Veteran Emotional Support 16 week Private Puppy  Program

This unique 16 lesson program will put extra focus on relationship building, trust, obedience, structure, routine, positive and effective leadership styles, calm body language control; becoming the leader your dog needs to soldier on.

Thank you for your Service. We take great pride in supporting our Canadian Veterans, after the military by providing them the steps to help raise their own puppy into a well-mannered emotional support dog. The first four months are the most crucial brain development periods for the puppy where we can make the most effective impacts. Dogs thrive on routine, repetition and consistency! Here at DDZ, we believe in the value of being a part of the entire training process & learning how to become the leader your dog truly needs. We have structured a specific 16 week program to help provide you the leadership skills and exercises needed to be successful. This program is different from all our other lesson plans because it mimics some of the existing training style most military members would be more familiar with. 

I noticed a gap in the service dog / therapy dog industry. Sometimes when a veteran applies to get a registered service dog for their mental health, it takes 2-3 years which can defeat the essential need for one. We do not train service dogs, we help veterans get the best dog they can, by learning and growing together from the first week you bring your puppy home. We are here to help you learn how to teach your dog, for the rest of their lives.
 
Why did we start this unique program? It started with the exposure to my husband over 11 years ago, who served in the Canadian military for many years.  Many people don’t understand the struggle they face when they take off the uniform - many veterans will suffer with more mental illnesses than physical ones, for the rest of their lives. A feeling of loneliness or unable to relate to the civilian lifestyle is a true struggle, and one way that helps my veteran husband is the unconditional love he gets from our two therapy dogs. I have seen firsthand how much the companionship of a good dog can help those like him that suffer from PTSD, depression, anxiety or many other issues that follow our veterans after service.  
​
You will learn to play and train together, teach fun tricks, learn how to avoid misunderstandings between dog and human, practice a healthy socializing system and prevent anxiety and we will be here to support you every step of the way!
 
Each lesson will start with a review and successful demonstration by the student of the previous lesson. Every exercise is demonstrated and then assisted until the puppy can perform it smoothly and repetitively. In order to strengthen the bond between dog and human, everything is done force-free.  
 
My expectations for all my veteran clients are to be: present, attentive, willing to learn force free methodology and to practice all the exercises from each lesson at home, prior to the next session.
​*No use of aversive tools will be tolerated.

Doggy Discovery Zone
(519) 777-9004
Muirkirk, ON, N0L 1X0