Canine Nation
Book a Consultation

Training That Transforms Lives

Custom-tailored dog training for emotional, physical, and therapeutic support — at home, in public, and beyond.
Our Services
Board and Train
Private Lessons
Behavior Modification
Boarding & Daycare
Grooming & Vet Services
Canine Concierge
  • Book Now

Schedule an Appointment Today!

Appointment

Assistance & Therapy Dog

therapy dog

At Canine Nation, we offer a specialized training program designed for dogs that provide physical, emotional, and therapeutic support. This custom-tailored service supports individuals with physical, medical, or emotional disabilities who rely on their dog for daily assistance, as well as those who wish to prepare their dog for therapy work in public settings such as hospitals, schools, or community centers.

Our program focuses on building calm, confident, and attentive dogs that are capable of adapting to a variety of real-life situations. Through structured obedience, task-specific training, and public access preparation, we ensure that each dog can perform reliably while maintaining emotional balance and responsiveness.

Whether you need a companion to assist with mobility, interrupt anxiety episodes, retrieve items, or offer presence and comfort during therapy sessions, our goal is to help you and your dog become a strong, effective team. At the heart of our work is a commitment to fostering connection, trust, and long-term success—at home, in public, and everywhere in between.

Benefits of Our Assistance & Therapy Dog Training

Benefits

Choosing the right training program for your dog isn’t just about obedience—it’s about building a partnership that brings lasting support, confidence, and peace of mind. Our training offers real-life impact for both dog and handler.

Whether your dog is supporting mobility, emotional well-being, or therapeutic engagement, our training helps you rely on your dog in meaningful, everyday ways. From alerting you to specific needs to assisting with routines, our goal is to help you feel more confident and capable.

We teach both dogs and handlers how to communicate clearly and consistently. Through body language, structured cues, and trust-based responses, you and your dog will grow into a true working team.

Well-trained dogs provide more than just assistance—they offer calm, comfort, and presence in difficult moments. Our training emphasizes emotional regulation and support, enhancing well-being for both you and your dog.

Our training doesn’t stay in the classroom. We prepare dogs for real-life scenarios—from navigating public spaces to behaving calmly around strangers—so you feel ready wherever life takes you.

Our Training Approach

Positive Reinforcement & Motivation

At the Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers, Steve learned the importance of positive reinforcement and motivational techniques. These methods focus on rewarding desired behaviors to encourage repetition, creating a positive and engaging learning environment for the dog. This approach ensures that service dogs are enthusiastic and willing participants in their training, leading to reliable performance and a strong bond with their handlers.

Key Techniques:
  • Reward-based training
  • Building motivation and engagement
  • Ensuring a positive learning experience

Precision & Consistency

Bart Bellon’s NePoPo (Negative, Positive, Positive) system emphasizes precision and consistency in training. This balanced approach ensures that service dogs clearly understand commands and reliably perform their tasks. Steve integrates NePoPo techniques to create service dogs that are dependable and responsive, crucial traits for assisting individuals with disabilities.

Key Techniques:
  • Structured training protocols
  • Clear communication of commands
  • Balanced Performance

Relationship-Centered Training

From Ivan Balabanov’s “Training Without Conflict” Academy, Steve adopted a relationship-centered training philosophy. This approach focuses on building a deep bond of trust and cooperation between the dog and the handler. By fostering mutual respect and understanding, service dogs are trained to be attentive and responsive to their handler’s needs without the use of heavy-handed tactics.

Key Techniques:
  • Building trust and cooperation
  • Fostering mutual respect
  • Gentle and effective training methods
  • Training Process

What to Expect From Our Training

Our step-by-step training process is designed to build confidence, focus, and real-world readiness. Each phase addresses specific skills that ensure your dog becomes a dependable companion, whether offering emotional support, physical assistance, or both.
become a dog trainer

Assessment and Consultation

We begin with a thorough assessment of the dog’s temperament and the specific needs of the handler to create a tailored training plan.
become a dog trainer

Basic Obedience Training

Foundation training in essential commands and behaviors, ensuring the dog is well-behaved and responsive.
become a dog trainer

Task-Specific Training

Training the dog to perform specific tasks that assist with the handler’s disability, such as retrieving items, alerting to sounds, or providing mobility support.
become a dog trainer

Public Access Preparation (if applicable)

Preparing the dog for various public environments, ensuring they remain calm and focused in different situations.
become a dog trainer

Ongoing Support and Adjustments

Continuous support and training adjustments to maintain and enhance the service dog’s skills.
chocolate-colored Labrador retriever dog is lying outside on the lawn and resting. the dog guards
  • Requirements

Enrollment Requirements

At Canine Nation Training Center, we uphold a high standard to ensure the success and well-being of our therapy dog teams. Our enrollment requirements are designed to help us determine the best candidates for this meaningful work, creating teams that are both emotionally capable and well-prepared.

To ensure your dog is developmentally ready for this type of training, we require all dogs to be at least 6 months of age. At this stage, dogs have typically reached a level of physical and emotional maturity that allows them to better retain new skills, focus for longer periods, and adapt to structured training environments. This helps us lay a strong foundation for lasting results.

Dogs must have a friendly, patient, and calm temperament, be in good health, and be up-to-date on vaccinations.

We assess each dog’s suitability for therapy work, including a review of their obedience skills.

Owners must be willing to participate in the training process and volunteer their time with their dogs.

  • Support

Support & Follow-Up

We’re committed to your long-term success. Through regular follow-ups, continued training opportunities, and access to expert guidance, we ensure you and your therapy dog stay confident, supported, and always improving.

We schedule consistent follow-ups to monitor progress and address any new challenges that may arise. These check-ins ensure that both the therapy dog and their handler are continuously supported and thriving.

 

Our support doesn’t end with initial training. We offer supplementary training sessions to reinforce skills and address any specific needs that develop over time. This helps maintain the high standards of behavior and effectiveness in therapy work.

 

Clients have access to our experienced trainers for advice, troubleshooting, and guidance. Whether it’s through phone consultations or in-person visits, our trainers are dedicated to providing the necessary support to ensure the ongoing success of our therapy dogs and their handlers.

 
Canis Dog Therapy. Labrador dog and disabled children on green grass. Dog-Assisted Therapies and

Request a Consultation

We’re here to help you and your dog get started on the right paw. Whether you’re interested in training, boarding, or behavior consultations, our team is ready to support you.

 

City or Area *
Contact Method *
number of dogs? *

Information about Dogs

Frequently Asked Questions

Each program has a different timeline. Our Board & Train program lasts 4 weeks, while the Start to Finish program includes 12 private sessions. We’ll help you choose what fits best based on your dog’s needs and your goals.

For private lessons, yes. For Board & Train, we provide regular updates and a final owner workshop to transfer the training.

We offer behavior modification for dogs with aggression, anxiety, or fear-based behaviors. In some cases, a Board & Train program is ideal for those needs.

Yes. Our private lessons are available at your home or at our facility.

Not at this time. Booking can be completed online, and we’ll follow up with confirmation and next steps.

More Ways We Can Help

From private lessons to long-term training, see what else we offer.

Board-and-Train-Listing

Board and Train

Immersive training.
Lasting transformation.
Your dog stays with us for 4 weeks of full-time training, socialization, structure, and fun. Ideal for busy owners who want a strong foundation.
Multiple daily sessions
Indoor and outdoor training
Includes 2-hour owner workshop
Book Service

We’ll follow up to confirm availability and next steps

Private Lessons

Private Lessons

One-on-One Training Sessions
Custom training sessions at your home or at our facility, focused on your goals and your dog’s behavior.
Flexible scheduling
Personalized strategies
Great for specific challenges or tune-ups
Book Service

We’ll follow up to confirm availability and next steps

Behavior Modification

Behavior Modification

From frustration to freedom.
For dogs dealing with aggression, anxiety, fear, or reactivity. We create a custom training plan focused on changing behavior with compassion and clarity.
Counter-conditioning & desensitization
Real-world scenarios
Support for both dog and owner
Book Service

We’ll follow up to confirm availability and next steps

Boarding & Daycare

Boarding & Daycare

Comfort, Play, and Peace of Mind
Luxury, home-like boarding and structured daycare supervised by professional trainers.
Themed doggie suites
Playtime, rest, enrichment
24/7 on-site care
Book Service

We’ll follow up to confirm availability and next steps

Grooming & Vet Services

Grooming & Vet Services

Grooming and Veterinary Care You Can Trust
Full-service dog grooming and basic veterinary care to keep your dog happy and healthy, all under one roof.
Bathing, brushing & de-shedding
Nail trims, ear cleaning & coat care
Basic veterinary care under one roof
Book Service

We’ll follow up to confirm availability and next steps

Canine Concierge

Canine Concierge

Full-Service Care for Your Dog.
Total Peace of Mind for You.
Premier full-service canine care for busy professionals, families, and frequent travelers who want the absolute best for their dog.
Full-Service Canine Care
Structured & Enriching Environment
Concierge-Level Convenience
Book Service

We’ll follow up to confirm availability and next steps