PTSD Service Dog Training
As you work through our application process, you’ll be providing us with key information that will assist our instructors when matching a dog best suited to your needs. With a clear understanding of our client goals and objectives, we have succesfully crafted a program that you’ll be excited to participate in.
Our certified America’s VetDogs training team will train your dog tasks that will specifically help mitigate your disability.

On-class Training
During our in-residence training program, students are introduced to basic obedience and commands, ways to motivate and reward their dogs and service dog handling techniques in preparation for receiving their new PTSD service dog. Throughout class, our instructors will provide hands-on training along with one-on-one interaction as well as full access to our extensive video reference library. Students will also work on the fundamentals of communicating and working with their new canine partner in various settings both on campus and in other training environments. Training includes personalized task training, basic and advanced obedience, primary and secondary motivators, discussions on dog care, etiquette, canine communication, learning theory and more.
By the time the team graduates from our program, students will have a clear understanding of how to read their dog and anticipate their dog’s reaction to environmental changes, use of appropriate equipment to become the most effective handler and understand how to motivate and reward their dog throughout the working day. Students will also learn how to work with their dogs in various settings that include residential and country environments; outings to malls, grocery stores and other stores, transportation venues including overland rail, train platforms, airports and other types of real-world situations.
Prior to the completion of class, each new handler and dog team will have to pass the Assistance Dog International Public Access Test. The test is to determine if the dog is safe to be in public and that the handler demonstrates that he/she has control of the dog at all times. These in-person ADI Public Access Tests will be repeated annually to bi-annually throughout the working career of the dog team.