Therapy and Service Dogs

According to the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP)  Service Dog Committee, the following criteria is stated:

Therapy and Service Dogs

According to the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP)  Service Dog Committee, the following criteria is stated:

PTSD Service Dog Training

If you or someone you love is living with PTSD, a service dog can be a helpful companion and provide important emotional and physical support. Training a service dog to meet the needs of someone with PTSD requires dedication, consistency, patience, and knowledge.

PTSD service dogs provide a unique type of support for those struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. They are specifically trained to help their handler manage anxiety, mitigate distress, and  disrupt anxiety behaviors. Through obedience and task training, these specially trained dogs can detect physical signs of distress and alert their owner,  providing needed grounding techniques. Finding the right dog and right organization and trainer is key to ensuring the dog is properly trained to meet the individual’s needs.

Bob “Mutt Master” Warren has decades of experience in working with PTSD service trained dogs. He has worked for over four years for the Haven
Behavioral War Hero’s Hospital when they were located in Pueblo Colorado, and currently works for the Help Autism Center providing and training their service dogs.
Dog with Owner - Dog Training Colorado Springs
Services Dogs

Service Dogs Are

  • Any Breed
  • Any Size

  • Trained to perform a task to mitigate a person’s disability

Service Dogs Are Not

  • Required to be certified by or complete a professional training program

  • Required to wear a vest or other identification that indicates they’re a service dog

  • Emotional support or comfort dog

Behavior Standard

  • Obedience trained (beyond Basics)

  • Responsive to first commands of handler

  • No aggression such as lunging, growling, snapping, or biting

  • Housebroken, clean, and well groomed

  • No jumping, licking or approaching other people

  • Ignores other animals, people, food, and objects

  • Able to maintain composure despite multiple distractions

  • Must have 4 paws on the floor unless completing specific tasks to aid handler

Service Dog at the pool with owner

Help Autism

Since 2005, Help Autism Centers mission is:

Advocacy; Raise awareness, acceptance & inclusion; Assist public, private organizations, and companies, to coordinate services & therapies. Refer resources to families with autism and special needs.

The goal with Help Autism Service Dogs program:

To provide service dogs for families with autism & special needs, at no cost to the families. To improve the quality of life for their child or adult with autism & special needs.

Earlier this year we had the honor of meeting Demetrius and his wife Zenoba who was introduced to us from a breeder of American Bully Dogs. Zenoba had reached out on a Facebook Autism page requesting information about a service dog for her husband. Lisa, being a great supporter of our cause said that she would be willing to donate one of her litter to Demetrius and his family for help with his PTSD and Autism. We then introduced him to Bob Warren of Mutt Masters K9 Academy who will be doing the service dog training for Demetrius and his dog, now known as “Luna”. Please Meet Luna! We look forward to our growing relationship with Mutt Masters K9 Academy to provide Service Dogs for Autism and those with Special Needs.

Service Dog for PTSD and Autism
Help Autism logo