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SERVICE DOG TRAINING GUIDE
I created this guide because I wanted a place where owner-trainers could go to not only see the universal skills that I teach to all service dogs I work with, but also as a place where you could find resources on how to teach those skills. How to use this guide: Start by working through the “foundations” section of this guide. Regarding order after foundations: Every dog is different. I typically start with training skills that the dog will be most successful at (chill dog?
Jul 29, 20254 min read
Service Dog's First Flight (+ pro tips!)
Come along for my service dog’s very first flight experience — from navigating TSA and boarding the plane to takeoff, landing, and everything in between. In this vlog, we’re documenting what air travel actually looks like with a service dog, including the wins, challenges, and real-time training moments. Once we land, we head into New York City with friends and two guide dogs in training for a day of city exposure, public transit, and training adventures before wrapping up th
2 days ago1 min read
Service Dog Retirement: Signs It’s Time & How to Transition
How do you know when it’s time to retire your service dog—and what happens next? In this video, I’m breaking down the signs it might be time to retire your working dog, how to make that decision, and what the transition into retirement actually looks like. Drawing from my experience as a guide dog placement specialist and my own journey with my service dog CoolWhip, I walk you through the physical and behavioral signs to watch for, how to balance your dog’s quality of life, a
May 71 min read
My Service Dog at the Emergency Vet (and pet insurance explained!)
We didn’t expect our morning hike to end with my service dog at the emergency vet—but accidents happen, even when you’re experienced. In this video, I’m sharing a scary moment with my service dog, Denver, and how I handled it. More importantly, I break down the step-by-step decisions that helped me stay calm, act quickly, and avoid making a bad situation worse. Whether you have a service dog or a pet, knowing what to do in moments like this can make all the difference. I also
Apr 231 min read
How to Prepare Your Service Dog for Flying on an Airplane (plus busses, subways, and more!)
✈️ I’m flying Denver, my service dog, across the country soon… and the timeline just got REAL. Want your service dog to be calm, cool and collected on your first flight? In this video I’m sharing the techniques I use to safely and effectively prepare service dogs for air travel—plus the biggest mistakes to avoid! #servicedog #servicedogs #servicedogtraining
Mar 261 min read
Viral Service Dog Video: How to Train Your Service Dog to find a seat, grounding task, and even an alert!
Last week a short clip of Denver learning to find a seat went completely viral (45M views and counting!)— and a lot of people asked how that behavior is actually trained. In this new video, I’m breaking down the foundation behind the skill and why the same behavior can power everything from cooperative care to a service dog grounding or alert task. We love a versatile foundation skill here at DOGGY•U! 🙌🏼
Mar 121 min read
How Do I Use the Bathroom With My Service Dog?
No one tells you about this part of having a service dog… How do you actually use the bathroom when your dog is working with you? From tiny stalls and hand dryers to airplanes and very questionable bathroom floors, I’m walking you through exactly how I handle my service dog in public restrooms —step-by-step. This is the video I never thought to make until y’all kept asking… and now it’s the everything you wanted to know about going to the bathroom with a service dog video.
Feb 261 min read
Gentle Leader & Halti: When I Use Head Collars and How To Condition Them
Head collars can be quite a controversial tool in dog training. In this week's video, I break down how head collars actually function, how they’re commonly used, and how I thoughtfully incorporate them into my own service dog training without relying on them long-term. I also share my personal 50% rule for keeping myself honest about where my training foundations really are at. If you’ve ever wondered if you should use a head collar or whether a head collar is helping your t
Jan 291 min read
Places I DON'T Bring My Service Dog (even if it's legal!)
Service dogs are allowed almost everywhere… but I don’t take mine everywhere. 👀 In today’s video, I’m sharing the places and situations I intentionally avoid bringing my service dog — even though I legally could. This isn’t about access denial. It’s about safety, risk assessment, backup supports, and my dog’s well-being. If you’re a handler, service dog trainer, or just curious about what responsible service dog handling might looks like, this one’s for you.
Jan 151 min read
Service Dog Training Goals: Year 2 of Training
2026 is shaping up to be a big year for my service dog and I —and for this channel! From advanced service dog tasks and real-world public access training (yes, we'll be taking our first flight!) to sports, tricks, and long-term goals we’ll be building toward together, this video breaks down what we’re working on, what you’ll see here (and on Patreon), and why slow, intentional training still adds up to big things. If you love thoughtful service dog training, realistic goal-se
Jan 11 min read
AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY FOR SERVICE DOG HANDLERS
SERVICE DOG TRAINING GUIDE
I created this guide because I wanted a place where owner-trainers could go to not only see the universal skills that I teach to all service dogs I work with, but also as a place where you could find resources on how to teach those skills. How to use this guide: Start by working through the “foundations” section of this guide. Regarding order after foundations: Every dog is different. I typically start with training skills that the dog will be most successful at (chill dog?
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