Leash of Hope provides a unique 5 level training program for each client. Dogs receive at least one year of training and then client with dog receive another year of customized training, regardless of age. Recipients of these dogs can have multiple disabilities, either mental or physical such as cerebral palsy, blindness, autism, PTSD, along with many other neurodevelopmental, mobility, psychological, stability and vision disorders. During the process, dogs are specifically trained to their recipient’s needs and integrated into their daily lives.

Leash of Hope works with both adults and youth with a range of disabilities, who are medically deemed appropriate for an assistance dog, with the sole purpose of providing them with a better quality of life. We place assistance dogs in these areas:

Mobility Assistance Dogs: Mobility dogs are trained to assist people who are dependent on a wheelchair either full or part time. The dogs are trained to perform tasks such as retrieving items, opening doors, assisting with undressing or laundry, pressing buttons, or pulling a manual wheelchair.

Stability Assistance Dogs: are trained to assist people who have limited mobility or balance issues but are ambulatory, these dogs are often handled with equipment that is specifically meant to help the client stay upright, moving or assist the handler to get off the ground after a fall. Dogs are also trained to do many of the tasks such as buttons and retrieving just like mobility dogs.

Guide Dogs: are training to guide a visually impaired or blind handler through their everyday environments, crossing streets and avoiding the dangers of traffic. Tasks that are unique to Leash of Hope guide dogs that they are also trained to retrieve items that are not within visual field of their client or find crosswalk buttons.

Psychiatric Assistance Dogs: are trained to respond to the cues of the handler who is experiencing physiological distress. These dogs perform tasks such as deep pressure therapy, guiding the client to exits or safety, and alerting the client to their level of escalation with tasks such as nose bumping or pawing at the client. Psych dogs can also perform tasks such as turning on lights and retrieving medication.

This uniquely designed 5 level handler program is done over the course of one full year. It ensures every handler receives a well-rounded education in handling, caring, and utilizing their service and guide dog. Once the client’s training is completed and Leash of Hope is confident of the handler’s ability, the dog then becomes the property of the recipient.

Though the program has accepted clients wishing to train their own dog, it is strongly recommended that clients apply to be placed with a program trained dog due to the high standards of our training.