About Northeast Canine

Great Dane service dogs

Northeast Canine is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in South Hampton that breeds, raises, trains and places Great Dane service dogs with veterans and first responders facing mobility and emotional challenges. Founded in 2020, it says it takes 18 months and $30,000 to train each dog, and the dogs are placed at no cost to the recipient. It serves individuals nationwide.

How the dogs are trained

Northeast Canine chooses its Great Danes for their size, strength and calm sensitivity, which suit bracing support and help with PTSD. Puppies come from small litters raised with socialization and early neurological stimulation. By six months they begin mobility-focused training, learning to prevent falls, assist with balance and navigate public spaces, along with cues for anxiety or disassociation. A week-long pairing period with a trainer bonds each dog and handler, and dogs must pass Assistance Dogs International public access standards before graduating, with ongoing check-ins afterward.

The team

Megan Kokaras is founder, lead trainer and board president, with over a decade of experience and a bond-based approach. Devin DiBerto, board chair and a lead trainer, brings a relationship-based training style.

What to ask

Ask about the application process for a service dog, volunteering, and how to support the program.