EST. 2017
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What We Help Solve
At REAL K9 Training™, we support owner-trainers through the entire service dog journey—from choosing the right prospect to public access and advanced task work. Service dogs can assist with a wide variety of disabilities, and no two journeys look the same. Whether your needs involve mobility assistance, medical alert, medical response, or both, psychiatric support, or a combination, we’ll help you build the skills, structure, and confidence you need—together.
Criteria for Service Dog Training
Service dog training is intended for individuals with a disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities and who desire a service dog to mitigate these limitations. A doctor’s note confirming their medical condition will be required. Please ensure that you are seeking a service dog to assist with disability-related needs before inquiring about training.
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What's Included in the Packages
6-Session Service Dog Package
Your package includes:
• Six private, 45-minute sessions customized to your goals and your dog’s individual learning style
• First session runs about 75 minutes to allow time for intake and planning
• Personalized training plans with adjustments as your dog progresses
• Ongoing check-ins to help you stay on track and get the most out of each session
• Review of up to 2.5 minutes of training footage per session (split into multiple clips if you’d like)
• Guidance on reading your dog’s body language to support comfort, confidence, and well-being
• A clicker to support positive, marker-based training
Scheduling (6-Session Package)
• Package is valid for 3 months from the date of purchase
• Recommended frequency: weekly or bi-weekly sessions, though more frequent support can be beneficial depending on your needs
• Clients are responsible for scheduling their sessions, ideally the full package in advance, to secure their preferred time slots. We’ll send 1–2 reminders as a courtesy, but availability cannot be guaranteed if sessions are not booked early.
12-Session Service Dog Package
Your package includes:
• Twelve private, 45-minute sessions customized to your goals and your dog’s individual learning style
• First session runs about 75 minutes to allow time for intake and planning
• Personalized training plans with adjustments as your dog progresses
• Ongoing check-ins to help you stay on track and get the most out of each session
• Review of up to 2.5 minutes of training footage per session (split into multiple clips if you’d like)
• Guidance on reading your dog’s body language to support comfort, confidence, and well-being
• A clicker to support positive, marker-based training
Scheduling (12-Session Package)
• Package is valid for 6 months from the date of purchase
• Recommended frequency: weekly or bi-weekly sessions, though more frequent support can be beneficial depending on your needs
• Clients are responsible for scheduling their sessions, ideally the full package in advance; we’ll send 1–2 reminders as a courtesy
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Evaluation & Finding the Right Partner
It all begins with the right partner. Not every dog is suited for service work, and selecting wisely can save time, money, and heartache down the road. We guide you through:
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Choose from 6 or 12 private 45-minute sessions, customized to your goals and your prospect's individual learning style
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Evaluating temperament and drive
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Reviewing breeder practices or rescue backgrounds (with trusted breeder recommendations available)
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Temperament testing and identifying red/green flags
** While no trainer can guarantee a dog’s success as a service dog (genetics, health, early socialization, and life experiences all play major roles), we can maximize the chances of success and help you make informed decisions from the start.
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Building a Foundation
Strong foundations make advanced tasks possible. We focus on:
• Early socialization done right (not too much, not too little)
• Confidence-building exercises and experience
• Calm focus in public settings
• Foundation skills that prepare your dog for later task training
• Working toward all three Canine Good Citizen (CGC) levels and ultimately the Public Access Test (PAT).
Public access is the most challenging piece for many dogs. Our foundation work builds skills to give them the best chance of success—and if a dog shows this path isn’t right, we’ll be upfront to protect their wellbeing.
Our role is to guide you honestly and kindly through the process.
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Task Training (Custom to You)
Every client’s needs are unique. Here are some examples of the categories of service dogs and a few examples of common tasks:
• Mobility Assistance Dogs– Help handlers with wheelchairs, EDS, POTS, or other mobility challenges. Tasks may include picking up dropped items, retrieving mobility aids, pressing buttons, opening/closing doors, counterbalance, or even short wheelchair pulls where appropriate.
• Medical Alert, Medical Response, or Both– Support handlers with conditions such as seizures, diabetic highs/lows (DAD), or fainting episodes from POTS. Tasks may include alerting before an event, retrieving medication or a phone, activating an alert system (such as pressing a button to call for help), or—when safe—alerting another person in the home to provide assistance.
• Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSDs)– Assist with PTSD, anxiety, depression, or other psychiatric conditions. Tasks can include interrupting harmful behaviors, creating space in crowds, grounding through deep pressure therapy, or guiding away from overwhelming environments.
• Hearing Dogs– Alert handlers to alarms, sirens, door knocks, timers, and other critical sounds.
• Multipurpose Dogs– Many clients benefit from dogs trained across categories (for example, someone with POTS may need both mobility support and medical alert/response).
These are just a few examples. The list of conditions and tasks service dogs can support is far broader, and training is always tailored to the individual team. If you don’t see your needs listed, please reach out—we’re happy to discuss how a service dog might be able to help YOU.
Note: I do not train guide dogs for the blind, but can connect you with resources if needed.
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Ongoing Support
Training a service dog is a marathon, not a sprint. It should be a fulfilling and balanced journey—not only challenging but also fun. With us, you’ll receive:
• Custom training plans tailored to your team
• Support and troubleshooting to guide you through both progress and setbacks
• Practical, honest guidance at every stage of training
• Celebration of milestones—big and small—along the way
• Lasting education and skills you can continue to build on long after each lesson
Package Options
Service dog training is a long-term, highly individualized process, typically taking 18–24 months from start to finish. Instead of asking you to commit to that all at once, training is broken down into smaller packages. Each package is a building block and can be applied to one stage of the journey—or, if you begin with a new puppy or prospect, carried through all of them.
Packages may be used for selecting the right prospect, building strong foundations, working on early public access, or beginning task foundations. Most teams move forward by purchasing additional packages as their dog matures and progresses, creating a step-by-step path toward a fully trained service dog.
Single Session Service Dog Training Package
$125
Best for troubleshooting a specific minor challenges or fine-tuning skills—like in the success story of Jenny & Sadie. Ideal for returning clients or those needing clarity on one focused area.
Not intended for full service dog training—just targeted help.
6-Session Service Dog
Training Package
$750
A good starting place for new prospects, young puppies, or handlers who want to focus on the very first building blocks or getting stuck in between where a single session is not enough support. This package helps you lay foundations and start developing the skills your dog will need for service work down the road.
Valid for 3 months from purchase
12-Session Service Dog
Training Package
$1500
A flexible option for teams who want steadier guidance and more time to work on service dog training. These sessions can be used toward any stage of the process—whether that’s strengthening foundations, practicing early public access skills, or beginning task foundations.
Twelve sessions on their own will not result in a fully trained service dog, but they serve as an important building block in the longer training journey.
Valid for 6 months from purchase
This Package is Perfect for
• Individuals navigating life with a disability who want a highly trained partner
• Families seeking guidance and structure for service dog development
• Owner-trainers looking for expert support from puppyhood through public access
We’ll help you build a confident, reliable service dog—step by step, with compassion and expertise.
Every team’s journey is unique, and we’re here to guide you with honesty, compassion, and science-based training. Our goal is to help you and your dog succeed together—whether that means moving forward with service dog training or finding the path that’s truly the best fit for your needs. What Science Tells Us About Alerting • While some dogs seem to alert before seizures, the underlying mechanism remains unclear—whether due to changes in behavior, scent, or other signals. It’s still an open question in research. • More recently, research suggests we can train dogs to detect bodily odors related to different medical conditions—but underlying triggers and accuracy vary widely. Why We Can’t Guarantee Alerting • Not all dogs have a natural aptitude for alerting—even with the best training. Some dogs are naturals, others learn through training, and some may never develop reliable alerting behavior. • Behavioral dogs may anticipate events due to subtle cues we don’t fully understand—and not because they can sense an event itself. Each dog-handler team is unique. • Despite promising research, we’re still uncovering how alerting happens—and why it doesn’t work for every handler. This means predicting outcomes is not yet scientifically possible. What That Means for You and Your Dog • We train based on your dog’s strengths, whether they respond to natural signals or learn new behaviors. • Alerting isn’t guaranteed—it depends on the dog, the condition, and the handler’s response ability. • We work with what your dog brings—nurturing natural alert tendencies or training reliable response behaviors when appropriate. REAL K9 Training places strong emphasis on proofing training scenarios carefully and selecting tasks that are safe in different environments—meaning tasks like alerting another person outside may not be appropriate for every context. While service dogs can be trained to use medical alert buttons in the home, activating systems that notify EMS or family members during an emergency—but safety and reliability depend on careful training and context. COMMUNITY SUPPORT We’re also developing a private REAL K9 Training Facebook group—a small, supportive community for current clients and a few approved past clients I’ve personally worked with. The group will be science-based, positive, and closely moderated. Only trainers I’ve personally partnered with will be allowed to give training advice, and they’ll be clearly labeled as such. Clients will be able to share wins, ask questions, and encourage each other, knowing the guidance provided comes from trusted professionals. We’re aiming to launch by early 2026.
More Important Information
What It’s Like to Work With Us
We start with a conversation—about you, your goals, and your dog (or your search for one). From there, we create a plan tailored to your needs.
Whether meeting weekly or bi-weekly, we offer in-person and virtual options—and can coordinate with family or doctors when needed. We also provide day training for clients who may need extra support along the way. Because clear communication and accessibility are always at the heart of our program.