Partner-Trained Service Dog Program
Our programs focus on partnership. You train alongside your dog with support from Sunrise Service Dogs trainers, volunteers, and community.
We offer two main paths:
Puppy Academy. Raise a purpose-bred Sunrise Service Dog candidate puppy.
Bridge Academy. Owner-trained assistance dog program for dogs over 14 months of age and their human partners.
About Bridge Academy: Owner-Trained Service Dog Program
Bridge Academy offers structured support for people who want to train their own assistance dog. You work in group classes, in the community, and at home with guidance from experienced service dog trainers.
Training an assistance dog on your own often costs between $30,000 and $50,000. Sorting through options feels overwhelming. Bridge Academy brings structure, accountability, and qualified coaching so you move forward with a clear plan.
Our goal is to help you work toward program certification with your dog. You train as part of a cohort of teams who share similar goals, challenges, and wins.
Completion of Bridge Academy prepares you and your dog for assistance work, and completion does not qualify you as a professional trainer for other people’s dogs. This program exists to support you while you train your own service dog.
Who Bridge Academy Serves
Bridge Academy supports adults and families who:
Live with a disability supported under the ADA.
Want to train a personal assistance dog with professional guidance.
Commit to regular practice at home and in public.
Travel to Colorado Springs for assessments and classes three Saturdays a month.
Some families join on behalf of a minor child. In those cases, an adult serves as the dog’s primary handler and attends training.
Program Requirements
To participate in Bridge Academy, you need to know the following:
You complete a comprehensive application, including disability verification and background checks for everyone in the home age 18 or older.
Your dog is at least 14 months old at the start of assistance dog work.
Owner-trained teams work with Sunrise Service Dogs for a minimum of 6 months, but most of our teams require more time in training based on progress and needs.
Your dog learns a minimum of three tasks that lessen the impact of your disability.
You provide proof of current vaccinations.
You provide proof of sterilization before final certification.
You commit to consistent training in class, at home, and in public spaces.
You travel to our Colorado Springs training center for assessments, classes, and training days. Some portions of the curriculum are available online.
You agree to follow Sunrise Service Dogs training plans, safety rules, and recertification processes.
You agree to a background check for every individual in your residence over the age of 18.
Sunrise Service Dogs reserves the right to end a team’s participation at any time and for any reason.
Not every team in Bridge Academy reaches service dog certification. Trainers support you honestly and kindly throughout the process.
Limit: one dog per client.
Join the list!
We know asking for help takes courage. In 2025 we received over 200 applications from people seeking a service dog partner. Each one represents a real person, a real story, and real needs.
Our trainers, volunteers, and budget let us support only a limited number of teams at a time. To give each team the time, attention, and quality they deserve, we accept new applications during open enrollment periods.
These enrollment windows line up with planned Sunrise litters and puppies from trusted breeder donors. This structure helps us be honest about how many teams we are able to serve well.
If you want to stay informed about upcoming open enrollment periods, please complete the “Let’s Keep in Touch” form below. We will share dates, news, and next steps as soon as they are available.