Legend Retrievers & Working Dogs

07/14/2025

New research just identified four distinct autism subtypes—and nearly half of autistic children also experience anxiety and depression as part of their profile. In my latest blog, I share why nervous system-based support is essential for these emotionally sensitive subtypes and how it differs from behavior-focused methods like ABA.

A groundbreaking new study has just reshaped how we understand autism—offering hope for more personalized, biologically-aligned care. Researchers analyzed data from over 5,000 autistic children and nearly 2,000 non-autistic siblings and identified four distinct subtypes of autism, each with unique...

07/12/2025

✨ New Tools, New Possibilities ✨

Today I completed Jessica Maguire’s Nervous System Reset training, and my mind is buzzing with ideas for how to translate this into actionable support for both people and dogs.

I’ll be using what I learned to develop new service dog tasks designed for low-level nervous system dysregulation—catching the subtle signs before full dysregulation or shutdown occurs. These proactive tasks will support smoother emotional regulation, helping handlers stay grounded and connected. This training is ideal for psychiatric and autism service dogs in particular.

And the best part? These techniques aren’t just for traditional service dogs. Our beloved pets—home helpmates—can also learn these co-regulation skills to assist their humans with stress, overwhelm, and emotional balance in daily life.

This is the future of canine-assisted nervous system support—and I’m so excited to be creating it. 🐾🧠💛 Repairing the Nervous System

07/05/2025

We’ve had a little bit of flash flooding with heavy rains for the last 48 hours. We’re doing just fine, but the backyard on the other hand is going to take some time to get back to normal. This morning all of the dogs are going potty in the front yard, thankful for a house full of off lead obedient dogs!
We hope everyone in the surrounding areas and specifically the Hill Country is safe. Please send prayers to our friends there who are experiencing life threatening floods, prayers for those who are still missing. 🙏💗💗💗

07/04/2025

Happy 4th of July from Remi- from our 2022 Sassy X Lazarus litter, he’s my first bred by show champion! Bred and trained by Legend.
He’s enjoying the beach and the sand in particular! 🎆

07/04/2025

Happy 4th of July from Legend!! This is Rubi from our 2022 Reecie X Scout litter, bred and trained by Legend!
Ruby was specially trained to be a daycare dog, she is a resident childcare specialist for a family’s home daycare. We worked extensively on her obedience skills to ensure she wasn’t jumping, running over kids, bolting out of doors or leaving the yard during play.
Here she is, about a year after graduating, sitting off lead, with no Ecollar, watching a parade in her neighborhood.
We are so proud of Rubi and her progress!!!
Happy 4th of July! 🎆

07/02/2025

Ford and Jolene have mastered wait, and Ginger- now 14 is happy to supervise the progress and receive treats for her fantastic wait despite being nearly completely deaf.
Great job girls!! Enjoying every single moment with this sweet little old lady that started my program ❤️❤️🐾

07/02/2025

06/28/2025

06/26/2025

Service and therapy dogs are not tools, but partners!

Inclusive Language Matters: Therapy Animals Are Partners, Not Tools

At AAAIP, we believe that how we talk about therapy animals reflects how we treat them.

Therapy animals aren’t tools. They’re not “used": they’re included. They’re our partners in the important work of Animal-Assisted Intervention (AAI).

That shift in language reinforces our commitment to animal welfare and ethical, professional practice.

✅ They deserve respect
✅ They should enjoy the work
✅ Their well-being must come first

Let’s speak—and act—with intention.

Share this post to raise awareness about inclusive language in our field.

06/26/2025

Jolene says, I’ve got this down stay thing! 💪💪😎😎

06/26/2025

It was outing day for the puppers in board and train obedience ! Ford and Jolene got to test out their new skills in some more high stimuli environments. It’s easy enough to train in a field, at the park or in a neighborhood, but transitioning those skills into more active public places is what really makes this training usable to our clients when the dogs go home. 💗🐾