Happy National Service Dog Month
September is National Service Dog Month! Service dogs are incredible working dogs who help people with disabilities live more independently.
They’re trained as service dog PROS to complete a variety of tasks – like picking up a dropped cell phone at the park or handing a credit card to the cashier at the grocery store.
Some service dogs can even wake up a person from a nightmare caused by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); others can alert a person who’s deaf when the doorbell rings.
The Journey From Puppy to Service Dog
1. It All Starts With Puppies
At Canine Companions, specially bred puppies are born in the care of our volunteer breeder caretakers. They learn critical social skills that help them become well-mannered puppies. They’re also exposed to different surfaces, sounds and lots of snuggles with humans.
2. Basic Training and Socialization
Once the puppies turn eight weeks old, they spend the next 16 to 18 months with volunteer puppy raisers who dedicate their time to socializing and caring for them. The puppies are exposed to a variety of different experiences and situations, and they also develop skills needed in real-life situations.
3. Off to Service Dog School
The dogs then spend six to nine months with professional instructors at one of the Canine Companions regional training centers. They learn up to 45 different tasks that help a person with a disability live with greater independence. Some dogs change careers and become therapy dogs or emotional support dogs.
4. It’s a Match!
Each dog is carefully matched with a client whose needs best fit the dog’s skills and temperament. Then, the client and dog spend two weeks at Team Training, where they learn to work together – and graduate as one.
Service Dog PROS
As official service dogs, they bond and help their partners lead with greater independence. And Canine Companions supports and provides follow-up services for the life of the team.
Fun and Games
Have fun and learn more about service dogs! From coloring pages to crossword puzzles and more, it’s the perfect way to celebrate and educate yourself and others about the service dog PROS.
How much do you know about service dogs? Test your knowledge to find out.
Support Service Dogs
Make a contribution to ensure more service dog PROS empower people with disabilities.
Ways to Get Involved
Promotional Resources
Access useful resources below to help share the importance of service dogs.
Celebrate Service Dog Month With...
“Andy: a Dog’s Tale” is the story of how one Canine Companions puppy overcomes a series of obstacles to find his purpose in life as a service dog. Andy learns that life isn’t always easy, yet through the help of others and determination, he shows us that unlikely heroes often come from small beginnings and a big heart.
Thank You to Our National Service Dog Month Partners
