Service Dog Training

As a dog trainer for the Canadian Veteran Service Dog Unit (CVSDU), I have the honor of working alongside injured veterans, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, corrections officers, and first responders and their service dogs. Founded in 2014 by a dedicated group of dog trainers, the CVSDU aims to assist injured veterans by providing trained service dogs at no cost.

Today, CVSDU stands as the only membership-based, veteran-led charity. Our members are part of the CVSDU family, participating in weekly check-in meetings, monthly training events, and biannual re-evaluations to maintain their status as qualified Service Dog Teams.

Photo credit Josee Lavoie Photoart

Acquiring a service dog can be transformative, yet it often presents significant challenges. After my child suffered a brain injury, I tirelessly searched for a service dog without success. That's when I learned that training your own dog to become a service dog is indeed possible.

The bond many people share with their own dog is unique, and I can personally attest to the rewarding experience of working with your own pet, but there can also be hurdles to overcome...not every dog is cut out to be a service dog. If you're unsure about your eligibility for a service dog or whether your dog can fulfill that role, I'm here to assist you. During our meeting, I'll provide essential information and assess your dog's temperament, health, train-ability, and social skills to determine if they qualify. We'll also discuss your handling skills and ability to work with your dog on a daily basis and what that entails.

If you are an injured veteran, police officer, firefighter, paramedic, corrections officer or first responder and you are interested in learning more about the CVSDU please click here: www.cvsdu.ca

In order to qualify to have a service dog in Ontario you need:

A disability, as identified by a qualified health professional. This can be a physical or mental health disability such as anxiety.
A note from a qualified health professional stating that you need a service dog.

We start with a private consultation to assess your needs and your dog's suitability. Following that we begin training one-on-one

Understanding your rights and public access
Preparing you and your dog for the Canine Good Neighbor Test
Building obedience, manners and focus in public
Developing your dog's confidence in different environments
Task training for your specific needs
Training you and your dog to be a team
Preparing you and your dog for the Public Access Test

Below are links to the Ontario Service Dog Laws:

http://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/110191#BK149

https://www.ontario.ca/page/accessibility-ontario-what-you-need-to-know