Expanding the Service Dog: Not Just for the Blind

Service dogs aren’t magic, but the right match can feel like it. From the Abilities Expo in Dallas, I sit down with Aubree Wright from Canine Companions to get honest about how service dogs actually support independence and why the relationship matters as much as the tasks.

We walk through what Canine Companions does across all 50 states, who they serve, and how mobility service dogs grew beyond traditional guide dog work. Aubree breaks down her role as a client services program manager, from interviews and handling appointments to supporting graduate teams through a dog’s full working life. We also talk about the reality of being  declined, what “success rate” means, and why responsible service dog organizations focus on safety, fit, and long-term outcomes.

Then we get into the day-to-day questions people rarely answer clearly: How do you bond with a service dog if you have limited mobility? What if you can’t deliver treats with your hands? How do you stay the primary handler when caregivers and nurses rotate through your home? Aubree shares practical strategies, adaptive feeding and reinforcement ideas, and the mindset that keeps the handler at the center of the team. We also touch on rescue dogs as service dogs, breed limits, and why temperament matters as much as training.

If you care about disability support, PTSD service dogs, mobility assistance, or the real process of getting a service dog, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review with the biggest question you still have about service dogs.

Transcript

K9 Companions And Who They Serve

SPEAKER_01 0:00

We were one of the first companies to really focus in on the physical mobility task work that we kind of recognize as a service dog for people that don't have visual impairments. We serve people with physical disabilities, hearing impairments, as well as adults and children with cognitive disabilities. And recently we're working with veterans with PTSD.

SPEAKER_02 0:22

What's up guys? It's Squad Father in Life to the Max. And we're back at it again at the Abilities Expo. This time in Dallas. Please enjoy this Life to the Max because just a couple of pants are trying to get back.

SPEAKER_00 0:36

Just a couple of T's are trying to survive. Don't live it twice.

Live From The Abilities Expo

SPEAKER_02 0:48

Welcome back to another episode of Life to the Max podcast. I'm your host with the most Max Ghosts. And we are live at the Abilities Expo in Dallas, Texas. And today I have the honor to speak with K9 Companions. Aubrey Wright. Aubrey, it's a pleasure.

SPEAKER_01 1:06

It's a pleasure to be here, Max. Thank you so much for having me.

SPEAKER_02 1:09

You too. So tell me what brings you out to the expo.

SPEAKER_01 1:13

So I'm here to represent K9 Companions. Like you said, I work for the company that provides service dogs to individuals with disabilities. Our company is a nationwide company, so we serve all 50 states. Our regional office is in Irving, Texas. And so we're here at the DFW Abilities Expo just to get the word out and you know share the good news about service dogs and how people can get that assistance.

SPEAKER_02 1:39

When do you think service dogs like was like first? Like I know people have used dogs for years. Totally. Domesticated dogs for years, like shepherd dogs and everything, but when do you think this service dog was like first, like uh the inception of a service dog?

SPEAKER_01 1:58

Yeah, that's a great question. So especially with our program, um, we are only using service dogs and that type of dog for people with physical disabilities. So um guide dogs have been around for a very, very long time, but the service dog industry um really became uh popular in the 1975 era. Um we were one of the first companies um to really focus in on the physical mobility task work um that we kind of uh recognize as a service dog for people that don't have visual impairments. Um we serve people with physical disabilities, hearing impairments, um, as well as adults and children with cognitive disabilities. And recently we're working with veterans with PTSD.

Aubrey’s Role And Follow-Up Care

SPEAKER_02 2:44

That's yeah, veterans with PTSD, I can see that. That's that's amazing what you guys are doing. That's all awesome. Thank you. I'm super excited to hear uh what you do right now. Can you uh explain your role?

SPEAKER_01 2:58

Yeah, thanks. Um so I personally work as our client services program manager. So my role for the past three years has been um working with all of our applicants as well as our graduate teams. Um so I get the pleasure of getting to know all the people that apply for the service dogs. Um, I get to know them really well. We do interviews and then um have them come in for a handling appointment. And then after they're placed with one of our service dogs, I get to follow them throughout their working life. So eight to ten years. Um that's gonna be my job to make sure that they're continuing to be a successful team. We do in-person visits and just kind of general check-ins um again to really make sure that the team is doing well and that uh the dog is healthy, happy, and still being a great service dog for those people.

SPEAKER_02 3:44

When you're going through applications, is it hard to select somebody?

SPEAKER_01 3:49

Um, sometimes uh I try not to be super selective. Yeah, as much as we can, we're we're not here to find the quote unquote like perfect fit. We want to make sure we're serving as many people as we can that really do want a service dog. So our task work, um, like I said, is kind of the mobility task work. Yeah the the things that people are looking for. Um, I want to be able to provide that to them. So um I don't want to try to just discourage people from applying, but um, but of course it is a process. Um, people can get declined at any stage in the process. Yeah, but um we do have a lot of folks that are uh interested in our program and like I'm interested.

Matching The Right Dog

SPEAKER_02 4:33

Yeah, totally like I'm super interested because uh the lady from just uh canine for kids. Uh she she's the one who introduced me to because I told you about the horror story I went through. Um damn, I just I I just uh let me think of a question. Oh I got what the um Yeah, I was like really upset yesterday when I when I heard what I what I heard. Uh but uh you you said that he breathed for uh sub person. What what type of person am I like with the type of dog you would like pair with me?

SPEAKER_01 5:17

So um at Caine Companions we only work with Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers. Um I think generally for some of our clients that sit a little bit higher off the ground, I probably would look for a bigger, taller dog for someone like you, so the dog can really interact um closely with you. Some of our smaller females that are about 45 pounds, they are a little lower to the ground. So I would, yeah. I was gonna say some of the smaller dogs, um, they're a little bit harder to engage with. But um, of course, we would, you know, talk to a client throughout the application process and see really what dog kind of vibes with you. Um, and like I said, our our breeds are a little bit limited, but um, in general, we want to make sure we're making the best match possible and um just kind of assess your needs throughout that application process.

SPEAKER_02 6:02

So, what if it's not just means just like what uh what category am I uh am I like in the service dog world? Like I like the last service dog I had, like I felt like I had to feed like every time I fed him the kibble and he heard it, like he was like uh he was like happy and then he was best and he's like I alright. Well I have like I have to feed him like by the end of the day, I don't have enough tasks. I felt so terrible. So I just started giving him kibble and he would only listen to plays like that's it. Like I had and I and I and I had I ended up giving him back to the organization, and I was just like, I I cause because I I he wasn't serving a purpose for me, but he's he's an awesome dog, he just was just a bad pair. So how would you uh like change that?

SPEAKER_01 7:00

Yeah, no, that's a great question too. I think in general, when we're doing our assessments, um, we kind of consider both your needs as well as what the dog might need from an individual. So um we might have a facilitator be um there to just make sure the dog is safe and manageable, um, but they're directing the activities so that you and your service dog can go about the world and have that relationship. We would often recommend teams that have a recipient with pretty limited mobility, um, do a lot of things like um just bonding exercises. Um there is some food reinforcements that are involved in our program as well. Um, but we try to make sure that the dog isn't overly distracted by food.

SPEAKER_02 7:41

Um actually, yeah, like the food reinforcements that they're like, I want to hear that because uh I'm paralyzed for my necktown. I can't give my dog food. So what do you guys do?

SPEAKER_01 7:52

So oftentimes um through the facilitator, we might have them place the food on the lap of the recipient, and then we tell the dog okay, and they receive the food from the recipient's body or lap. Um, we also have some devices that um the facilitator can, you know, click a button and then there's food distributed from your chair or you know, something that um we kind of modify, we kind of become MacGyverse to be creative. Um we truly do want to encourage that bond between the recipient who actually is gonna be utilizing the service dog. Um, but there's always gonna be maybe somebody there to just kind of like help guide the activities, um, maybe do like hand over hand petting, grooming. Um, oftentimes with like meals, we might have the dog um, you know, eat out of their bowl, but either close to or on the lap of the individual. So does your chair go up and down? Yeah, so probably like lower you, lower you down a little bit, but then have the dog kind of eat from your lap, um, which kind of sounds silly, but it does really help they love food. Um, truly, our labs and golden's their favorite thing is food, but we really want to make that an enhancement of their relationship, not the overpower.

Feeding And Rewards With Limited Mobility

SPEAKER_02 9:06

Here's a crazy question. So I have caregivers, right? Nurses, everything like so many people are revolving throughout my house. Uh how does the dog know that like I'm his owner, like I'm the master?

SPEAKER_01 9:22

Yeah, I think just um a lot of the verbal reinforcements too. So we talk about food. Um, if you talk to your dog and make sure that you're, you know, communicating with the dog, they kind of hear and understand that you're the guy. Um, and typically, again, with the facilitator, we try to make sure all the good stuff comes from you. Um so even if that means you know the dog's just hanging out with you during the day, they're gonna be right there with you. Um, and then of course, if we do need to like move you around, the facilitator can then remove the dog from you know your bed or the couch or whatever that needs to look like, just so you can get your daily stuff done, but then you're still able to give cues. You can kind of help the dog understand that you're still here. I'm I'm the captain of this ship, I'm the orchestrator. But um but that's okay. So our success rate, um, at least uh for our regional office is about 60 to 63 percent um success, which is really great nationwide. Um it kind of just varies because um there's uh at least six regional offices, so that can be um anywhere between 45 to 55 percent success rate.

SPEAKER_02 10:31

What about rescues? If uh someone tries to rescue and turn them into service dogs?

SPEAKER_01 10:37

That is a possibility. I think a lot of service dog organizations do utilize either rescues or um shelter dogs, and that's always a great option. Um for us, we do only like utilize a specific breed, but that doesn't mean that breed is always you know the best fit for every person. Um, just like people have their individual natures and personalities and temperaments, I think dogs um also have that. So um each person kind of has their their own needs, and sometimes a different breed of dog can be really good for what they do need.

SPEAKER_02 11:10

That's a good interview. Okay, so my last and final question. What is the toughest, toughest case? Like that case, I don't know if you guys call cases, but it's the toughest case you've ever been through working with canine companions.

Staying The Primary Handler

SPEAKER_01 11:26

Wow, yeah, I think that um that is tough. I've been with canine companions for um over nine years now.

SPEAKER_02 11:33

Um there's gotta be one.

Success Rates And What They Mean

SPEAKER_01 11:36

I think it's not necessarily tough, but uh I'm gonna spin it to be positive. I think um we had we had a such a lovely girl, and um she was pretty limited and she's never been able to like write her name um or like write anything. But uh what we were able to do is again kind of get creative with some of the cues and how the dog could help her. And so we taught the dog how to like hold a piece piece of paper on um a flat surface with their paw, and she was finally able to like write her name, and we were all just like in tears. So it wasn't necessarily like hard, but it was just so emotional, and I think stuff like that can be really rewarding because it really does change people's lives. Like, people don't always like dogs are amazing, and I think people see that, but I think the the benefits that really can come out of a service animal um are beyond what people can even sometimes imagine.

SPEAKER_02 12:30

Aubrey, thank you so much for being on the podcast. Uh, where can uh people find K9 Companions?

SPEAKER_01 12:36

Yep, our website is kanine.org, c A-n-i-n-e.org. Um, we're also on all social media accounts, K9 Companions. Um, feel free to check us out and um yep, give us a give us a holler, all that good stuff.

Rescue Dogs As Service Dogs

SPEAKER_02 12:51

Uh that was great talk to you. Thanks so much, Max. If you enjoyed this content, please like, comment, and subscribe. And as always, take a breath from me. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 13:01

Never really tripping, try my best to stay focused. I try to keep it cool. Are you lames? I head on a scribble, looking out for the locust. I'm on 10 stones trying to dive my opponents. Am I the next best thing?