OUR PROGRAM
Dogs are trained as service dogs for combat veterans/first responders who suffer from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). There is no cost to the veteran/first responder.
All dog lovers know how much the unconditional love of their dog means to them. This love and comradery is amplified with the service dog team. This unconditional love and respect has saved many veterans/first responders from taking their own lives.
The dogs being trained for this program come in all sizes and breeds. If the veteran/first responder already has a dog they are bonded with, we evaluate the dog's temperament and consider the team for the program. If the veteran/first responder does not have a dog, we work with them to locate a suitable match.
Our program is an owner guided training program which means our professional Saving Grace K9s trainers teach the veteran/first responder how to train their own service dog. We believe this way of training produces a much stronger bond between the team. The program consists of the team coming to train once a week for about an hour and a commitment of the team to train for 10 hours during that week practicing what has been learned. Basic training, extensive public access training in real-world settings and specific assistive training takes approximately 6-8 months.
Some examples of specific assistive training (service dog tasks) are: putting distance between the handler and others when in public, reminder to the veteran/first responder to take their medications, wake and comfort the veteran/first responder during nightmares, redirect the veteran/first responder during an anxiety attack. Each dog is trained specifically for each person's needs.