At Sunrise Service Dogs, we train dogs to assist individuals with a diverse range of disabilities. Our expertly trained service dogs provide medical alert assistance by detecting changes in saliva or sweat that may indicate a medical emergency. We also specialize in psychiatric support dogs that help individuals with autism, PTSD, and other psychiatric needs. Additionally, we train mobility support dogs that assist handlers with tasks such as item retrieval and counterbalance support. Each service dog we train is specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of their individual handler.

At Sunrise Service Dogs, we maintain our own breeding program of Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers, and we also receive donated puppies of these breeds. We have also recieved German Shepherd puppies donated to our program. We focus on these specific breeds because of their proven success rates as service dogs, though we understand that successful service dogs aren't defined by their breed alone. Through our owner-trained program, we work with adult dogs of various breeds, evaluating each individual dog based on their temperament, trainability, and ability to perform required tasks. What matters most is the dog's personality, work ethic, and capability to reliably assist their handler.

Sunrise Service Dogs is a nonprofit organization registered under section 501(c)(3), and our services come at no cost to students accepted into our Program. The actual cost to train and support a service dog team ranges from $30,000 to $50,000, including lifetime support services. While our program is free, students participating in Puppy Academy should be aware that they will be responsible for expenses related to the care and feeding of their puppy. At Sunrise Service Dogs, we believe that financial circumstances should not prevent someone from receiving the assistance of a service dog. We do ask our program participants to join in our fundraising efforts to help sustain our mission and enable us to continue providing service dogs to those in need. This collaborative approach allows us to maintain our program's quality while keeping it accessible to all qualified applicants.

Yes, through our Bridge Academy program, we can help you train your own dog to become a service dog, provided certain requirements are met. Your dog must be between 12 months and 3 years of age to qualify, and all dogs must pass a behavioral evaluation.

To participate in Bridge Academy, applicants must complete the same comprehensive application process as our other programs, which includes:

• Doctor's referral

• Criminal background check • Letters of reference

• Additional required documentation

Following your preliminary acceptance, participants will begin with our mandatory 12-week Sunrise Service Dogs Bootcamp, which costs $600 and prepares teams for the rigorous training of service dog tasks and public access work.

Upon successful completion of Bootcamp, an SSD trainer will evaluate the team's readiness to proceed to the next phase of training. This structured approach ensures that both handler and dog are well-prepared for the challenges of service dog work.

Sunrise Service Dogs does not sell trained service dogs. As a nonprofit organization, our mission is to train and place service dogs with individuals living with disabilities through our specialized programs. We work closely with our clients throughout the training process to ensure successful partnerships between handlers and their service dogs. While occasionally we may have dogs that are not suited for service work available for pet adoption, this is rare. Our focus remains on our core mission of training and placing service dogs at no cost to qualified individuals through our established programs.

At Sunrise Service Dogs, we take all concerns seriously and are committed to addressing them promptly and professionally. If you have a concern, please submit it in writing to the Executive Director, including relevant details, dates, and any supporting documentation. We will acknowledge your complaint within 2 business days. Our leadership team will conduct a thorough review of your concern, and we may contact you for additional information if needed. All complaints are handled confidentially and documented. While we strive to resolve all complaints within 14 business days, complex issues may require additional time. You will be kept informed of progress throughout the process. If you are unsatisfied with the initial resolution, you may request an appeal in writing within 30 days of the initial resolution, which will be reviewed by our Board of Directors. We track all feedback as part of our commitment to continuous improvement, using this information to enhance our training programs and client support services.

Should you need to communicate a complaint or dispute, we ask that you detail the issue and engage directly with the Execu ive Director to seek a resolution. If your concern involves the Executive Director, then your next point of contact should be the Board Chair. The responsible party will investigate your complaint, work towards a resolution, and provide a decision along with a written, dated summary of the issue and the resolution proposed, all within a reasonable timeframe.

Description goes heSunrise Service Dogs is primarily supported by generous donations from private citizens - people just like you - who believe in our mission of providing service dogs to individuals with disabilities. We are proud that over 80% of our revenue goes directly to supporting our programs. While we do not receive government funding, we maintain valuable partnerships with organizations like Under the Sun Dog Training & Daycare that help advance our mission. Each spring, we host our signature fundraising event, the Raise the Woof Shindig, which brings our community together in support of our work. The generosity of individual donors and community partners enables us to continue providing service dogs at no cost to our program participants.re

Sunrise Service Dogs carefully selects dogs with ideal temperaments, health, and personality traits tailored for service dog roles. Our dogs come from several carefully managed sources. We maintain a small, purpose-bred breeding program focused on producing puppies specifically for service work. We also collaborate with select breeders who meet our exacting standards and commit to our specialized socialization protocols. All puppies that enter our training program receive specialty socialization aimed at preparing them for their future as life-changing service dogs. Through these carefully managed sources, we ensure that each dog has the best possible foundation for success in their vital role as a service dog.

Yes, Sunrise Service Dogs accepts clients from out of state. If you can commute to our Colorado Springs training location, we can work with you through our regular training program. For those unable to commute, we offer placement of fully trained adult service dogs, though this option comes with a significant wait time. Our capacity to serve out-of-state clients is directly linked to the availability of our volunteer puppy raisers. You can help increase opportunities for out-of-state placements by referring potential puppy raisers to our program.

Description gThe waiting time for a service dog varies depending on which program you choose to participate in. Participants in our Puppy Academy typically wait less than a year to be paired with a service dog candidate puppy. For those seeking a fully trained adult service dog, the wait time may be 5 years or more. Our Bridge Academy program, which allows you to train your own dog, offers two class opportunities per year for new participants to begin their journey.oes here

Yes, we train service dogs for children with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities, including Autism. Children must be at least 5 years old at the time of placement to be considered for our program. Parents are trained as the dog's primary handler and work with the dog for their child's benefit. While we welcome families to our training facility, we do not provide childcare services, so families must arrange care for their children during training sessions or be able to participate in classes while supervising their children. It's important to note that we do not train dogs for elopement prevention or tethering, as we believe there are more appropriate technological interventions available for these specific needs.

Description goes hereWhile Sunrise Service Dogs does not offer therapy dog training classes, we highly recommend the Therapy Dog classes at Under the Sun Dog Training & Daycare (utsdog.com). Under the Sun is a well-established facility with experienced trainers and an excellent reputation in our community. Their facility offers comprehensive training programs in a professional, positive environment, and their clients consistently praise their knowledgeable staff and effective training methods. It's important to note that therapy dogs serve a different purpose than service dogs - while service dogs are trained to assist individuals with disabilities, therapy dogs provide comfort and support in facilities like hospitals, schools, and nursing homes.