Give Us Paws

Service area: Greater Houston Area, Houston, Texas

Give Us Paws offers Service Dog training, Pet Dog Training, and Puppy Start Right Preschool. The Service Dog training follows an eight to twelve-month program that includes private training courses, public access training, and customized, one-on-one, disability-specific training. They train service dogs to mitigate symptoms of disabilities and improve the quality of life for handlers. They are not currently training Diabetic Alert Dogs.

Pricing Summary

Give Us Paws provides free service dog training for veterans and paid training for civilians suffering from PTSD and other disabilities. They are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that offers subsidized and free training for eligible candidates’ dogs as service animals. They rely on donations to fund their training programs for those with financial need.

Policies

Candidates are required to already have their own dog; Give Us Paws does not accept donated dogs or assist with rehoming or boarding. They only provide letters for housing for people who have been in their program for at least six months. For veterans seeking funding, a copy of their DD-214 and a letter of disability rating from the VA are required to schedule an interview or evaluation. Only a limited number of existing dogs pass their evaluation and qualify for the Service Dog training program.

Give Us Paws is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation based in Houston, Texas, providing service dog and pet dog training in the greater Houston area. They offer subsidized and free training for eligible candidates’ dogs as assistance animals.

Their primary focus is on veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress (PTSD), Military Sexual Trauma (MST), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and limited mobility. Subsidized services are also available to civilians determined to be disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Veterans receive priority for funding and training.

Give Us Paws is committed to evidence-based training methods, utilizing only positive, clicker-training techniques. Dogs are kept motivated and eager to please using treats, excitement, fun, rewards, and other surprises. They aim to set high standards for service dog training reliability, ensuring trainers are skilled in positive reinforcement to build behaviors necessary for public access.

Accomplishments

Give Us Paws is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. They have achieved Candidate Membership status by Assistance Dogs International (ADI), a global leader in service dog training standards for nonprofit organizations. One of their trainers, Paul Buescher, is a KPA CTP (Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner) and PCT-A.

How to Get Started!

To get started, potential candidates can apply through the application form. Veterans seeking funding must provide a copy of their DD-214 and a letter of disability rating from the VA to schedule an interview or evaluation. It is noted that only a limited number of existing dogs pass their evaluation and qualify for the Service Dog training program. They recommend speaking with a medical professional for Service Dog or Emotional Support Animal recommendation letters for housing or employers.