About Our Service Dog Coaching program
Some of the most remarkable service dogs aren’t born for the job—they’re raised by the hands that need them most
Don't make it to public access
Years
Cost
Maintenance
About the Program
This program may be a fit for handlers who:
- Want to train their own dog with the guidance of a certified, force-free professional.
- Seek structured coaching to build reliable assistance tasks for at home service work, public-access or facility skills.
- Need help evaluating a current dog or prospective candidate for service work.
Unleashed Niagara is proud to offer a complete Service Dog Coaching Program, designed to meet the unique needs of each handler-dog team. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or looking for support with specific skills, we provide guidance at every stage—from evaluating a potential candidate to preparing for reliable public-access work.
Every phase of the program is customized to your goals and your dog’s abilities. We combine private lessons, group classes, community fieldwork, and virtual coaching to ensure training is practical, sustainable, and tailored to your real life. Progress moves at the pace of the team, always with compassion, positive reinforcement, and the dog’s welfare at the center.
If you’re wondering whether service dog training is the right path for you, the best place to begin is with our free Fit Call. From there, we’ll guide you step by step, helping you and your dog build the skills needed for a successful partnership.
Note: We focus on training tasks that mitigate a disability. We do not certify, register, or license service animals; certification is not required in Ontario. See Legal & access in Ontario here”.
What we train (examples):
We tailor training to your goals and your dog’s strengths. Common task categories include:
- Mobility support: retrieving items, carrying small objects, opening/closing accessible doors (buttons), light switch targeting.
- Medical alerts & response (nondetective): cue trained alerts to timers/alarms/ forhelp seeking within the home.
- Psychiatric tasks: deep pressure therapy (DPT) on cue, guide to exit behavior, interrupting rehearsed motor patterns, retrieving items, light switch targeting
- Hearing assistance: sound source alerting (timer, door knock/bell, phone, fire alarm, etc.).
Every team is unique; we only train tasks that are within the dog’s physical capabilities and ethical standards. Orthopedic veterinary clearance may be required for specific work.
How the program works
During every phase we carefully assess both the dog and the handler’s ability to work as a team. If we identify concerns that suggest full public access service dog training may not be the best fit, we’ll let you know right away. In those cases, we’ll guide you toward alternative options such as dog sports or training your dog for support work at home rather than pursuing public-access service dog training.
Disclaimers
- Training timelines vary; success depends on consistent practice and the dog’s suitability.
- Any handler who fails to participate in any training sessions over a two-month period is at risk to be removed from the program
- We do not train bite-work, protection, or weight-bearing tasks.
- We may recommend alternative roles if a dog is not suited to public-facing work.
- We can collaborate with your healthcare team (with your written consent) to align task goals with daily living needs