Ethical, professional coaching for service dog owner-trainers in downtown Toronto.
And a final welcome to our third Associate Instructor, Billie! Billie is a compassionate and knowledgeable trainer, and I am lucky she chose to join our little team here at Alliance Service Dogs. Billie will be seeing clients in the downtown core and uptown area.
That rounds out the new additions! Keep an eye out for Billie, Chris, and Ari in upcoming posts and updates. I can’t wait to see everything they achieve with their students. 💙
Bio in comments for accessibility!
Yes, another announcement! Ari Wichert of is also joining Alliance Service Dogs as an Associate Instructor, and we could not be more excited. Ari is a perfect fit for this work, having extensive experience training dogs, and also working in the disability community. They bring so much enthusiasm and passion to their work. Welcome, Ari! 💙
Bio in comments for accessibility!
I am so thrilled to announce the newest instructor joining the Alliance Service Dogs team! Christina Taccogna of .moments.canine is an incredibly skilled trainer, compassionate human, and lifelong learner. We are so lucky to have her on board to see students in the northern GTA area. Welcome, Chris! 💛
Bio in comments for accessibility!
I am so excited to announce that Alliance Service Dogs is growing to help more service dog teams in Toronto. I can’t do it all by myself! Applications for the Associate Instructor position are open now. More information at allianceservicedogs.com/careers ✨
We caught some bits of sun for our group class this weekend! ☀️ All students did wonderful work, it is so great to see them progress week to week.
Join Claire as she talks about how a service dog can help with one of her own diagnoses, PMDD! The interview is up now over at ✨
Maddie is one of our more advanced students and has been strutting her stuff all over Toronto lately. She is so loving and happy all the time, and makes us laugh during each lesson without fail! Maddie and I are also getting some great 1-on-1 time during our 3-hour Day Camps. 🥰🐾
It’s time for another task spotlight! Today, featuring one of my favourite and most commonly trained tasks, Deep Pressure Therapy. It’s a popular one for good reason - DPT can be a valuable task for many types of disabilities. By calming the nervous system, many symptoms can be decreased or avoided altogether. And, as a bonus, it’s fairly easy to teach!
Doubling up on our Meet The Dogs posts because I have so many pups I want to announce! This is Echo - she’s a total star and her person is so fantastic at diligent practice. Echo is starting on her task training and is advancing quickly through more difficult public access training!
Meet Juniper! Juniper is a super-sweet Lab, and she’s just as smart as she is adorable! She has already done a ton of training through group classes and will be joining us for service dog specific training. She’s a model student and I have high hopes for this team. Welcome, Juniper!
Service dogs can be trained to perform a vast array of tasks for their disabled handlers. Our next few infographics will include “Task Spotlights” to shed light on some of these behaviours! First up is the very common body state alert. Service dogs can be trained to recognize a change in their handler’s body state, and then alert their handler with a trained behaviour such as a nose bump, chin rest, or paw touch. Alert behaviours can vary far beyond these basic ones, though, even extending to retrieving a special item (the “bringsel alert”) or spinning in place (for smaller dogs). The body state changes that can be detected are similarly varied - most use changes in scent in the handler’s sweat or saliva, but other changes can be detected as well.
Alliance Service Dogs works with handlers individually to determine whether a body state alert would be a helpful task, and then if so, which alert behaviour fits best into their life and training plan.
By definition, service dogs provide assistance to disabled individuals. The term “disability” usually refers to a condition - whether visible or invisible, mental or physical - that is “life limiting”. The condition must affect a significant portion of the individual’s day-to-day activities.
Alliance Service Dogs requires students to provide the legally mandated doctor’s letter recommending the use of a service animal to mitigate their disability. Not only does this ensure legality, but it also shows that the student has a supportive medical team.
While handlers must be disabled in some way to benefit from a service animal, the particular diagnosis is more of a grey area. If the student is recognized as disabled by their medical team, but the specific diagnosis is still unclear, a service animal may still be appropriate, as long as the symptoms and presentation are stable.
Our next pup feature is the fantastic Lucy! Lucy can be found at . She’s a cute little mixed breed and proves that even rescue pups can do it all. She’s already done quite a bit of training with her human, but loves to get to work in lessons - especially when the treats come out. Welcome to the program, Lucy! 🎉
Vests, capes, harnesses, patches and badges, oh my! Every team will have a different preference for visibility equipment, whether that’s nothing at all or an eye-catching set.
Here at Alliance, we have a preference for minimalistic and clear signage for legibility. Students have an option to use our branded vests once they’ve completed the Life Skills phase of our program. But everyone is, of course, welcome to use whichever visibility equipment they prefer!
Since Alliance Service Dogs only has one trainer, we can only take on so many students in our program at once! Our maximum is about 13, a few more if some students are in bi-weekly lessons.
We’ve been open for just over 4 weeks now and are rapidly approaching our maximum student capacity. If you’ve been considering applying, please do so soon, as we will close applications once we’re full!
You’ve already seen lots of this guy, and you’ll see lots more no doubt… our first “Meet The Dogs” feature is, of course, the energizer bunny behind Alliance Service Dogs.
Venn is Claire’s personal dog, and he is always (…always!) up for a training session. He has fun playing in Agility and Rally-Obedience, and you’ll see him every morning around High Park, where he gets some valued decompression time in the woods.
It’s worth noting that Venn is not a service dog. While he helps Claire with tasks in the home and occasionally in dog-friendly public areas, Venn is not suitable for service work due to environmental sensitivities, and Claire’s diagnoses are still being explored. You will see him in future videos, though, demonstrating all the tasking behaviours he knows!
Support from your medical team is an essential component before you embark on your service dog training journey. Not only to ensure that you are receiving the best possible care for your particular disability and needs, but importantly, to meet the requirements of the law in Ontario.
The doctor’s letter (or a copy) should be carried at all times in the event of an access issue. It’s often helpful to have a copy of the AODA’s laws (or a handy card or QR code) on hand in case the business owner or employee is misinformed.
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Service Dog Access Rights: The Doctor's Letter
A letter from a regulated health professional is the only legal requirement in Ontario for service dogs accessing public spaces.
If and only if... Service dogs must be under control at all times. Dogs who are dangerous or disruptive may be asked to leave, regardless of the letter.
Beware of scams! Certificates and identity cards purchased online are all scams and do not grant your dog access. The only exception is cards issued by the Attorney General for blind individuals.
Who can write the letter? Audiologists or speech-language pathologists, chiropractors, nurses, occupational therapists, optometrists, physicians or surgeons, physiotherapists, psychologists, psychotherapists, or mental health therapists.
Please email us at [email protected] if your doctor needs a template.
The disability community is, of course, incredibly diverse, and so are the individuals within this umbrella who may benefit from a service animal.
Here at Alliance Service Dogs, we have a specialization in working with psychiatric disabilities, developmental disabilities (particularly Autism), and cognitive disabilities (including brain injury). We can also help Deaf and hard-of-hearing clients, clients needing mobility assistance, and more, including training for a variety of medical alert needs.
We’re not the best choice for blind handlers who require intensive visual guiding, and highly recommend blind individuals work with a reputable non-profit organization.
If you’re still not sure whether we can help, please reach out - we’re always happy to discuss.
There’s so much information to sift through out there about service dog owner-training. What’s worse is that access laws tend to vary based on location, so what you think you know may not be true for where you live.
Watch our “Crash Course” webinar to get all the basics you need before considering owner-training a service dog as part of your treatment plan. It also includes an overview of what to expect from our program, so if you’re on the fence about joining, you’ll have all the information you need to make the leap! https://youtu.be/9Jfd4XO6OVc
Talking about training methodology is a very important discussion to have with your trainer, but perhaps doubly so for a service dog trainer who you’ll likely be working with for a number of years.
Here at Alliance Service Dogs, we’re proudly force-free and adhere to positive-reinforcement based, fear-free, and compassionate training methods. That means that we train mostly using treats and toys, alongside appropriate environmental management. We won’t ever suggest using pain or intimidation to train your dog.
Beyond this, though, you can be assured that we will never stop learning about the best ways to communicate with our canine companions and assistants. Continued education, stimulating professional partnerships in the field, and ongoing certification are all parts of the whole.
One of the first things new students learn in our program is not *what* to train - but *how*. Marker signals are a huge part of this. Not only do they speed up training, but they help reduce frustration for our dogs!
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Marker Signals for Service Dogs
Clickers and verbal markers are signals that tell the dog why they're getting the treat. Used properly, they mark the exact moment the desired behaviour is occurring, and predict reinforcement. The sequence looks like this: See the behaviour, Mark with a signal, Reinforce to increase future behaviour.
Clickers: Consistent and sharp! Great for training precise behaviours, like disability tasks. Can be difficult when your hands are full, or for folks with limited mobility.
Verbal Markers: Challenging to keep consistent and with accurate timing - better for already established behaviours. Great for more subtle marking, especially for public access training.
There are many other types of marker signals, including visual and tactile markers!
Many students come to service dog training already having a great base, and perhaps their dog is well on their way to working reliably in public.
Our initial assessment has been carefully designed to take into account prior training (though it’s also OK if you’re coming in with nothing at all!). Based on your assessment, we’ll place you at your most appropriate starting point in our phase-based training program.
Please note that we will only run final evaluations once we have seen you and your dog in-person in a variety of public environments. Teams are likely to require at least a few months of touch-ups prior to succeeding in the evaluation, even if they have been practicing public access work on their own. Our evaluation is stringent and based on British Columbia’s provincial requirements. For teams who are newer to training, the process can take years.
This is a very common question, and for good reason! The differences between therapy dogs and service dogs can be confusing (not to mention the whole ESA issue!). Looking for a therapy dog organization in Toronto? We highly recommend !
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What’s the difference?
Therapy Dogs: Certified by private organizations, testing requirements may vary. Offer presence & comfort to at-risk populations and other members of the public. No public access rights beyond what is granted by the organization.
Service Dogs: Viewed as medical equipment in the eyes of the law, & requested by the patient’s doctor. Specifically trained to mitigate their handler’s disability, either by an organization or by the handler. Public access rights with a doctor’s letter, if the dog is under control.
Remember: Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are not legally recognized in Ontario.
Hi! 👋 Alliance Service Dogs is a one-woman show at the moment, and I figured I’d let you in on who’s behind the screen…
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Claire Kilburn, CPDT-KA, KPA CTP
Claire’s dedication to positive reinforcement training started in 2015, when she joined the team at When Hounds Fly in Toronto, ON. There, she was able to learn from a vast array of talented trainers, and grow her knowledge in pet dog training. She began taking on owner-trainer service dog clients in 2020, after vigorous self-study.
After leaving WHF in 2022, Claire enrolled in the .assistance.dogs program for intensive and specialized instruction in service dog training, and Alliance Service Dogs was founded.
Claire has a special passion for working with neurodivergent clients and disabled youth. She also hopes to make a positive impact by bringing awareness and education about assistance dogs to Toronto’s businesses, schools, and public services.
It’s FAQ Friday! Today we’re talking to all you keeners out there.
Dog selection is possibly THE most important part of the entire service dog process. Ending up with the right dog can be a life-changing thing… But that doesn’t always happen. In fact, it happens less often than you may think.
While there’s no way to guarantee that your future dog will be the best fit, there’s a whole lot to do to make it as likely as possible. We highly recommend doing as much research into ethical breeding, prospect testing, and necessary traits as you possibly can. Don’t know where to start? Luckily, we’ve already done all the work for you, and a consult or two can put you on the right path.
Best part? You don’t even need to wait for our application forms to open. If you’re looking for a service dog prospect and need help, you can reach out right now. We’re looking forward to meeting you!
Mark your calendars! Alliance Service Dogs will be opening applications for new students starting September 26th at 9AM. Our website is now live as well! Keep an eye on this space in the next month - we’ll be posting FAQs, helpful tips, and even a free webinar.
We’re so excited to be launching our coaching program for service dog owner-trainers! 🎉
We can't wait to meet you. Alliance Service Dogs is coming soon - bringing professional, ethical, & accessible coaching to Torontonians who could benefit from a service animal.
Follow us on Instagram or Facebook for updates, including details about when our application forms will officially open!
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