Canine Companions, formerly Canine Companions for Independence, is the oldest and largest service dog organization in the United States. It was formed in 1975 and is credited with starting the concept of the modern service dog that we are familiar with today. They attend to over 65 different types of physical and cognitive disabilities including autism, hearing loss, PTSD, Parkinson’s disease, POTS, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, and debilitating arthritis. They do not train dogs for the blind or for people who need to be alerted for medical conditions such as seizures and low blood sugar levels. Canine Companions provides their own breeders, puppy raisers and professional trainers with the end goal of placing the right dog with the right person in need.

Since Canine Companions’ inception, 8,000 dogs have been placed nationwide. Currently, approximately 400 dogs are placed annually, of which 50 are in Ohio. The need for these highly trained dogs far exceeds the supply. Canine Companions’ longterm goal is to decrease the current two year waiting list by increasing the amount of puppies born as well as volunteer puppy raisers.

There are many ways that distinguish Canine Companions from other service dog organizations, but the main feature is that these highly trained dogs are provided at no cost to the person in need. Canine Companions exists solely on donations. Please access their website: canine.org to read the stories of the celebrities who have generously donated their time and money to the organization. You can also read many heartwarming personal stories about how these dogs have helped people live their daily lives more independently.

One very generous donor was Charles Schultz, the late cartoonist and the creator of the comic strip Peanuts, featuring Charlie Brown and Snoopy. Shultz was instrumental in getting Canine Companions off the ground. He donated money to help fund the national campus and current headquarters in Santa Rosa, CA, where he resided the last 30 years of his life. Since he passed away in 2000, his wife and family continue to support the organization.

Canine Companions was founded by Bonnie Bergen. She is credited with inventing the concept of the service dog. Up until then, there were only guide dogs for the visually impaired. While Bonnie was traveling overseas, she saw donkeys assisting people with mobility issues. Her special education background motivated her to help her own students by experimenting with training dogs to assist them. She started with shelter dogs and began training them to pick up things. It was highly successful and rewarding to discover that this could actually be a way to help people with disabilities. Because of her innovative idea and determination, Canine Companions has grown into the thriving service dog organization it is today.

Service dogs are different from therapy dogs in that service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks for physically and cognitively challenged individuals. They are paired with an individual in need and live with them in order to assist them to manage their day to day lives with more independence. Service dogs have access rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This permits public access anywhere that humans are allowed to go, except where they may compromise a sterile environment. Most importantly, they serve one person only.

Therapy dogs are not trained to perform specific tasks. They are considered a family pet just as service dogs are, but they do not have public access rights. They are able to go to venues that are dog friendly. They are trained and tested to have good manners and are there to provide emotional comfort wherever they go with their handler. Please refer to my June 17 podcast regarding therapy dog training for further details.

My guest on this podcast is Staicey Scholtz. Staicey is a Northern Ohio Leadership Team member and a 15-time volunteer puppy raiser. After the female dogs (referred to as dams) give birth at a Canine Companions approved breeder’s home, the puppies are transferred to volunteer puppy raiser’s homes for 16 to 18 months. Currently, Staicey has a 16 month old Lab/Golden mix, named Rocco the 5th, who hopefully will be ready to go to his professional trainer on August 8, 2025. If he qualifies, he will be trained on specific tasks and hopefully placed with a person in need. Staicey also has a 5 month Lab/Golden named Hammond the 3rd.

Staicey’s motivation for volunteering as a puppy raiser grew out of the desire to help raise future service dogs. She wanted to help those in need live more independently. According to Staicey, service dogs are life changing. Raising the puppies has had a tremendous impact on her. The experience has made her look at her own life and feel blessed that she does not have a disability that would require a service dog. She views what she does as a puppy raiser as a gift to someone in need.

When Staicey is out in public, she sometimes gets comments from people who don’t understand how she can give a dog up after living and caring for them for a year and a half. They think of it as comparable to a death of a pet. Staicey doesn’t view what she does in the same way. The clients who get these dogs love them just as much as she and the professional trainers do. The dogs want to work and are happy doing the jobs they were trained to do. However, she does admit that getting another puppy to fill the gap definitely helps in getting over missing the dog who has finished their stay with her. Hammond will be filling that gap very soon!

The journey of a Canine Companions dog begins and ends as follows:

* Breeder - from birth to 8 weeks old

* Puppy raiser - from 8 weeks old to up to 18 months old

* Professional trainer - from 18 to 24 months

* Forever handler - from 24 months to end of life

Breeding Program

Canine Companions has a state of the art Research and Science Team who discovered that the ideal breed for service dogs involves a combination of Labrador and Golden Retriever. All of the males in the breeding program are 100% Lab. The females can be Lab/Golden crosses and have varied percentages of each in them. They decide which dogs will be best suited for breeding by the time they are old enough to move onto their professional trainers.

If a dog is not marked for breeding, it is either spayed or neutered. They are very careful to breed out any physical and medical defects, so that the failure rate of service dogs due to medical reasons is very low. For example, if a dog’s bite doesn’t align quite right, that dog may not be suitable to carry things in their mouth to their handler. A dog like this will most likely be deemed to be a therapy dog, which will be discussed later.

Volunteer breeders sign up to take care of either the sire (male) or the dam (female). Litters are born in the homes of these volunteers located in California. If a volunteer has a sire, they will get called to meet up with the dam in heat and travel to that location. They drop them off and give them several days to do their magic and then get picked back up again once the dam is no longer in the receptive period of her heat. Caretakers of dams have the option to whelp (assist in the birthing process) the litter in their own home, but are not obliged to do so. If they choose to experience this, there is a Canine Health and Wellness Center near by to assist them with the birthing process or to just support the breeder during this stressful yet exciting event.

When puppies are born in the caretaker’s home, they will be named by a letter of the alphabet which is assigned by headquarters. The breeders will submit 50 names which will be reviewed to make sure there are no other working dogs with the same name. There is a possibility for a donor of $15-$20K to submit a name for a future service dog. In fact, Staicey’s dog Rocco the 5th was named after the owner of Fahrenheit Restaurant in Cleveland - Rocco Whelan.

Puppy Raisers

Once the puppies are named, they will be designated to volunteer puppy raisers in one of the six regions of the United States. Ohio is in the North Central region and includes states from western Pennsylvania to North Dakota. The puppy raiser will go to the nearest training center to pick up their puppy. The closest one in Ohio is located in the Columbus suburb of New Albany. This is also the same location where the puppy will return for professional training once they have reached 15 to 18 months.

Puppy raisers sign a contract stating that they will be responsible to care for the puppy for the next 15 to 18 months, including veterinary care, food, and spaying or neutering if they aren’t marked for breeding. They are obligated to attend at least two obedience training classes each month which follow the LIMA training philosophy, or as most people are familiar with, the positive reinforcement technique. The LIMA training philosophy stands for Least Intrusive Minimally Aversive, and prioritizes the dog’s well being. They are to avoid any methods causing fear, pain or distress.

As soon as the puppy comes home, they are introduced to the preferred walking tool by Canine Companions known as the Gentle Leader. In the picture above, Hammond is wearing a Gentle Leader. In order to establish positive association with the Gentle Leader, the puppy will wear it while they eat as soon as they arrive at the puppy raiser’s home. Since puppies eat three times a day, this is a frequent opportunity for them to get used to it.

The Gentle Leader is a tool that requires some conditioning since it encompasses their nose and mouth. Typically dogs do not like it at first and need to gradually get used to it. However, it can be a great tool to guide the dog in different directions and teach a nice heel position. The designated client is under no obligation to use the Gentle Leader, but it is highly recommended.

The Gentle Leader is not a muzzle. When puppy raisers socialize their puppies in public, many people stop to ask why the dog is wearing a muzzle. It works very similar to a horse’s bridle. It redirects the dog when it pulls on the walk. For some dogs, it can have a calming effect due to the pressure points being activated around the nose and ears.

Puppy raisers are representing Canine Companions and how service dogs should behave while in public. Part of that responsibility is making sure they are in control of their dog at all times. It is vital for a service dog to follow their handler’s pace. The handler may be in a wheel chair and cannot be pulled at all. The Gentle Leader is a great tool to accomplish that. Your average dog owner typically does not have the time and patience required for the necessary conditioning that must take place in order for it to be an effective walking tool.

Staicey socializes her puppies frequently with other Canine Companions puppy raisers in the local chapter. They enjoy going to venues such as stores, restaurants, West Side Market, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Cleveland Aquarium. Each place exposes the dogs to different sights, sounds, and smells which teaches them to be comfortable in all types of locations. Remember, when they are paired up with their forever handler, the handler can take them everywhere humans can go except where their fur is not welcome in a sterile environment! Therefore, service dogs in training cannot be so fearful or excited that they cannot focus on their job of doing tasks for their handler.

When a service dog is in public with their handler, they should not greet other people because they are working and need to be focused on taking commands from their handler at all times. While the puppy raisers and their dogs are out and about, they primarily work on ignoring people. However, they do want to train the dogs to be friendly with strangers so that they aren’t afraid or excited around them. It is also a great opportunity to share with the public why they are training their dogs and what Canine Companions is all about. If someone asks to pet their dog, the puppy raiser may elect to release the puppy to greet them. All they ask is that you please ask them first!

Puppy Raising Prison Program

In addition to puppy raisers like Staicey, Canine Companions is using inmates from various prisons around the United States to raise puppies. There are currently 25 facilities participating in this program. These puppies are in prison for a few months with their handler until they are ready to socialize. At that time, the puppy will go for an outing with a volunteer puppy raiser to expose them to the outside world since inmates cannot leave prison until their release. This program is so impactful for the inmates that the recidivism rate for these volunteers is almost non-existent.

At a recent conference to celebrate Canine Companions’ 50th anniversary, there were two inmates who spoke about their time raising puppies and how it impacted their lives. One inmate said that this experience was the first time she felt she was not just a number. It gave her purpose, someone to love and someone who accepted her for who she was, not for what she did to land her in prison.

The volunteer inmates train the puppies the same skills that volunteer puppy raisers do. like the basic “Sit”, “Down”, “Stay”, “Come”. and to walk nicely on leash. Besides the basic obedience commands, Staicey says they learn about 30 cues, including grooming skills such as getting their teeth brushed and fur combed. Some of these cues are the foundation for the professional training that follows. For example, there is an “Up” command. The dog is to put his two front legs resting on an object, but is not allowed to jump onto it. This is useful for when the handler needs the dog to give a store clerk a credit card and needs to get “Up” on the counter. Rocco is in the “Up” position on Staicey in the picture above.

Professional Training

Once the puppy raiser has completed their job and the puppy is between 16 and 18 months old, it is time to take them to the closest training facility. There are 6 nationwide. The closest one in Ohio is located in New Albany. This is where puppies are dropped off to start their professional training if they meet the qualifications of being a service dog.

The client applicants will spend two weeks in New Albany with the dog chosen for them by the staff at Canine Companions. The professional trainers have a lot of weight in this decision since they spend every day for 6 months training the dogs. They know the temperament of each dog so they can ideally match them up with the client’s needs and lifestyle. The client applicants learn all of the commands the dog has been taught and also has time to bond with their new dog. They also have an opportunity to express to the trainers particular tasks they would like the dog to learn.

The professional trainers will teach the dogs approximately 45 tasks including, but not limited to, picking up dropped items, turning on and off lights, closing doors and drawers, tugging laundry baskets and opening and closing refrigerator doors. There is also a “Do Nothing” command which is almost identical to the “Place” command a lot of dog trainers teach. The “Do Nothing” is very useful for service or facility dogs who have to be content with laying down until they are released. This could be hours depending on the scenario. During this podcast, Rocco was demonstrating the “Do Nothing” command until Staicey released him. He actually fell asleep and started snoring but he woke up when Staicey commanded him to work!

There is a high demand for service dogs for veterans who have PTSD. Dogs can be trained to wake them up and disrupt a nightmare, they can turn on lights and pull back the covers on the bed. A lot of veterans have social anxiety in public. Their service dog knows commands “Front” and “Back” which means the dog positions itself in front or behind the person to block them from other people in a crowd. The dog can take the vet back to the their comfort place when experiencing mounting anxiety due to certain triggers in their environment. The dog gives a veteran a reason to get out and the security to be in public when they wouldn’t have done so on their own.

Staicey finds raising puppies for Canine Companions very rewarding because she is able to meet the client her dog will serve. Four times a year, there is a graduation ceremony for the dogs that have completed their 6 month professional training. Staicey is able to have lunch with her dog’s client and shows them pictures of when the dog she spent 16-18 months with was a puppy. They typically share contact information, but it is up to the client if they want to reach out to her in the future. Staicey has been fortunate that almost all of her 15 puppies she has raised have gone on to graduate and become service dogs.

Facility Dogs

Facility dogs are as well trained as service dogs, but do not work for someone with a disability. They are assigned to a professional in the medical, judicial, educational, or physical/occupational therapy fields. The biggest difference between a facility dog and a service dog is that facility dogs do not have public access because their handler does not have a disability. They are allowed to go to work with their handler and help so many people in various ways.

Examples of facility dogs are:

* Judicial - a children’s lawyer can bring their dog to the courthouse to provide comfort to children in forensic interviews and support them in court.

* Rehabilitation - a physical therapist may bring their dog to help clients with their physical therapy goals and offer comfort while enduring painful exercises. They can also grab equipment for the patient.

* Educational - a speech therapist can bring their dog to help children undergoing speech therapy. Children will talk and feel more at ease with a dog versus a human.

If you are interested in having a facility dog at your place of employment, please access the Canine Companions website at canine.org and fill out the application stating your desire.

Therapy Dog Program

For dogs that do not meet the standards of a service or facility dog due to temperament or medical issues, these highly trained dogs are released to enter the therapy dog program. Canine Companions started their own therapy program because they wanted them to continue to represent the organization.

Therapy dogs typically do not have any task training. However, sometimes dogs have to be released from professional training due to a medical issue that has arisen, such as an allergy to something environmental. These dogs are already trained and can continue to do the tasks they have learned for the handler at home, but are not expected to do tasks for the people they comfort.

Since 2008, September has been recognized as National Service Dog Month. The life and job of a service dog with their handler is beyond amazing that an entire month is dedicated to them. The Northern Ohio chapter of Canine Companions is celebrating their 50th anniversary by hosting an event open to the public called “Stride for Service Dogs” this September 13, in Medina, Ohio. They are hoping to get at least 50 people to each walk one mile collectively with others at the event to total to 50 miles and 1,000 people to donate $50 each to hit the $50,000 amount to help celebrate 50 years of being in existence.

For more information or to donate to the Stride for Service Dogs event, please click on the link below:

https://secure.qgiv.com/event/dogfestnorthcentral2025/account/2036487/

As I write this post, I am happy to announce that Staicey and Rocco matriculated on August 8 and Rocco will be moving on to his professional training program! I look forward to hearing who Rocco will be matched up with and what tasks he will be taught to help his new handler live more independently.

If you have a disability and would like to apply for a service dog, facility dog or if you would like to apply for any of the volunteer positions available within Canine Companions, please access their website at canine.org. You can also follow them on Facebook by searching for the Canine Companions name and logo above.

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