White Fence Living
"White Fence Living: Real stories from New Albany, Ohio, hosted by a local dad, youth sports coach and community member. From community leaders to everyday voices, we share what makes 43054 tick—with a history sprinkle, no politics. Uncurated chats over the white fences."
White Fence Living
How Service Dogs Transform Lives: Inside Canine Companions
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Have you ever wondered what makes a service dog so extraordinary? In this eye-opening conversation with Matt from Canine Companions, we uncover the remarkable journey these dogs take from puppyhood to becoming life-changing partners for people with disabilities.
Nestled on 16 acres in New Albany sits one of the country's most impactful nonprofits that many locals don't even realize exists. For nearly 50 years, Canine Companions has been breeding, raising, and training service dogs that transform lives through their ability to perform dozens of specialized tasks. From retrieving dropped items to opening doors, turning on lights, and even helping veterans with PTSD navigate challenging situations, these dogs enable independence in ways that seem almost magical.
What makes this organization truly special is their commitment to providing these $50,000+ service dogs completely free of charge to recipients. Matt walks us through the fascinating process - from the careful breeding of Labs and Goldens in California to the dedicated volunteer puppy raisers who socialize the dogs for 18 months before professional trainers teach them 45 specific commands. We learn about the meticulous matching process that pairs each dog with the perfect recipient based on their unique needs and lifestyle.
The stories Matt shares are nothing short of incredible. A veteran stranded in an empty parking lot when his keys fell under his Jeep, only to have his service dog retrieve them without even being commanded. Children in schools who couldn't be calmed by teachers or administrators but immediately settled when a service dog entered the room. College students gaining independence through their canine partners. These aren't just dogs - they're life partners providing freedom, confidence, and connection.
Want to witness these amazing animals in action? Join Canine Companions at their annual Dog Fest on September 21st from 1-4pm at their New Albany campus. This family-friendly event welcomes both humans and pets to explore the facilities, meet service dogs and their recipients, and learn more about how these extraordinary animals are changing lives every day. Whether you're considering becoming a volunteer puppy raiser, supporting their mission, or simply fascinated by what dogs can achieve through specialized training, this is an organization that deserves the spotlight.
All right, I have to say it because I say it every episode we're recording, so I've got Matt here with me. Matt, welcome to the show. Welcome to White Fence Living.
Speaker 2Thanks, Justin. Appreciate you having us on your podcast today.
Speaker 1Yeah, no problem, I got to check out the space. Pretty cool Brickhouse Blue.
Speaker 2Yeah, it is. It's pretty impressive. I've, you know, heard about the space through different new albany functions, but it's nice to come out and take a look at it and get to see all the cool meeting space yeah, water's edge, water's edge sweet room.
Speaker 1Um, so, speaking of brick house blue and this is fitting, we've got matt with canine companions. Um, brick house blue is doing a, and I'm gonna explain this. All wrong, I promise, but they are. They're doing for National Dog Day, I think it is later this month. You could submit a photo of your pet and then that photo will actually go like on the carousel in all of their lobbies and all of their locations, just kind of like spotlighting Brickhouse Blue's pets. So pretty cool that I found out about that today. And then here we are with Canine Companions.
Speaker 2Yeah, very fitting, considering you know the work we do and the joy that dogs and pets bring to people's lives.
Speaker 1Yeah, my dog is not always a joy to me, but we'll get into that later. I've had that experience as well so, um, so matt, we we've known each other for a little while. Matt's uh, matt, lives in the community and, um, he has kids in the community, and so his daughter and my daughter are uh similar age, if not the same, aren't they? They're in this same class, I think yeah, uh, first grade going into. Yep, See just two dads trying to figure out where the kids are.
Speaker 2I know right, Well, I have four kids, so one in first, one in second, seventh grader and then a sophomore. So yeah, it's, it's a. It's always a challenge keeping track of their names, even.
Speaker 1Yes, I was doing I forget what episode it was, but I was talking about how funny it is with four kids, because I've got four too, and I'm like I can't keep track of anything. I don't know, like, who their teachers are, and like two seconds passed by and whoever I was sitting with was like so who's her teacher? And I'm like I have no clue, no clue.
Speaker 1And I love those questions, especially like when PowerSchool just releases that information Like do you think that I just went on the last 30 seconds and look that up. There is a cool spreadsheet. Now you've seen the spreadsheet, I'm sure.
Speaker 2I don't know if I have or not. I'll probably need to go look at that.
Speaker 1Yeah, so there's a spreadsheet that goes around so that because before you see who's in your class, you know what class you're in. So you go in. Somebody creates a spreadsheet and then you go in there and you put your kid in whatever class they're in, so then you can go look at who's in all the classes.
Speaker 2Oh, very cool yeah it's pretty clever, you know. It was worth my time just hearing that today, Justin.
Speaker 1Yeah, because all the kids are like, who's in my class, who's in my class? And they're like I'm not putting my name, I'll keep it a surprise, it's a secret. Yeah, yeah, oh, that's great. So, yeah, we've got two boys that have played football together and lacrosse together and the girls have done cheer together. And those two are like attached at the hip.
Speaker 2Yes, they are. We were out at Bevelheimer last night and Kylie ran up to Gemma and was so excited to see her. So yeah they're trouble together.
Speaker 1They are trouble. They are trouble. Well, good, good. So you got a sophomore too. Like how, how has? Uh, I'm not ready for teenage years, but, um, you know how is it like seeing them progress out of like the youth stuff, out of the middle school, get into the high school? Like how's that been?
Speaker 2I mean it's, it's exciting. Um, you know, my sophomore, obviously my, my, my oldest, and you know I was even thinking last night. She asked me to do something late last night and I'm like I don't know if that's the smartest or the safest thing to be doing, and so the answer was no.
Speaker 2Uh, and then I had this sort of recollection of being the youngest and how my sisters always said like you got away with so much stuff, and like mom and dad were so strict on us as older kids. So so I had to pause and think to myself, like am I going to have that same reaction when Kylie's a sophomore? And I actually talked to another mom and she was like I totally agree, like you know, probably not the best idea, and I'm like all right, good, thanks for confirming what I was thinking.
Speaker 2I wasn't just being like strict on my oldest, but um, it's, no, it's been great, I mean, with all the kids and their development and, as they get older, just seeing the activities and the, the friendships grow and develop and the maturity come and um, you know all the different things that they're involved with and you know becoming independent, you know young adults, it's, it's.
Speaker 1I cannot wait for that.
Speaker 2Yeah, it comes with a lot of you know they all every age, right, it comes with different challenges and things you have to navigate and hopefully by the time Kylie's a sophomore, I'll be a lot better at this. But yeah, it's it's, it's it's fun, I don't. I mean I'm sure you can appreciate this, it's fun. I mean I'm sure you can appreciate this Like I don't know what I would do if I didn't have four kids. I'd be pretty bored because 90% of my life is, you know around some activity or some school function, but it's a lot of fun.
Speaker 1Yeah, as nervous as having a driver makes me, I am ready because, like we are playing taxi, it's all day, every day, like we're just running them here, running them there, taking them to their friends, picking them up. Yeah, like I'm ready for, I'm ready for vinny to start driving. Yeah, kind of, I know, I know very mixed feelings there.
Speaker 2I because I I mean a lot of my oldest, maddie. Her friends are driving. She's very young for her grade, she started early, she's got a July birthday and so a lot of her friends are already turning 16, and she just turned 15. And, like you know, that whole piece is just. I mean it's scary. It's scary business and you know, with distracted drivers and all of that it's. But I completely appreciate your, you know the fact of having a driver and having them have some independence and help with, you know, getting around and maybe getting their siblings around. That certainly will be nice.
Speaker 1But I kind of feel like driving is going to be safer than these e-bikes and scooters.
Speaker 2Yeah, that's a whole other thing. Yeah, that's. Yeah, it's all, it's all you know. You know, scary to think about, really and just making sure that kids are being safe and wearing their helmets and driving on roads that they should be driving on and doing the things they need to be doing and I think they do.
Speaker 1I I don't really. I rarely see anybody in like any kids in the community on an e-bike without a helmet, and the football players love to wear their football helmets on now so that's like. I'm like, that's really. That's like if you're going to pick something to be cool, that's cool.
Speaker 2That's cool. Yeah, I know.
Speaker 1So let's jump into Canine Companions. I know of the organization and I think a big part of why I do is because Dog Fest. So Dog Fest is coming up we were talking before. It's not a whole lot of like, it's not a ton of people from outside of the organization or some way connected to the organization that go, but so let's kind of back up. Maybe I went too far. Let's start with like what's kind of back up, maybe I went too far. Let's start with like what K-9 Companions is Sure.
Speaker 2Um, so, you know, I think in in many ways, uh, unfortunately, I think K-9 Companions is still somewhat of the best kept secret in new Albany. I mean, we're the one of the largest nonprofit organizations, uh, located here in new Albany Great deal of support from the community, from the city, which we're very, very fortunate to have. But, you know, it feels as though and I'm sure this is true with a lot of organizations unless your family's been personally impacted, you know it may not just jump right out to you. So, um, this organization started back in 1975. We're a national organization, um, we have six regional facilities across the country. Our headquarters is out in california, that's where we breed labs and goldens, um, and they get sent to one of the six regional sites across the country where they get matched with a volunteer puppy raiser.
Speaker 2So talk about a cool volunteer experience, you know, raising these puppies for a year and a half, socializing them, potty training them, teaching the dogs some of those basic commands or cues that they'll further refine in professional training to support their client. And so then, after that year and a half period, the dog gets turned back into one of the six regional training centers where it started and it gets matched with a professional trainer on our staff who teaches the dog about 45 commands, cues we call them to support the client with the disability. And then we invite a class of students to come and stay on our campus for two weeks to learn how to work with the disability. And then we invite a class of students to come and stay on our campus for two weeks to learn how to work with the dog. And at the end of that two-week period client graduates and goes home with their new service dog and has a typically about an eight to ten year partnership with that dog, where you know that dog is their service dog for eight to ten years.
Speaker 2So full program from breeding all the service dog for eight to 10 years. Um, so full program from breeding all the way through the eight to 10 year working life. Um, the organization since 1975, we've placed over 8,200 service dogs with clients that need them. Uh, we support over 65 different types of disabilities. Uh, so it's. You know it's an amazing mission and organization.
Speaker 2Anyone that has a dog knows just the joy, the companionship to your point earlier, Justin, some of the frustration that comes with having pets, but you know, with service dogs in particular, I mean they're providing life changing support to these clients that allows them to live independently. So to these clients that allows them to live independently, so that could be a veteran with PTSD returning home from war, or a college-age student that is getting ready to go off to college and trying to navigate their new life in independence and are able to do that through the support of a service dog. To a kid in a wheelchair with a disability. To an adult, we have a team on a class of students on campus right now. They'll graduate on Friday, so our next graduation ceremony is taking place this Friday and they're open to the public. One of our clients that's at this team training class he's here for his fifth service dog.
Speaker 2So he was part of our first class back in 1975 and has got a new service dog about every 10 years Um that's crazy, this is his fifth service dog. He was a school teacher in the Columbus area. Um, so, yeah, just you know a lot of of really great, um you know experiences that these people are able to have and just life-changing support that they're able to have through this new partnership that they have with their dog. It's pretty amazing.
How Service Dogs Are Matched
Speaker 1Yeah, I've got. I'm going to be the dummy in the room because, like, I've got so many questions about this. Now, yeah, because I love dogs I've had labs growing up. Who doesn't love dogs? And to me, like I knew, I knew it was a big organization. I could look, I've been on the campus. I'm like this thing, this campus is amazing, it's huge. So I get the sense that it was a large organization. So I've just got so many questions If, if you like, how do these service dogs get placed? Questions if, if you like, how do these service dogs get placed? Like, if I'm somebody with a disability and I need a service dog, like, is this non-profit? Do I have to? Does? Do I pay for this dog? How do I get placed with a dog, like, how does that work?
Speaker 2yeah. So if, if you, you know, are considering, uh, you know the the idea of having a service dog, and you know, obviously, doing your research, canine Companions is the largest. We're probably one of the most reputable service dog providers in the country. You know. If the decision is, you know, to have a service dog through Canine Companions, folks can go to our websiteineorg fill out an online application. We have an applicant program manager that takes in all the applications, reviews them and then has, you know, a series of interviews with that, with that applicant, and if everything checks out and they're a good fit for our organization and we're a good fit for their organization or for their needs, then they move from applicant to candidate. And that's when we really start to think about you know which dogs we have on campus and our strings on campus and which app, which candidates we have on our wait list and and who's going to be the best fit. So, just, it's not necessarily if you're number one on the wait list that you're going to get.
Speaker 2You know the number one, you know the next dog in line, we call it the making of the match and our program team sits down and looks at. You know what are the skills, what's the weaknesses of all of our dogs, what are the needs of our clients. You know what's, what's their living situation, how are they planning on utilizing that dog? And you know it really is. There's kind of an art and a science to it, but they're they're finding the best possible dog that we have on our string. So even if, even if that person is number one on our wait list, if we don't have the right dog on our campus currently, then we'll wait till the next, the next string of dogs that come in. This happens quarterly. So every graduation ceremony that we're having on Friday, we do this quarterly we also have a matriculation ceremony, so that's when puppy raisers are turning in their dogs for professional training. So it's just a continuous cycle.
Speaker 2All of our dogs are provided completely free of charge. We value each placement well over $50,000. And we separate ourselves from other service dog providers in the fact that we provide all of our dogs completely free of charge. Providers, and the fact that we provide all of our dogs completely free of charge, um, so you know we don't ask the client to, to fundraise or to, you know, help offset the cost. Um, we're able to provide these dogs completely free of charge to the recipient, which is a great thing. Um, some of these folks, you know, wouldn't be able to to afford a dog, let alone a service dog, otherwise. So we're really proud of the fact that we can do that.
Speaker 1Yeah, that's awesome. That is, that's really cool. So that also I didn't know. I knew, I knew it was a nonprofit, but I didn't know exactly how like that selection process took. Um, so that's cool, that's awesome. Um, man, I'm telling you like some of my favorite episodes have been nonprofits, like I don't know what, like just people doing good work. It's awesome. Puppy raisers Like sounds like the coolest job ever. So what do you ask of a puppy raiser? And then, like is there an application process for that?
Speaker 2What does that look like? Yeah, there is an application for that and kind of similar to you know a client. They're filling out the application. They're getting to know our talk about cool titles. Our puppy program manager is getting to know these puppy raisers that are interested in doing this.
Speaker 2Some of our puppy raisers have, you know, previous dog training experience, or you know, or experience that would, I think, more directly correlate to volunteering in that role.
Speaker 2Some don't, some just have pets and are genuinely interested in, you know, raising dogs and, um, and the nice thing about you know our organization is that we have six facilities across the country but within each of our regional facilities we have 10, you know, five, 10 more than, uh, I think in our regional one.
Speaker 2We have like 11 volunteer chapters out of our 14 States. So we've got these groups of volunteers all through the country that if you're a new puppy raiser you can interact with other volunteers in the area you come to puppy class in your respective area, nice, um, you know. So any new puppy raiser can really kind of lock arms with a veteran puppy raiser and, you know, garner experience and practice and build a community of of, of you know, other supporters that they can, you know, uh, support one another and you know, for for many of our puppy raisers it's really a life passion. I mean, people say I don't know how they do that, and you know, take a dog in for a year and a half and then it'd be hard to let go, and yeah, it certainly would.
Speaker 2I think, though, that our puppy raisers, you know they sign up for the job knowing what they're getting into, knowing the role that they play in this overall mission, and you know when they can come to graduation day, so we'll have a bunch of puppy raisers and all of our clients on campus. On Friday, our puppy raisers get to sit and have lunch with the graduate that the dog is you know that they helped raise, and that's a special moment, and then, during the graduation ceremony, the puppy raiser turns the leash over to the graduate during the ceremony, so pretty emotional day for everyone.
The Puppy Raiser Experience
Speaker 2But I think, you know, just seeing the impact Some of our puppy raisers have raised, you know, 15, 20-plus dogs and you know the countless lives that they have forever changed and, yeah, impacted is is pretty incredible. So, um, are you looking for new puppy raisers? Always looking for new puppy raisers? Yeah, um, you know, I, I, you know it's like any organization. You've got a lot of good volunteers and volunteers that have been around for a long time, but you can't continue to, you know, rely on those folks forever and ever and ever.
Speaker 2So we're always trying to sort of fill that next, you know, group of volunteers, the younger generation and, just, you know, getting the word out and trying to recruit more and more people. You know transportation is an issue, with our headquarters being out in California. You know, getting these puppies from Santa Rosa out to Long Island or New Albany, ohio or Texas or Florida can be a challenge and our puppy raisers, you know, help a lot with that, being willing to drive and go pick puppies up and take them from point A to point B, willing to drive and go pick puppies up and take them from point A to point B. So, yeah, I think the more you know, the more that we can just continue to build our volunteer network, the more folks that we're going to be able to serve.
Speaker 1Yeah, yeah, if I didn't have four kids and a dog, I'd be raising, all about it.
Speaker 2I get it, it's like being a surrogate.
Speaker 1Yeah, I get it. Yeah, absolutely yeah, I get it.
Speaker 2Yeah, absolutely yeah. I get asked why aren't you raising a puppy?
Speaker 1Matt.
Speaker 2I'm like I have, I have four puppies I'm raising, yeah, I'm raising four of them.
Speaker 1And that's awesome. So, yeah, anybody out there who wants to raise puppies, like I mean, everybody loves puppy stage, and it doesn't last long enough, so you just keep doing it over and over again.
Speaker 2Yeah, yeah, we. We've got some really neat kind of unique programs. You know we support specific, you know anyone that that has a disability you know we can support through one of our service dogs. We don't support the blind but we do hearing placements. We have placements in various facilities. So Nationwide Children's Hospital has a number of our dogs at the hospital that support, you know, different areas of their health care system. We have dogs in judicial systems. We we have dogs in school systems. The New Albany school system previously had a dog and one of the security directors for New Albany was his handler and so just a lot of really cool unique ways that they're utilizing dogs, like in the school system. You know we've heard stories of, you know kids that were anxious, that didn't want to get off the bus. You know able to go on the bus and say, hey, do you want to walk with me and the dog to your classroom or to use as an incentive to like encourage better attendance.
Speaker 2Or you know even situations where kids were just like very emotional and irate and the faculty couldn't calm them down, the administration couldn't calm them down, but the dog came in the room and it was just enough of a distraction to like get the kid to refocus and settle a bit.
Speaker 2So yeah, it's, it's amazing all the you know the stories that we have are are endless. Um, you know veterans that are injured in combat, and one in particular told me a story about being in a walmart parking lot late one night and, um, he has a, he had a jeep outfitted for his disability that got his wheelchair in and out, and it was in the middle of the winter and he said he was like one of the only cars in the parking lot. He got in the car and got his wheelchair in and everything, and because of his disability he has a lot of weakness in his hand and he dropped his keys and they went under the wheel. Well of his Jeep. And he said, before he even gave the command, his dog jumped across. His lap went under the Jeep.
Speaker 2Well of his jeep. And he said, before he even gave the command, his dog jumped across his lap, went under the jeep, got his keys and retrieved him. For him, um, and he said you know, I was on my way, um, and if it weren't for his dog, he would have been looking for someone nice in the parking lot to help or, you know, getting back out of the vehicle and going through that whole process again or being stranded.
Life-Changing Impact of Service Dogs
Speaker 2So yeah, it's a special organization. It's one that I think impacts people, not just from the joy that we know pets just in general can provide, but the 45 cues that they learn to really allow this person to live independently anything from, you know, pulling off sweaters or socks to alerting them to fire alarms or doorbells. A lot of retrieve, picking dropped items off the floor, turning on and off light switches, pulling a manual wheelchair, pulling a laundry basket, I mean it's pretty incredible. So if manual wheelchair or pulling a laundry basket, I mean it's, it's pretty incredible. So if you know, for folks that are, like, love dogs and love that you know are so interested in like what dogs can do to support folks, um, come out to our campus.
Speaker 1We we offer tours Um can I drop my kids off for training? Yeah, yeah, cause they can't do, do both they can't do any of those things you just listed, I know I know.
Speaker 2Picking up a sweater off the floor not happening, yeah. Putting your helmet in your duffel bag yeah, none of that um, yeah, no, it's I.
Speaker 1I do kind of feel like like it. The property sits back, like it. It's kind of like I don't know. It's just like you know it's there, you don't realize it's back there. So I strongly encourage anybody who like it's such a mystery back there. But, having been to Dog Fest and going back there and checking it out, it's a really cool campus.
Speaker 2Yeah, we're right on 605 Reynoldsburg, new Albany Road, across from the. Now I'm drawing a blank on the name of the community there. Community across the street, nottingham.
Speaker 2Yep I think you're right. So right across the street is our facility and the sign runs perpendicular with the road. So if you see this sign, there's a long driveway that goes back and our campus is 54,000 square feet and we sit on 16 acres 54,000 square feet and we sit on 16 acres and, like I said, folks can pop in or email ahead and if they're interested in coming out for a tour, dog Fest is a great you know opportunity just to come out and see the campus and learn more about the work and hear the stories of folks that have been impacted by the organization. So, yeah, open to the public and you know we're always looking for folks to get involved and you know we're always looking for folks to get involved and you know, and just come out and learn more about the work we're doing.
Speaker 1Yeah, absolutely so. Let's talk about dog fest. So the first thing we should talk about dog fest is parking. Let's start there.
Speaker 2Cause.
Speaker 1I like almost didn't go one year because I'm like, wait a minute, where do I go? How do I like? How do I do this? Yep, so how is the parking going to work?
Speaker 2this year, so parking and I got talking points ahead of this podcast. So parking's at 7400 West Campus Road. It's the Aetna building.
Speaker 1And that's where it was last year, right? I believe so, I think so, yeah.
Speaker 2We've used the Discover lot in the past as well, but yeah, I think it was at Aetna last year.
Speaker 1So Aetna is like if you know where the Discover building is, New Albany Road. There it's kind of like if you were going to cut from like go to the goat from the backside, I guess is the way to explain it. It cuts through to that neighborhood. But yeah, you can't miss it when you're coming up New Albany Road. It's on the left-hand side opposite of the Discover building. Yeah, and New Albany had. It was New Albany's shuttle right, yeah, this year we got a shuttle from Cardinal Transportation.
Speaker 2Okay good, I believe, is who we're using, but we'll shuttle folks from that new building over to campus. We have a fair amount of parking right on our campus but not enough to accommodate the Dog Fest event. So, yeah, we'll ask folks. The event goes from 1 to 4. You can come any time. The shuttle will be running kind of continuously. So park there and then jump on the shuttle and come over to campus.
Speaker 1And your dog can come on the shuttle.
Speaker 2Yep dog can come on the shuttle. We encourage dogs. I think my very first Dog Fest was I've been with the organization six years now and when I first started we were doing a smaller event up in the Cleveland area.
Speaker 1And the.
Speaker 2Thing that was so cool to me was that I felt like I saw every breed of dog manageable imaginable um at this event, and so I think that's a cool thing, is like bringing your pet dogs out and, uh, you know, for for someone that just like likes seeing cool dogs, it's, it's, it's neat to see all the different breeds of dogs there yeah, and they, like kids, love it.
Speaker 1It's it's super kids, family friendly. So, um, if I'm remembering correctly, there's like I think we they were like made a dog treat or something like one of the one of the tents was this like no, it was a dog painting, it was like peanut butter and the dog would lick the peanut butter and then like made an artwork piece underneath of it. But there's, of course, water everywhere for the dogs. Um, there was like little obstacle courses. There's lots of giveaways. I know there was a ton of giveaways, um, you know, canine companions giving away, I think, like the, the doggy bandanas um and then, yeah, I think there's like just tons of samples.
Speaker 1there's some vendors there too, like up along the buildings, where you know people were just showing products, and yeah, I think it's a really cool event. It was really fun.
Speaker 2Yeah, it's. You know, dog Fest is a big fundraiser for us. So this year our fundraising goal is to raise $560,000. And like it's a peer-to-peer fundraiser, so folks are fundraising year-round to support Dog Fest and support Canine Companions. And the day of is really kind of a celebration for folks that aren't familiar, super familiar, with the organization, just a great intro to the work we do. But for a lot of the people that you know, it's coming out and celebrating all the fundraising that they've done throughout the year. And celebrating all the fundraising that they've done throughout the year. And we'll have, you know, in the past we've had face painters, we've had balloon artists, cotton candy, you know, food vendors, things of that nature, I think. Oh yeah, there were food trucks last year there were food trucks.
Speaker 2This year we're planning, I think, something where folks can have a print of their dog's paw created for them. So just, you know, fun, fun activities. It's a very family friendly event. You know, it's on a Sunday. If you live here in New Albany, you're looking something fun to take the kids out and experience. It's. It's a good day.
Speaker 1So, yeah, we hope to see as many people as possible this year yeah, and there's a lot, of, a lot of the working dogs are there, which is like it. I gotta touch on this. So, um, if you haven't met one of these working dogs, um, if you see a dog with a yellow vest on with, like, the blue outline says, canine companions, that's them. These dogs are the. They are the most like chill, relaxed, like every lab is like that, but these dogs are just. It is crazy how friendly and just chill they are.
Speaker 2Yeah, and that is a testament, I think, a lot to the breeding program. I mean, that's how the dogs are trained. You really shouldn't know a service dog If you're in a restaurant and a service dog is under the table. You shouldn't know a service dog. If you're in a restaurant and a service dog's under the table, you shouldn't know that that dog's there. But yeah, they're very, very, their temperament is very calm.
Speaker 1You know they're trained really to follow the lead of their client and so you know when they're being asked to do something they're working, and when they're not working they're in a down position, being pretty calm yeah, yeah it's, it's, uh, it's, it's pretty, pretty impressive just the science and the research piece that has gone into, like creating these amazing service dogs, yeah um, and, and I know you're not on the breeding side and I don't, I don't, I'm, you know way more I'm sure about this than I do, but like, so what kind of? Where are these dogs coming from? And like, is it? Is it like, has this been like one bloodline that we're breeding? Is it like, are they coming from out of the country? Are they? Are they bred here?
Speaker 2Tell me about that, so we have breed breeder caretakers within a hundred mile radius of Santa Rosa. Okay, and that's been going on for 30 plus years Wow.
Speaker 2I think, early on in the organization's history we tried other breeds of dogs, um, but where we've really landed is labs and goldens, and most likely a lab golden cross is what we have found to be the kind of the best blend for for the work that we're having them do. Um, so we have, yeah, breeder caretakers that, um, for years and years whelped the dogs right in their homes. Uh, now we have a new uh center out in California, next to our headquarters, where the, the, the breeding can take place now in a more controlled environment.
Speaker 2And um, yeah, so I know, I know a little bit about the breeding piece but we have a whole. I mean we partner with groups like Duke and we're looking at like um, early canine development and, you know, markers for future success in a service dog and, you know, looking at puppies at a very early age and to kind of help us further refine and develop that area of our program?
Speaker 1What happens if a puppy doesn't work out?
Speaker 2So our puppy raisers get first right of refusal. So that's another benefit of being a puppy raiser you get a chance, yeah yeah yeah, someone said earlier you know talking about a puppy raiser and uh, but yeah, if, if, if the dog doesn't uh get selected to go on to be a service dog, then they are essentially released from our program and first call we make is to the puppy raiser to see if they'd like to to have that dog. A lot of our puppy raisers that have released dogs are using them in therapy work.
Speaker 2Um so um, that's a new extension of our, our mission. Um, within the last couple years, we've developed our own therapy dog program and those dogs wear a different colored vest. It's like aqua, teal color, um and but doing, still continuing to work. And you know, we want to keep these dogs working, even though they might have a physical uh setback or a behavioral setback that disqualifies them from being a service dog. They're still amazing dogs and they're still very intelligent and very capable of working in different environments, and one of the areas that we're we're finding a lot of them find success is through our therapy program Nice.
Speaker 1Yeah, I don't think I could be trusted as a puppy. Uh, caretaker Cause. I'd be like this dog stinks. You did not want him. He can't do anything.
Speaker 2Yeah, well, and and a lot of like. What helps us decide? That is through the reports we get from our puppy raisers. I think they submit monthly reports that help us really have a good sense of what this dog is capable of, before we even see the dog, but then they have six to eight months. So if you mess anything up, we've got six months to fix whatever you messed up.
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Speaker 1All right, fair enough. Cool. So the training process, so the breeding is done in California. Yeah, how do those dogs get here?
Speaker 2Well, it's through either commercial airlines, private pilots or a puppy raiser, you know, transporting them by vehicle. Wow.
Speaker 1That's pretty cool. All right, so the puppy, he's, he's good, he's ready for a caretaker. They get shipped here, like to a facility like new albany's or one of the other facilities, and then so are. Are the? Are the puppy caretakers that the dogs are going to be trained in new albany? Are those caretakers here in the community?
Speaker 2so we have puppy raisers all throughout our 14 state region. So the regional training center here in New Albany is considered the north central training center and we serve 14 states.
Speaker 2So we have volunteers all throughout our 14 states that are raising puppies for us. Yeah, so they're with the dog for a year and a half and then from there they get turned back into the training center for six to eight months of professional training, nice. So at about two years they're ready, yep, yep. So when we invite the clients to come and stay for two weeks we call it team training they're in class, you know, monday through Friday for those two weeks and the dog's ready to go. Yeah, now it's a matter of like getting the client, you know, introduced to their new service dog and getting them comfortable and confident and and giving those cues and, you know, and using the dog for what it's capable of. And, you know, for many of our clients, you know, introducing them to this whole new life experience that they're going to be having and helping them build a support group around, you know, this new life change. But the dogs are ready to go. It's just spending those two weeks getting the human ready for it.
Speaker 2And another great thing about our organization is we retain ownership after the dog and client graduate. And it's really our promise to the graduate that we're not just going to congratulate you, shake your hand, applaud, yeah, wish you good luck, but we're going to support you throughout that whole journey. So we have a graduate program manager on staff and his job every day is to talk with clients by phone, email, text. Our trainers go out throughout our 14-state region every year and meet with graduates and clients in all of our respective communities and get face-to-face time with them. So it's a great opportunity just to check in with a client. Also check in on the dog, make sure the dog's doing well, staying healthy, staying good, weight appropriate, and so our clients you know any, anybody that's a little apprehensive about getting a service dog, just knowing there's a huge, you know, network of support that is provided from the organization to help you know through all the different phases of life that they may go through with their dog yeah, that's pretty cool.
Speaker 1so you're not like there's some like continuing it, I, I guess or like you're still engaged where yeah, because I'm sure things can arise down the road. I mean, they graduate, get placed in a home. There's probably this big transition and then maybe they are having trouble with a certain piece of it.
Speaker 2They still have a resource to go to. Team training is not just how to, you know, execute the cues that the dog already knows, but also how to um how to how to use that dog if they need new things, um, and feel comfortable like um modifying a command or a cue to better support their specific needs. Um, so a lot of our, a lot of the cues or the commands that the dog learns, um kind of build off each other so they have that confidence if their you know job situation changes or their school situation, life changes, whatever it may be, that they can work directly with the dog to further train that dog with our support that's pretty cool because I'm sure a lot of these disabilities are are dynamic, like I'm sure they're ever changing is.
Speaker 1I mean, you got somebody who's had five of them, like I'm sure that first service dog is not doing the same thing, that it that his latest service dog is 100. So yeah, that's really cool, man. Um well, I always like to try and finish up with like some new albany stuff. So how long you been in new albany?
Speaker 2so we bought our house, uh 13 years ago.
Speaker 1Okay, nice, um. What do you guys do for fun and when you're not in sports, what?
Speaker 2do you do in new albany? I like to fish. Okay, we've got some good ponds in new albany. Um, like to do more of that. Uh, sports is, is it? You know, ohio football, cleveland Browns football, uh, fishing time with family, traveling when I can, uh, you know, working, working out and exercising when I can, so, yeah, but the kids they keep you, keep you pretty busy yeah, I used to see at the gym we both go to.
Speaker 1Well, I partially go to fit one four you're in there pretty consistently.
Speaker 2Well, I was we. We don't belong there anymore.
Speaker 1I have a bunch.
Speaker 2I have like weight equipment at my house but I can't say I'm using a lot a lot of it. Uh, you know I'm happy if I can get a hundred pushups in a day and try to get you know either a run or some steps in, um, but yeah, that's, that's an area that I could certainly do more of.
Speaker 1That's an area that I could certainly do more of, that's for sure. Yeah, I do want to give one more shout-out to Brickhouse Blue and there's a Barry's Bagels now, and so today I didn't have time to eat, came from full-on, ran here and I was like, oh yeah, bagel shop here, so I got a pastrami bagel on Oscego cheese bagel. It was incredible.
Speaker 2It sounds incredible. I told you earlier I've been on this keto diet, but if I had one bagel, I'd probably eat about 15 right now. So you're welcome. They smell really good, yeah.
Speaker 1You're welcome for me.
Speaker 2Keep bringing up how good they were. Thank you for that reminder.
Speaker 1Like I would. Honestly, I would come in and get a bagel. Like, if you don't, you don't have to be a uh brickhouse blue member to come into barry's bagels, like it's just in the main lobby. You can come in, get a bagel and go um, it's really good I don't think we like have other bagel place.
Speaker 2I mean, you obviously can get bagel sandwiches at other places, but you know, when I was a kid growing up, we had a few bagel shops in our town and I think this is this the only one. Yeah, I mean that I know of yeah, they're really good.
Speaker 1So, um, well, hey, thank you so much. I appreciate you coming on. Um, I'm excited to to spread the word on canine companions and um, so there's a graduation friday that's open to the public graduation friday, if you want to check it out open to the public.
Speaker 2Come on out, um, it takes place. So we have three buildings. New leash hall is Hall is where the graduation ceremony will take place, starting at one o'clock, and then Dog Fest, september 21st, from one to four. But yeah, this organization, as I mentioned earlier, our 50th anniversary, so just a great time to come and check out the organization and the great work that we've been doing over the last 50 years.
Speaker 1Sweet Sounds good man. Well, we'll see everybody at Dog Fest.
Speaker 2Great Thanks, Justin. Appreciate you having me, yep.