SERVICE DOG TRAINING

Ruff Translating offers highly technical service dog training, specializing in those looking for multipurpose service dogs with scent marking tasks for oncoming medical episodes.

​Our program has grown substantially from our roots focusing on (c)PTSD task-trained service dogs, and we provide a long list of mobility, stability, Autism support, psychiatric and cardiac tasks regularly. Ruff Translating’s company values include prioritizing working with individuals on a case by case basis to meet their service dog training needs. We offer programs of a variety of levels of owner involvement, so if you are looking to potentially do some of your own service dog task training, or if you need it fully done by a skilled professional, Ruff Translating can help.

Please be sure to read our Service Dog FAQ to learn more about our program!

Book with us

While we specialize in highly trained psychiatric service dogs, we also provide service dog training for individuals with other disabilities, including those looking for seizure alert/response, blood sugar detection, POTS, narcolepsy​, mobility and stability needs. We offer complete comprehensive training for every service dog and even have "class guinea pigs" for training around smaller pets as well as other unique programs meant to prepare our dogs for every occasion they will encounter in their terms as working partners.

Want to know more about our
​service dog program?

Service dog training can be a costly expenditure and can take up to 24 months. If you are interested in discussing our service dog training including costs and process please check out our FAQ to get started. It can feel intimidating to start, but we are eager to answer your questions and partner together. ​

Hear from some of our current
and graduate teams!

Handler: Shannon
Graduate SD: Mercy "Moo"

I appreciate that Ejay tailors Mercy’s tasks and commands to fit my disability’s needs and Mercy’s personality and skill set. He has gone above and beyond in researching my rare condition to ensure that Mercy is impeccably trained. We would be lost without the support and care of the whole Ruff Translating team. I love working with Ejay at Ruff Translating. Ejay is extremely professional and well prepared. He teaches Mercy a new task or command at school, proofs it over a few days or weeks, and then teaches it to me (her handler) at our bi-weekly private sessions. When Mercy is with Ejay I know that she is 100% safe and cared for. ​

Handler: Angie
Graduate SD: Sully

​I will always be thankful for Ejay at Ruff Translating for training my service dog, Sully. Not only did Ejay train my dog in psychiatric and mobility tasks, but he trained me to be a better dog handler. I finally feel like Sully and I are a team. We are constantly supported by the Ruff Translating family! Even though we “graduated” in 2022, I know that Ejay is there for additional lessons as my disabilities evolve; and the training and maintenance doesn’t end for a working dog. Sully is trained to want to train and improve at his job! Ruff Translating will always be part of my support system. I am endlessly grateful and found hope for living a life worth living with chronic illnesses.​

Handler: Zed
SDiT: Sputnik "Potato"

I’m so thrilled with how Spud’s training is coming along at Ruff Translating! Ejay has a great understanding of my needs and limitations as a person with (C)PTSD, and is training Spud to help me lead a more independent life through panic attack alerts, dissociation interruption, and grounding techniques. I love reading weekly report cards detailing what she’s learning at school, and private lessons help me grow as a handler and empower me to keep up with her training at home.​ ​