Hero Dogs are trained in three phases over the course of 2.5 – 3 years. You can read more about each phase by following the links below.
Phase I – Puppy Program – This includes socialization and training by a volunteer puppy raiser, under the guidance of Hero Dogs staff, until the dog is ~14-18 months of age.
Phase II – Advanced Training – This includes training in specialized assistance dog skills and tasks by professional trainers at our training facility, for approximately eight months.
Phase III – Team Training – This includes intensive one-on-one training with a veteran or a first-responder and a Hero Dog over the course of 12 months.
Current Service Dogs in Training
Honorably Discharged
Becoming a service dog is not easy; only about one in every three dogs entering a service dog training program will ultimately end up in a successful partnership as a service dog. Although Hero Dogs works hard to find suitable careers for all of our dogs, occasionally, the best job is as a beloved family pet! Read more on our honorably discharged page.
Available for Adoption
We do not currently have any dogs available for adoption. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive announcements about when a released dog is available for adoption.
