Service dog training program

As someone with a chronic disability, I can understand the struggle you face day to day and how life can be impacted. Service dogs are important pieces of medical equipment that can make our struggles easier to cope with.

This training journey from start to finish can last 1-2 years and we want to be a part of your training journey. In enrolling in our programs, you will join a community with a sense of family. You will receive endless support and education even after completion of the program.

Training your own service dog is hard.

While yes, you can train your own service dog, it is very overwhelming. You likely have trained your dog to sit. But can your dog sit, on the first command, in a busy environment with tantalizing smells, loud sounds, lots of other people and dogs, and more distractions?

Luckily, you found help. Together, we’re unstoppable.

Requirements for a proper candidate for service work include:

a stable and confident temperament in various environments
no sensitivity to visual and auditory stimulus
no sensitivity to different surfaces
house trained (exception is puppies)
medically clear by a licensed veterinarian for service work
comfortable around people of various shapes and sizes
non-reactive to people, dogs and children
drive to work for their handler around various distractions
ideally having food, ball and/or scent drives necessary for training
have at least one task that mitigates your disability
passing the required testing for our program:
- Canine Good Citizen (CGC)
- Advanced Canine Good Citizen (CGCA)
- Urban Canine Good Citizen (CGCU)
- Novice Trick Dog (NTD)
- Public Access Test (PAT)

"Blake is an absolute marvel when it comes to advanced service dog training! Her expertise and dedication have truly made a world of difference for me and my furry companion. From the moment we started, it was evident that Blake's passion for service dog training knows no bounds.

What sets Blake apart is her remarkable ability to take service dog training to the next level. With precision and patience, she guided us through complex tasks and advanced obedience commands, always ensuring that each lesson was tailored to our specific needs. Blake's keen eye for detail and her innovative training techniques have transformed my dog into an invaluable service companion.

Beyond her technical skills, Blake's compassionate approach to training sets her apart. She creates a supportive and nurturing environment where both dogs and owners feel empowered to succeed. Her unwavering dedication to our success was evident in every session, and her genuine love for animals shines through in all that she does.

Thanks to Blake's expertise, my service dog has not only mastered advanced tasks but has also become a constant source of comfort and assistance in my daily life. I am forever grateful for Blake's guidance and support, and I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone in need of top-tier service dog training. Blake is a true gem in the world of dog training!

- Johnny K. & Leo

Program Breakdown

To enroll in our service dog training program, the handler must have a diagnosed disability and the dog should meet our requirements on evaluation. Our evaluation consists of testing the dog and how it responds to a variety of stimulus including social, auditory, visual, proprioception, tactile stimulation, unusual stimulus, medical equipment, and obedience. Each phase must be completed within a 6 month period once enrolled.

We train for the following conditions: psychiatric (PTSD, anxiety, autism, ADHD, etc), mobility, hearing impairment, medical alert (diabetes, allergen detection, seizure response, cardiac response, POTS, etc). At this time, we do not train guide dogs.

Handler must provide in addition to passing our evaluation:

doctor’s note stating need for service dog
vaccine records (we require rabies, distemper/parvo, and bordetella vaccines) from licensed veterinarian
proof of dog being heartworm negative and on prevention
proof of dog being on flea prevention
letter from licensed veterinarian stating dog is clear to work as a service dog
passing orthopedic radiographs of hips and elbows for mobility service dogs* (tasks include guide work and any weight bearing exercises)

Cost for evaluation: $75

Blake helped me every step of the way

"I made the very important decision to get a service dog prospect, Blake helped me every step of the way. From selecting the best breed for my needs, to finding a responsible and ethical breeder, and even temperament testing. I trained with Blake until my dog was 1.5 years old, during that time she helped us build a strong, stable and confident foundation. I recently moved to a different state, and even from afar Blake has been amazing with assisting whenever anything comes up. If you are looking for a trainer who truly cares, and will be there for you and your dog Meika's Helping Paws is the right place. To add to that, the different phases in the SD training program are an excellent route for new handlers, and Blake's knowledge in AKC testing and SD work make it that much easier for your dog to succeed in the program."

- Luiza M. & Bones

This phase focuses on socialization and exposure and establishing solid basic obedience. In order to move from phase 1 to 2, the handler and dog team must pass the Canine Good Citizen. During this phase, we will introduce the basic foundations for task working needed pertaining to the specific disabilities.

In this phase, you will learn:

stages of puppy and dog development
how to properly socialize and expose your service dog in training
basics of behavior and body language
house training & crate training tips
preventing behavior problems

Training options available include:

12 private lessons + 6 months of bi-weekly group classes
virtual lessons
online course (will launch December 2024)
board and train (available on an individual case by case basis) + 6 months of bi-weekly group classes

In this phase, your puppy/young dog will learn on leash:

environmental exposure and socialization
proper grooming
walking nicely on leash
sit on command
down on command
comes when called on leash
how to politely greet others
reacting appropriately to other dogs while out on a walk
reacting appropriately to mild distractions
supervised separation
self-relaxation techniques
task foundations
sit and down stay on command
what your rights are as a handler
service dog laws including:
- American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) – This law gives a handler access to non-pet friendly public areas with a task trained service animal.
- Fair Housing Act (FHA) – This law gives you access to live in non pet friendly housing (exceptions apply).
- Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) – This law gives you access to fly on airplanes with your task trained service dog.
- Georgia State Laws – This law gives service dogs in training access to train in public spaces so as long as they are accompanied by a trainer with an accredited organization.

In phase 2, you will learn how to proof your dog’s obedience commands around advanced distractions, additional duration and distance between you and the dog. Completion of phase 1 and/or CGC title is required to enroll into phase 2.

In this phase, you will learn:

introduction to pet friendly public access
exposure to more distractions
continued task foundations

Training options available include:

12 private lessons + 6 months of bi-weekly group classes
virtual lessons
online course (will launch December 2024)
board and train (available on an individual case by case basis) + 6 months of bi-weekly group classes

In phase 3, you will learn how to break down tasks step by step. Your dog will learn tasks relevant to your disability. Completion of phase 2 and/or CGCA/CGCU title is required to enroll into phase 3.

In this phase, you will learn:

Master a minimum of 1 task relevant to your disability and pass the Novice Trick Dog (NTD)
Have a solid foundation of all tasks

Training options available include:

12 private lessons + 6 months of bi-weekly group classes
virtual lessons
online course (will launch December 2024)
board and train (available on an individual case by case basis) + 6 months of bi-weekly group classes

Phase 3 covers task training. This means we build off the foundations for tasks already established in previous phases so that your lifeline becomes reliable in outings in public spaces.

We train for the following conditions: psychiatric, mobility, hearing, diabetic, allergen detection, seizure response, cardiac response, and much more including dysautonomia. At this time, we do not train guide dogs.

In order to move from phase 3 to 4, the handler and team must successfully demonstrate 1 task to mitigate their disability in their home environment and pass the Novice Trick Dog (NTD).

In phase 4, you will learn how to handle potential access issues. This is where we focus on proofing all tasks in a public environment. Completion of phase 3 and have all three CGC titles on record.

In this phase, you will learn:

Master all tasks relevant to your disability
Master all public access skills
Able to successfully navigate non pet-friendly locations including grocery stores, airports, malls, and more!
Pass the MHP Public Access Test

Training options available include:

12 private lessons + 6 months of bi-weekly group classes
virtual lessons
online course (will launch December 2024)
board and train (available on an individual case by case basis) + 6 months of bi-weekly group classes

Phase 4 is the final installment in our program. This is where we build off all the skills and commands and proof them in a public setting. This means we build off the foundations for tasks already established in previous phases so that your lifeline becomes reliable in outings in public spaces.

In order to pass phase 4 and graduate from the program, the handler and team must successfully demonstrate pass the MHP Public Access Test and demonstrate all tasks needed to mitigate their disability in a non pet-friendly environment.

Are you wanting to be able to take your service dog to more advanced locations such as an airport, zoo, or even a theme park like Universal Studios? Our advanced field trip options include specialized field trips that can be added into your program: