SERVICE DOG PROGRAM • LAVAL & MONTREAL

Train your own service dog

A 12–18 month guided program for owner-trainers — from foundations and public access through task training, with regular assessments along the way.

Start Your Application Here

Program Includes

What the 12–18 months covers

Socialization Life Skills Public Access Work Task Training Regular Assessments

Is This You?

Our service dog program is ideal for

Individuals who want to raise and train their own dog with expert guidance

Owner-trainers committed to ethical, long-term training

Handlers with disabilities seeking customized support

Families looking to evaluate a young dog for service potential

We do not provide fully trained service dogs. We partner with handlers who want to do the work with their dog under professional supervision.

Dog Requirements

Under 4 years old
Recent veterinary exam with clean bill of health
Confident, friendly and social
Non-reactive and non-aggressive with people and animals
Puppies or families looking for a dog are welcome!

Owner/Handler Requirements

Minimum 18 years and older
Diagnosed disability and referral by a registered healthcare professional
Time and consistency to practice skills regularly between lessons
Be willing to commit to the 12–18 month training process

Disabilities we help with

Mobility Hearing Medical Alert PTSD & Anxiety

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Fill out our application

Before we begin, all prospective service dog clients must complete our detailed Service Dog Intake Form. We only accept teams that we believe have a realistic pathway to success — this ensures ethical training, clear expectations, and the wellbeing of both dog and handler.

➤ Your specific needs and goals

➤ Your dog’s age, breed, and current behaviour

➤ Whether your dog has the potential for future service dog work

➤ If we are a good match for one another

SERVICE DOG PROGRAM APPLICATION

Learn More About Our Service Dog Program

How the program comes together

The training path every team moves through over 12–18 months.

1

Foundation Skills & Socialization

Before public access or task work begins, your dog builds a foundation of core obedience and impulse control — sit, stay, loose-leash walking, and calm settling in new environments. Alongside this, we focus on structured socialization: calm, positive exposure to different people, places, sounds, and other animals, so your dog develops the confidence and neutrality a working service dog needs.

2

Public Access

The longest (and toughest part of the training process) is teaching your dog to be comfortable and well mannered when they are put in public spaces. Your dog will learn to remain calm, focused, and well-mannered in real-world settings such as stores, public transit, appointments, and busy environments.

3

Task Training

Dogs learn a minimum of 3 tasks to mitigate your disability. Tasks include:

Deep pressure therapy
Interrupting anxious behaviours
Retrieving items
Medical alerts
Alerting to sounds or changes

4

Regular Reassessments

We conduct regular reassessments throughout the program to ensure the dog continues to show potential, the team is progressing sustainably, and training adapts to your needs and the dog's development, strengths, and stress signals.

Not every dog is suited for public access or task work — and that's okay. We're committed to honest feedback, and if needed, helping you transition your dog to an appropriate role (such as emotional support or skilled companion) with kindness and respect.

How We Work Together