About Meika’s Helping Paws

What they do

Meika's Helping Paws runs two lines of work. The first is general dog training and complex behavior modification. The second is service dog training, broken out into eight published task tracks: autism assistance, allergen detection, diabetic alert, mobility assistance, PTSD and psychiatric, POTS and cardiac alert, and seizure response and alert. The site describes the range as reaching "From solving severe behavior challenges to mastering specialized service dog tasks."

How they work

The stated approach rejects a standard syllabus — "No cookie-cutter methods—just real-world results tailored to your lifestyle" — and the published client testimonial makes the same point from the other side, that the trainer "trains for the specific dog you have." Service dog clients are supported as owner-trainers: the site describes "personalized, compassionate guidance for individuals with disabilities navigating their owner-trainer service dog journey." A free phone consultation is the published first step.

Who trains

The trainer is named on the site as Blake Forkner, who it says has trained dogs for over ten years, eight of those on service dog candidate training and complex behavior modification, and has worked in Savannah since 2013. The site lists her credentials as CDT and AKC Evaluator, a certified evaluator for AKC Canine Good Citizen, Temperament Testing, STAR Puppy and Trick Dog titles, and a certified service dog trainer and handler who is a service dog handler herself. It also states she competes in AKC sports — obedience, rally, agility, lure coursing, dock diving and therapy dog work — and partners with a Savannah rescue rehabilitating dogs with behavioral challenges.

Where they work

The published service area is Savannah, GA and surrounding areas; one client testimonial is from Guyton.