Elise de Groot through her battle with Cancer
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 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
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!