Service Dog Training in Denver, CO

Service dog training in the Denver area comes in two main forms. Some organizations train and place service dogs with people who have disabilities; others help people train their own dog to become their service dog, through private sessions, courses and coaching. A handful of local trainers and nonprofits offer one or both.

This guide explains what a service dog is, the routes available around Denver, what to ask a program, and what the process asks of you as a handler. It is general information, not legal advice.

What a service dog is

A service dog is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Tasks might include mobility help such as retrieving items or bracing, alerting to sounds, or interrupting symptoms of a psychiatric condition. A service dog also needs excellent public manners: calm in stores, restaurants and on transit, ignoring food and people, and settling for long periods.

Emotional support animals and therapy dogs are different. They provide comfort but are not individually trained to perform disability-related tasks, and the rules that apply to them are different. If you are unsure which you need, ask a trainer or your health care provider.

Training a service dog usually happens in layers. First come basic manners and a calm, confident temperament. Then come the specific tasks the handler needs, broken into small steps and practiced until they are reliable. Finally comes public-access training, where the dog learns to work quietly in stores, offices, restaurants and on public transportation. Each layer takes time, and trainers usually assess the dog at each stage before moving on.

Routes available around Denver

• Placement programs. A nonprofit in Aurora that is accredited by Assistance Dogs International trains purpose-bred pups as mobility service dogs and places them with people who apply, supported by volunteer puppy raisers.
• Owner-trainer programs. Nonprofits in Lakewood and Conifer help people with disabilities train their own dog as their service dog, with support for veterans, first responders and civilians. Programs like these are often funded partly by donations and grants.
• Private trainers. A few trainers in the area offer service dog coaching, from in-person sessions to online self-training courses and group coaching.

Wait times, eligibility and costs differ a great deal between these routes, so contact each program directly.

Questions to ask a program

• Is the program for placement of a trained dog, or for training your own dog?
• What disabilities and tasks does it train for?
• How does it evaluate whether a dog is suitable, and what happens if a dog is not?
• How long does training usually take, and how often will you meet?
• What public-access training is included, and how is it tested?
• What support continues after training ends?
• How is the program funded, and what will you be asked to pay or commit?

It is worth asking, too, how the program keeps in touch after the dog is working. Skills can fade, handlers’ needs change and dogs age, so ongoing support or refresher sessions are a sign of a program that expects to stay involved for the dog’s working life.

Choosing a dog to train yourself

Not every pet has the temperament for service work. A good candidate is steady around people and dogs, recovers quickly from surprises, is physically sound for the tasks needed and enjoys working with its handler. Trainers who help owner-trainers often start with an evaluation of the dog. If your current dog is not suited, a trainer can tell you honestly and help you think about the next step. Ask about this before you invest months of work.

If you are choosing a puppy with service work in mind, ask a trainer to help you evaluate litters and parents, and be prepared for the possibility that a puppy may not suit service work as it matures. Many owner-trainers keep a backup plan, and good programs talk openly about what happens if a dog is better suited to life as a companion.

What the process asks of the handler

Service dog training is a long commitment. Owner-trainer programs typically involve regular sessions with daily practice between them, and placement programs usually require training alongside your new partner before and after placement. Expect to learn task training, public-access skills, handling in busy places and how to keep skills sharp over the dog’s working life. Some local programs work with clients at home or in their area and meet elsewhere when travel or parking makes a location impractical.

It also asks for patience with the public. Service dog teams in training are often approached by people who want to pet the dog or ask questions. Programs usually coach handlers on polite ways to keep the dog working and the interaction short, and on how to plan outings so the dog is not overwhelmed early in its training.

Methods

The local service dog programs describe positive, reward-based methods, and one says it uses clicker training with treats and does not use e-collars, choke collars or pinch collars. Ask any program how it trains tasks, how it handles mistakes in public and what equipment the dog will wear while working.

Reviewed Service Dog Training Trainers in Denver

These reviewed Denver-area trainers from our directory handle service dog training. Each links to a full profile with specialties, certified credentials, reviews, and contact info:

• Calvert Dog Training — 5.0★ (102 reviews)
• Domino Service Dogs — 5.0★ (36 reviews)
• COLLAB Dog Training — 5.0★ (12 reviews)
• Faithfully K9: Service Dog and Dog Training — 4.8★ (18 reviews)
• Freedom Service Dogs of America — 4.6★ (101 reviews)
• Canine Partners of the Rockies — 4.4★ (23 reviews)

See all Denver service dog training trainers →

Frequently Asked Questions

Related: read our complete service dog training guide or the full Denver dog training overview.