Dogs For Disabled Veterans

Each year we run a program to put well-trained dogs into the hands of disabled veterans who suffer PTSD. We train the veterans on managing and training their dogs and provide certified master dog trainers within their community to help them improve their level 1 Foundation Dogs® with the ability for the team to create a service dog for the veterans; provided the veterans rise to the challenge, work hard and stay consistent. We love this program as it gives the veterans the skills they need to manage a dog, train a dog, and be part of a network of peers going through the same process. Starting with a "canvass" that is a dog that is already at a high level of obedience but is not yet a service dog, the veteran bonds with their dog through our training and support processes. local franchises then provide group classes and one one-on-one support to assist the veteran in getting their dog to the level they need it. This is a community program, meaning all veterans live in the same community and each year we will choose the locations.

This program is one of the most effective programs for veterans who suffer from PTSD and don't want to wait 3-5 years for a "service dog" in an industry that has not done well in the training of dogs, owners, or providing ongoing support. The process of training the dog gives purpose every day, grows the bond, and creates success as the dog learns and the veteran improves through his own efforts. The dogs already handle pressure with advanced conflict resolution abilities. The veteran begins to manage his own load, starts to handle pressure himself, and the process helps him manage his conflict resolution (triggers) that are so devasting for those who suffer from PTSD. Each week the Veteran improves, the dog improves and they learn to deal with more pressure in a productive way as a team.

Veterans who are unable to physically and cognitively perform the daily work of training can acquire service dogs that are already fully trained in our "Buy a Battle Buddy" program. veterans who want to learn to be professional dog trainers can access our "Build a Battle Buddy" program. This is the "dogs for veterans program" and is separate from buy or build a battle buddy.

In 2024, we are excited to announce the collaboration between Canines 4 Heroes and Top Tier K9 - Bradenton in the launch of our 2024 "7 Dogs for 7 Veterans" program. Donations can be made to https://caninesforheroes.org

Last years 15 dogs for 15 veterans was a huge success. Each year it will get better and better through lessons learned and constant improvement measuring both the dogs and the veterans success and failures. The primary lesson learned from 2023 was to consolidate the program to communities that have a Top Tier K9 certified location for the one on one, group classes and ongoing support for the veterans and their dogs. That lesson is applied in 2024 when Tampa based Canines for Heroes stepped up to the plate through the community efforts of Ms. Julie Madison, owner of 2, level 2, Top Tier K9 Franchises (Bradenton and Sarasota)

2024 7 Dogs For 7 Veterans Campaign

Our 2024 "Dogs for Veterans Program" pairs level 1 trained Foundation Dogs with selected disabled veterans, and trains the veterans to finish their dogs as service dogs, emotional support dogs or simply great family dogs depending on the veterans drive. The dogs are all phase 1 Foundation dogs® and each has unique qualities and skills that make them excellent candidates to become service dogs. This is the magic of our programs. The Foundation Dogs® have been trained through a replicable process that we teach the veterans to exploit and is a core offering to all dog trainers who carry the Top Tier K9® Foundation Dog Trainer certification. The veterans are trained through our Academy for Dog Trainers and matched with their dogs. The veterans then demonstrate their skills to our standards using their new dog.

Using our franchise system, the team can obtain local certified Top Tier K9 Master Dog Trainer support in finishing their dogs to the tasks they need fulfilled to become their service dog. 10 private lessons with a local master Dog Trainer are included in this program.

Ongoing support/troubleshooting is provided through our centralized Academy for the veterans, their dogs, and the master dog trainers at our certified locations. A true team effort!

It is this process that the veterans must participate in what has proven to be one of the closest things to a cure for PTSD that we have found. Just giving a service dog to a veteran seldom works out well and the service dog industry has far more failures than successes. Our Dogs for Veterans program creates a training bond between the veteran and his dog and gives the veteran the training and support to add tasks to his dog that make it his service dog.

A complete, validated program that exploits the assets of the World's Greatest Dog Training Company (Top Tier K9) to benefit the warriors who have given so much to our country, with charities that are proven, respected and dedicated to helping disabled veterans.

Our certified location for this year's 7dogs for 7 veterans:

https://www.toptierk9.com/bradenton-florida

Canines for Heroes is funding this years program https://caninesforheroes.org

Other programs we offer for people with disabilities.

Build a Battle Buddy
Disabled veterans enter our Top Tier K9® Academy for Dog Trainers and learn how to train Foundation Dogs® to be finished as their own service dog. They learn how to train pets and working dogs, receive a puppy from our litters on the ground program, and then train that puppy using our methods and with our support.

Buy a Battle Buddy
Disabled veterans who are unable to train their dog can buy a fully trained service dog. We require the veteran to financially participate in this acquisition.

We will accept partial funding from charities local to our certified locations on behalf of individuals enrolled in our programs. We are not a charity ourselves and people with disabilities can acquire our dogs and participate in our programs based on published fees, tuition and prices directly or with help from their charities.