Heel · Service Dog Training · Est. 2017

Golden retriever pressing handicap door button with nose, warm morning light
Door work
Labrador leaning into veteran handler's knee in autumn park
Marcus & Cove
Small child's hand resting gently on a calm dog's back during school assembly
School anchor
Two dogs walking side by side on misty morning trail with handlers
Morning rounds
Trainer kneeling in dewy grass with treat pouch, working with border collie
Training yard
Veteran laughing while Labrador noses his hand affectionately
James & Rye
Service dog in vest walking calmly through crowded grocery store aisle
Grocery run
Golden retriever sitting at attention beside woman in wheelchair, sunny sidewalk
Elena & Biscuit
Rescue dog on worn wooden bench at training yard, foggy morning
The bench

Every leash holds a story still being written.

We train rescued dogs to become service partners for veterans, children with autism, and adults with mobility challenges — at no cost to recipients.

Meet Your Future Partner

No commitment — just a conversation

0%
Teams still active after 3 years
0+
Graduates placed since 2017
0
States represented
$0$
Cost to qualified recipients

From the training yard

Nine photos. Nine lives changed.

Each image in that opening grid holds a real team. Scroll and we'll introduce you to them.

Marcus, a veteran, sitting on park bench with his black Labrador Cove leaning against his leg
Labrador RetrieverRescued from Riverside County shelter
Veteran / PTSD Support

Marcus T. & Cove

Tacoma, Washington

Task Trained

Nightmare interruption, crowd buffering in grocery stores, and grounding pressure during dissociative episodes

"The VA had me on a two-year waitlist. Cove was ready in eight months. She knew what a panic attack felt like before I did."

— Marcus T.
Cove · Labrador RetrieverPaired 2024
Young boy with his hand resting on a calm golden retriever during a quiet school morning
Golden RetrieverRescued from Maricopa County shelter
Autism Anchor

Priya & Arjun K. & Saffron

Chandler, Arizona

Task Trained

Morning routine anchoring, meltdown de-escalation, and safe boundary maintenance in school hallways

"Arjun hadn't let anyone into his room for three years. On the second day, he asked if Saffron could sleep at the foot of his bed."

— Priya & Arjun K.
Saffron · Golden RetrieverPaired 2024
Meet Your Future Partner

No commitment — just a conversation

Elena in her wheelchair on a sunny sidewalk with her white standard poodle Biscuit sitting attentively beside her
Standard PoodleRescued from Austin Humane Society
Mobility Assistance

Elena R. & Biscuit

East Austin, Texas

Task Trained

Door and drawer opening, light switches, retrieving dropped items, and balance support on uneven terrain

"I used to plan my whole day around what I could reach. Now I plan it around where I want to go."

— Elena R.
Biscuit · Standard PoodlePaired 2024
James laughing outdoors as his Belgian Malinois mix Rye noses his hand affectionately
Belgian Malinois mixRescued from San Diego County Animal Services
Veteran / PTSD Support

James W. & Rye

Normal Heights, San Diego

Task Trained

Seizure alert (pre-ictal detection), post-seizure recovery positioning, and medication retrieval

"He's woken me up four times now before a seizure hit. My neurologist said that kind of early warning is worth more than any medication adjustment."

— James W.
Rye · Belgian Malinois mixPaired 2024
Meet Your Future Partner

No commitment — just a conversation

How it works

The bench at the training yard has room for you.

Heel is a nonprofit. Dogs come from shelters within 60 miles of our training facilities. Recipients pay nothing — ever. Our funding comes from the neighborhoods that have watched these teams grow up.

01

Apply & match

A 20-minute questionnaire connects your needs to our available dogs.

02

Meet your dog

A supervised intro session at the training yard. No pressure, no timeline.

03

Train together

4–6 months of team training, free of charge. You learn; your dog refines.

04

Go home

Graduation day. Your team, your neighborhood, your new daily rhythm.

Start the conversation

Every team starts with a single question.

Our matching questionnaire takes about 20 minutes. We ask about your daily routine, your specific challenges, and what a good day looks like for you. From there, our trainers find the dog that fits your life — not a checklist.

✓ No application fee✓ Response within 5 days✓ No obligation
Meet Your Future Partner

140+ teams matched since 2017