Service Dogs for Veterans
Veterans may often face difficult transitions back to civilian life and may feel uncertain about their futures with new disabilities. Canine Companions service dogs – provided to them free of charge – empower veterans to regain physical independence, pride and hope.
Our expertly trained service dogs can perform physical tasks to enhance independence, including retrieving dropped items, opening doors, picking up prosthetics and alerting a veteran with hearing loss to important sounds in their environment.
Beyond much-needed physical assistance, the love, loyalty and positivity of a canine partner can make a profound, lasting impact on veterans facing difficult emotions that are hard to communicate.
Canine Companions has provided hundreds of service dogs to U.S. veterans across the country.
Canine Companions has provided hundreds of service dogs to U.S. veterans across the country.
Service Dogs for Veterans With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
With the increase in military veterans returning with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Canine Companions launched a program in 2018 to provide service dogs for veterans with PTSD.
Our service dogs are trained to identify each veteran’s unique stressors and perform tasks that directly disrupt escalation of symptoms, enhancing their quality of life. Tasks may be performed for anxiety, hypervigilance and generalized fear. The service dog supports their handler in crowded public situations by creating barriers and distance that might provoke anxiety for an individual with PTSD. Additional tasks, such as nightmare interruption, turning on lights and retrieving items, are taught to support each veteran’s daily life.
Canine Companions is the first service dog organization to be accredited by Assistance Dogs International, and we have provided service dogs to over 8,500 people with disabilities.
Learn more about the types of service dogs Canine Companions places >>
Questions? Please contact us at 1-800-572-BARK (2275) or via email to Veteran Programs Manager Daryl Sager.
The process to receive a Canine Companions service dog includes multiple steps. Click the button below to find out if a service dog is right for you and start the process to receive more information.
Tarik & Walter
Tarik Griggs joined the military on this 18th birthday, rather than going to college. He served during the first Gulf War, but then, emerged a changed man; he started to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
As his time in the military taught him, he was engrained to “suck it up and drive on,” however, Tarik’s PTSD lingered, and he decided to apply and matched with Service Dog Walter.
Walter is trained in up to 45 tasks, including turning lights on and off, creating space in a crowded public environment, disrupting anxious behavior and interrupting nightmares.
“There’s an emotional comfort and security that he’s always there, no matter what goes on,” Tarik explains. “If war breaks out or there’s a car accident, your service dog is there. I’m so thankful — he’s my gift from God.”
Watch: A Veteran's Legacy
CanineAlert™
Canine Companions is proud to introduce our groundbreaking CanineAlert System, a patented wearable technology designed to provide essential support to veterans living with PTSD. Developed in-house, this device collaborates with specially trained service dogs to assist veterans living with PTSD.
Learn more about how this cutting-edge solution provides an additional layer of support beyond traditional training methods.
Canine Companions Veteran Programs Manager Daryl Sager is here to support you. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and Air Force Reserves and he’s a Canine Companions graduate partnered with his PTSD service dog, Adria. If you have questions, need help with the application process, or want to know if a service dog is right for you, Daryl can assist. Contact him by completing this form or by calling (707) 297-3682.
In the South Central Region, this program is supported by a grant from the Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans’ Assistance. The Fund for Veterans’ Assistance provides grants to organizations serving veterans and their families. For more information, visit www.tvc.texas.gov.*
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