EmpowerPups by Hero’s Puppy For Life

Hero’s Puppy for Life Training pairs purpose-selected service dog candidate puppies with veterans and first responders living with PTSD, mobility challenges, or other debilitating conditions, using the Frank Griggs Relationship Bond Training methodology.

Service Dog Preparatory Training helps owners who need an ADA-compliant service dog prepare their puppy with obedience, socialization, and handler connection before disability-specific task training is completed by another organization.

Seizure Alert Dog Training offers personalized service dog training for individuals living with epilepsy or seizure-related conditions. A Diabetic Alert Dog Training program is also planned.

For the general public, Puppy PreSchool is a virtual course to prepare owners for a new puppy’s homecoming, Basic Canine Training (in person or virtual) covers obedience for a well-mannered pet, and Therapy Dog Preparatory trains dogs toward a therapy dog level of readiness. Save a Puppy from the Shelter bundles the PreSchool and Basic Canine courses into one virtual package.

Pricing Summary

The Save a Puppy from the Shelter package (Puppy PreSchool plus Basic Canine Training) is listed at a $330 value for under $95 using code STARTSTRONG, with monthly payment plans available starting at $20 per month. The site notes that service dog preparation involves many hours of individually tailored professional instruction at $85 per hour.

Policies

The site asks that all appointments be scheduled by phone. For the weekly Pup ‘n Cup Puppy Playtime, puppies must be at least 10 days past their second set of shots (with proof), under 6 months old, and free of visible illness or intestinal upset; puppy drop-offs are not allowed and the owner must stay on site.

EmpowerPups by Hero’s Puppy for Life is a nonprofit service dog training organization based in Westminster, Colorado, founded by Frank Griggs, a Purple Heart recipient. They place purpose-selected puppies with U.S. Armed Forces veterans, first responders, and others living with PTSD, mobility challenges, or other debilitating conditions, training each dog through their trademarked Frank Griggs Relationship Bond Training methodology.

Beyond service dog placement, EmpowerPups also runs training programs open to the general public. These include Puppy PreSchool for new puppy owners, Basic Canine Training for a well-mannered family pet, and a Therapy Dog Preparatory course for dogs working toward therapy dog certification, offered in person or virtually.

Their training approach is relationship-based and trauma-informed rather than command-and-control, using no-harm and no-fear techniques to build trust and communication between dog and handler. This same foundation is used whether the dog is headed for a family home, a therapy role, or ADA-compliant service dog work.

The Westminster facility hosts a weekly Pup ‘n Cup Puppy Playtime for socialization, and the organization also operates a facility in Colorado Springs. A Save a Puppy from the Shelter package combines two of their public courses at a reduced price to help owners train puppies at home and keep them out of shelters, with proceeds supporting the nonprofit’s service dog mission.

Accomplishments

Founded by Frank Griggs, a Purple Heart recipient, using his trademarked Frank Griggs Relationship Bond Training methodology developed specifically for the organization. The first group of seven service dog candidates has graduated as ADA-compliant service dogs.

How to Get Started!

Prospective clients are asked to call to schedule appointments; applicants for the service dog programs complete a Letter of Interest or Recipient Commitment Document and sign it in person at an interview with a program representative.