Puppy Jake Foundation - Programs for training service dogs and pet dogs

Benefits

How service dogs can help

Puppy Jake Foundation is dedicated to helping military veterans through the assistance of well bred, socialized, and professionally trained & certified service dogs. We are proud to select, train, and place only the best performing dogs with these deserving men and women.

Paws for patriots

Is a service dog right for you?

Puppy Jake Foundation is dedicated to helping military veterans through the assistance of well-bred, socialized, and professionally trained service dogs. Would a service dog improve your quality of life?

Do you need help in public places such as restaurants, stores, or crowded areas?

Having a service dog by your side can give you a feeling of security, like you’ve got someone looking out for you–a service dog has a variety of tasks at their disposal to help you feel safe and comfortable in public places.

Do you need assistance opening doors, drawers and/or picking up items?

A service dog can help with mobility challenges such as getting up out of a chair or even emptying out a dryer. Service dogs can be an extra set of hands.

Do you have anxiety and/or difficulty controlling anger?

Post Traumatic Stress is the number one reason for a service dog. Using deep pressure therapy, a service dog can bring comfort. They can also alert you to a change in mood or nightmares, so you can make adjustments.

Are you qualified?

Currently, we are placing service dogs with veterans with combat-related disabilities. Our veteran relations team can tell you more.

How it Works

Every step of the process to get a veteran the perfect service dog is crucial, even from the start–which means we’ll travel all over the country to bring home the right puppies. From the purchase of a puppy to the annual Public Access Test with the veteran and service dog team, we pay attention to every detail to ensure success.

Our primary training program relies on high-quality dogs that will have the best chances of success. We purchase from reputable breeders that specialize in breeding dogs for service dog work; Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers. These breeds have shown time and again they are the best dogs for service dogs, although we do keep in contact with many breeders to find the right dogs, even if they are another breed.

Volunteer fosters raise the puppies in five phases at no cost to the volunteers or the veteran. The puppies have a very structured training environment and schedule, and are consistently evaluated through the five phases of their training to ensure they’re meeting goals and milestones.

When the dog is about 18 months old, they are matched with a qualified veteran. The dog remains with the foster to learn skills through the end of Phase 4 and Phase 5. During the final phase, the veteran works with the foster to transfer skills and become acquainted with the dog. With hard work and dedication, the end of Phase 5 marks the beginning of a long relationship between the dog and the veteran–and, of course, their official entry into our growing Puppy Jake family.

Throughout the lifetime of the veteran and service dog team, we keep in contact to ensure that the match remains a perfect fit, and that their bond remains as strong as ever. Training continues regularly for the first year, with follow-ups and training for the rest of the service dog’s life, providing support for both the veteran and the dog for as long as they need it.

Why we do it

All you have to do is see our success stories to understand our passion. Service dogs can provide support to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or physical mobility issues. They assist veterans in performing tasks, and are proven to help cope with anxieties or loneliness. It’s all about helping the veterans live a healthier, happier life on their terms.

Raising service dogs is our number one priority, but we also are working hard to educate the general public about service dogs. The rights of service dogs are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act, which protects people with service dogs from discrimination, especially in public areas such as restaurants, gyms, etc. .The Puppy Jake Foundation continues to work on areas of advocacy and awareness regarding the need, accessibility and legality of the role of service dogs. The ADA website is a great resource to learn more

The Puppy Jake Difference

Because service dogs are life-changing for our veterans, we are committed to training and placing the best service dogs possible. This means we constantly strive to push ourselves and the industry forward, we pay attention to the details, and we’re always doing what’s best for dogs and vets alike. Our program features:

Trained, committed volunteers who foster the dogs.
Extensive training including mandatory weekly classes and outings that prepare the dogs to serve without distraction in public
A partnership with the Newton Correctional Facility to train our Phase 2, adolescent dogs.
Internal evaluations of the dogs at mid-term and the end of each Phase
Independent evaluations for Canine Good Citizen and Public Access tests
Focused, thoughtful training with the Veteran and family members that includes follow-up training with the Graduate Team for the life of the service dog
Accredited by Assistance Dogs International

Apply for a service dog

Your Independence Starts Here

To start your journey with Puppy Jake, please either fill out the digital application or download and fill out the PJF Application of Interest and mail to Puppy Jake Foundation, 3101 104th St., #2, Urbandale, Iowa 50322.

What to expect

Once your Application of Interest is received, we will review and notify you regarding your status and next steps, which include:

Application for a Service Dog (a $250 application fee will be incurred after this application is received in the mail)
Interview
In-Home Visit
Matching with available dogs
Team Training (once a month for 10 months)