HOW IT WORKS
we do things a bit differently. we don’t have a training facility and we don’t have our own breeding program.
instead, we train our dogs in a variety of public settings — from busy in-town environments to quieter areas and open spaces.
by doing so we give our dogs continual real-world experiences that are applicable to their future roles as Psychiatric Service Dogs.
Our Partners
from the very beginning, we knew we didn’t want to create our own breeding program — for a variety of reasons.
rather than committing our resources to the considerable financial and emotional costs of breeding, raising, and training an entire litter from puppyhood to 1.5 years of age, we chose to tap into the network of breeders and trainers that we’ve built close relationships with over a lifetime spent immersed in the ‘dog world’.
when the timing is right, our professional breeding partners select 1-2 puppies from a thoughtfully planned, health tested breeding pair within their program.
the puppy then comes to live with one of our local training partners to be raised and trained until it’s ready to be matched with its person.
The Breeds We Use
even the breeds we choose for our program are different than most other organizations. we use Belgian Malinois, Border Collies, Dutch Shepherds and German Shepherds.
these are athletic breeds with a strong work ethic, and a high desire to please. they make excellent partners for outdoor adventures like hiking, trail running, paddle-boarding, and a host of other endeavors.
these dogs are a significant financial investment and health insurance, at this time, does not cover any part of the expense.
the average cost of a Psychiatric Service Dog exceeds $30,000. they are worth every penny.
or as we like to say, ‘they’re worth their weight in gold’.
it’s our fundamental belief that money should not be an obstacle to getting the help you need in order to lead a healthy, fulfilling life. that’s why we raise the necessary money to purchase a Psychiatric Service Dog and give it to qualified candidates free of charge.