Pawsitivity Service Dogs

WAHT WE DO

How Pawsitivity trains and supports service dogs for veterans.

What We Do

Pawsitivity trains service dogs for U.S. military veterans with PTSD and co-occurring conditions such as seizures, hearing loss, and blindness. We serve veterans with complex, layered disabilities through individualized training and ongoing support.

Every team receives individualized training and ongoing support for the team.

Training a future service dog

Teaching a service dog to focus on the handler during task training.

Gorda, a service dog with veteran

Service dogs help veterans feel confident getting back out into the world.

Training 

Training is tailored to each veteran’s disability, goals, and daily environment.

Service dogs are matched with veterans based on their specific needs, ensuring a perfect partnership. Training includes:

  • Stress alerts: Dogs are trained to recognize and interrupt rising anxiety
  • Public readiness: Dogs practice navigating public spaces, creating safe zones, and interacting appropriately.
  • Daily support tasks: Veterans are trained to use their dog as a grounding tool during panic attacks or flashbacks.

Four stages of training

We use a four-stage training program. The entire process takes one to two years.

  • Stage 1: Medical Exam and Assessment
    • A full veterinary exam ensures each dog is healthy and suitable for service dog work.
    • A personality evaluation helps determine the best fit for service dog roles.
  • Stage 2: Basic Obedience Training
    • Teaches foundational commands like sit, stay, come, and down.
    • Builds leash skills and the ability to ignore distractions.
    • Uses force-free, positive reinforcement methods.
  • Stage 3: Public Access Training
    • Prepares dogs to navigate public environments such as stores, transportation, and crowds.
    • Builds calm, confident behavior around people and animals.
    • Ensures safety and independence in everyday public settings.
  • Stage 4: Placement and Team Training
    • Matches each dog with a veteran.
    • Provides task-specific training tailored to the veteran’s needs.
    • Includes joint training of the veteran and dog, plus ongoing support for the team.

➡️ Learn more about how the dogs are selected and trained

 

Service dog with a veteran outdoors in tunnel

Service dogs provide calm, grounding support when anxiety or panic rises.

“My service dog has helped me a lot in the middle of my panic attacks...I’ll start petting her and focusing all of my energy on her rather than directing it at myself, which makes feeling anxiety attacks a lot easier. They don’t last quite as long. She’s really helping."

-Pawsitivity client, quoted in our Impact Evaluation.

 

Learn more

➡️ Why service dogs work so well for veterans

 

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