Service Dog Training Colorado
In Colorado, service dog training can take different pathways:
- People living with disabilities have the right to train their dogs themselves (as per the federal Americans with Disabilities Act
) - Dog trainers and various resources can help
- Service dog organizations can provide fully trained service dogs to people who need them
- Dog training organizations can help folks to train their own dog to perform service dog tasks (“work”)
- Any combination of these options can work
- Related: Service Dog Laws Colorado – Comprehensive Guide & FAQs
People with disabilities have the right to train the dog themselves and are not required to use a professional service dog training program.
Americans with Disabilities Act Frequently Asked Questions
Service Dog Training Colorado Springs
Victory Springs Dogs
Clients of Victory Springs Dogs bring their dogs to their training facility in Colorado Springs and train together once a week, for 18-24 months. This is done with one of their professional dog trainers. In other words, they teach clients how to train their dogs to be a service dog.
Victory Springs Dogs helps:
- Disabled Veterans (PTSD, TBI, MST, and/or mobility issues)
- Retired First Responders
- Children (autism, mental health, seizure disorders)
Victory Springs dogs do not work with civilians. To quality, you must live in or near the Denver or Colorado Springs area.
Facts about the Veterans & First Responders program:
- Their training program will take, on average, 18 – 24 months
- Weekly training sessions are free
- The only types of dogs currently being accepted are Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Standard Poodles under the age of 1 year
- Goldendoodles, Labradoodles, and Sheepadoodles may be accepted on a case-by-case basis
Facts about the Victory Kids program:
- It is open to children ages 5-17
- It helps those who are on the spectrum, has seizure disorders, or have mental health needs
- Child candidates must live in or near Colorado Springs or the Denver area
- The current cost is $10,000, with a minimum monthly payment of $200
- This cost does not include the cost of acquiring a puppy
- They offer support through fundraising campaigns and resources where you can apply for grants on your own to help cover the cost
Victory Springs Dogs Contact Information
- Main Office and Training Facility
- 770 Wooten Rd., Ste 103, Colorado Springs, CO 80915
- victoryservicedogsinc@gmail.com
- Phone: (719) 394-4046
K9to5
K9to5 is run by a trainer named Christine, who understands personally what it’s like to live with debilitating disabilities for many years. At K9to5 there are a number of options you can take on your service dog training path:
- You can do all the dog training with Christine coaching you every step of the way
- A combination of you training in class and Christine doing one-on-one with your dog
- Christine can train your dog in a one-on-one setting. You then go home and work on some of it in between sessions
- You can do day training to help your pup move along
They also train:
- Service Dogs
- Emotional Support Dogs
- Therapy Dogs
There are various “pawkages” available, at varying degrees of cost. Check out the Pawkages Page to view the options.
Contact K9to5
- 308 West Fillmore
- Colorado Springs 80907
- Phone 719-238-8118
House of Dog Training
House of Dog Training is focused on positive reinforcement dog training. While House of Dog Training does not specifically train service dogs, it can help with preparing a dog to become a well-mannered service dog. For example, it can help with socialization, basic obedience training, and much more.
House of Dog Training Offers:
- Overnight Boarding Services
- A variety of different classes, from basic obedience to fun classes
- Day school, or in other words, daytime board and train, for puppies, adolescents, and adult dogs
- Puppy Services
- Program for reactive dogs – Dogs who may pull and bark, or are fearful or shy
- Private lessons at the facility or in-home
Click here to check out their prices
Contact House of Dog Training:
- Phone: (719) 646-1422
- Boarding and Behaviour Centre
- 57 Sunflower Road
- Colorado Springs, CO, 80907
- Training Studio
- 3123 N. El Paso St
- Colorado Springs, CO, 80907
Faithfully K9
Faithfully K9 is a nonprofit organization that trains service dogs, therapy dogs, and pet dogs.
They train dog teams for:
- People living with PTSD
- Mobility issues
- You must have a recommendation from a medical professional
- You need to show DD214 or proof of Active Duty (Veterans or Active Duty)
Address & Contact Information for Faithfully K9
- 25587 Conifer RD Unit 105 # 129
- Conifer, CO 80433 USA
- Email: faithfullyk9@yahoo.com
- Phone: 720-934-7378
Canine Partners of the Rockies
Canine Partners of the Rockies specializes in training Mobility Assistance Dogs and is an Assistance Dogs International accredited service dog training and partnership non-profit organization.
Mobility Assistance Service Dogs can help people with things like:
- Retrieving objects and things that a person is unable to retrieve themselves
- Pulling wheelchairs
- Opening and closing doors
- Turning light switches off and on
- Barking to indicate that help is needed
- Finding another person and leading the person to the handler
Canine Partners of the Rockies does NOT Place or Train Dogs For:
- Balance
- Vision Impairment
- Hearing loss
- Medical alert
- Seizure Response
- PTSD-only diagnosis
- Emotional support
- Personal dogs
Contact Canine Partners of the Rockies
- 651 Potomac Street
- Suite E
- Aurora CO 80001
- www.caninepartnersoftherockies.org
- info@caninepartnersoftherockies.org
Mountain High Service Dogs
Mountain High Service Dogs is a nonprofit organization. It helps to provide people with service dogs and helps people train service dogs, whether the dog is provided by the client, or by the organization. If you plan to use your own dog, the dog will need to pass a temperament test first. They use Bond-Based Choice Teaching, which teaches dogs and handlers how to harmonize with each other.
Currently, the cost of a service dog for veterans is $10,000, and $15,500 for non-veterans. A deposit of $1,500 is required. The remaining balance can be paid in monthly installments for 24 months with no financing charges.
Mountain High Service Dogs Trains Dogs for:
- Anaphylaxic Allergies (Peanuts, Soy, Dairy, etc.)
- Autism
- Epilepsy and seizures
- Diabetes
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Mountain High Service Dogs DOES NOT Train for:
- Seeing Eye Dog training
- Retail sale of service dogs vests (we can make recommendations)
- Training specifically banned aggressive breeds, including Pitbulls
The organization will, however, review all situations on a case-by-case basis. So don’t hesitate to contact them so they can learn about your unique circumstances.
Contact Mountain High Service Dogs
- Mail: P.O. Box 0721, Palmer Lake, CO 80133
- Email: team@mtnhighservicedogs.com
- Phone: (719) 440-8282
- Fax: (719) 487-1489
Dog Training Elite
Dog training elite provides:
- PTSD Service Dogs
- Mobility Support Service Dogs
- Autism Support Service Dogs
- Diabetic Alert Service Dogs
- PTSD Service Dogs can provide Grounding, Deep Pressure Therapy, Panic Response, Create a Physical Buffer, Interrupt Repetitive Behaviours
- Mobility Support Dogs can provide Forward Momentum Pull, Counterbalance, Item Retrieval, Open Doors, Turn Lights On/Off, Alarm Alert
- Autism Service Dogs can provide Deep Pressure Therapy, Anchor a child who wanders, Sensory Assistance, Find Help, Redirect Repetitive Behaviours, Tactile Stimulation
- Diabetic Alert Dogs can Alert to Highs/Lows, Wake Handler from a Deep Sleep, Item Retrieval, Alert Others in the Home, Medical Response
Dog Training Elite provides services in the following Cities
- Arvada
- Aurora
- Broomfield
- Castle Rock
- Centennial
- Cherry Creek
- Commerce City
- Denver
- Douglas County
- Englewood
- Golden
- Green Valley Ranch
- Greenwood Village
- Highlands Ranch
- Jefferson County
- Lakewood
- Littleton
- Lone Tree
- Parker
- Thornton
- Westminster
Contact Dog Training Elite
- 1460 W Canal Ct, Suite 102
- Littleton, CO 80120
- Phone: 720-734-5768
- Contact Form
Domino Service Dogs
Domino Service Dogs is a unique program that helps people with disabilities who are training their own service dogs. They offer a two-year owner-trained service dog training program.
They are located in Lakewood, Colorado. Part of their philosophy is that training the service dog handler (the human) is just as important as training the service dog, so both are trained together in the program.
Domino Service Dogs trains:
- Hearing Dogs
- Mobility Assistance Dogs
- Psychiatric Service Dogs
- Medical Response Dogs
Requirements to be eligible for the program:
- You must live in Colorado
- You will need to participate in an orientation class at the training center in Lakewood
- Proof of disability must be provided
- You must attend four classes every month at the training center in Lakewood
- You will need to attend two public outings each month, located in the Denver Metropolitan area
- You must be prepared to work with your service dog in training, outside of the class
- Your dog must pass a lengthy assessment to determine its fit as a potential service dog
- There is a 90-day probation period
Contact Domino Service Dogs on their online form.
Guardian Service Dogs
Guardian Service Dogs is located near Colorado Springs and specializes in providing good quality service dog training to disabled veterans and service members. Some civilians are also accepted, although limited space is available.
Guardian Service Dogs train the handler (the human) as well as the dog.
Guardian Service Dogs utilizes the Battle Drill Training Method, which was developed by their own Executive Training Director and Head Service Dog Trainer, David Proctor Sgt. Ret.
Guardian Service Dogs trains for:
- PTSD
- TBI
- Traumatic Amputation or Paralysis
- Recognizing and assisting during seizures
- Alerting individuals who may be experiencing dissociative episodes and/or flashbacks of emotional trauma
- Assisting those with Item and/or Crowd Aversion
- Emergency Alert Activation
- Pulling a wheelchair or stabilizing a person’s gait
- Retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone
Contact Guardian Service Dogs
- Phone: 719-465-7219
Freedom Service Dogs of America
Freedom Service Dogs of America is an Assistance Dogs International Accredited organization that provides trained service dogs to people who need them at no cost.
Freedom Service Dogs of America serves:
- Children
- Veterans
- Active-duty military
- Other adults
And can help with things like:
- Autism
- Traumatic brain injury
- Cerebral palsy
- Spinal cord injuries
- Muscular dystrophy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Post-traumatic stress (PTS)
Contact Freedom Service Dogs of America
- Phone: 303-922-6231
- Address: 7193 S. Dillon Court | Englewood, CO 80112
- Email: info@freedomservicedogs.org
I wanted to drop a quick note to thank you for your informative blog post titled “Service Dog Training in Colorado” on The Service Dogs. Your article provides valuable insights into the process of training service dogs and highlights the resources available in Colorado for individuals seeking assistance in this area. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise in service dog training. Your explanations of the training techniques, legal requirements, and the importance of specialized training programs for service dogs are highly informative and helpful for those interested in this field. Could you provide some information on whether similar training programs and resources are accessible for individuals residing outside of Colorado?
Sure. Where though?