Expedition Paws Dog Training

08/01/2024

Our Fall/Winter 2024 Guided Outing Schedule is finally here! We are so excited to be offering a wide range of outings throughout this season.

- Friday, September 6, 2024
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Dezerland Park I-Drive

- Sunday, September 22, 2024
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Orlando Airport, Meet at Terminal B Parking Garage

- Saturday, October 5, 2024
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Leu Gardens ($15 admission not included)

- Friday, October 18, 2024
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Celebration Town Center

- Friday, November 8, 2024
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Epcot

- Saturday, November 23, 2024
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Disney Springs

- Monday, December 9, 2024
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Central Fl Zoo

- Friday, December 20, 2024
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Fun Spot America I-Drive

Guided outings can be booked by filling out the sign-up form in our bio.

These outings are for service dogs and service dogs in-training only.

All handlers are welcome to sign up. All guided outings are $30; if the location requires admission, that will be additional to your guided outing fee. Guided outing fees will be waived for Service Dog Guild members and clients who are actively enrolled in a Gold or Platinum Service Dog Program.

Guided outings are designed to train in a social setting. We hang out, train together, and if you need training tips or help working through a challenge, you’ll have a trainer (me!) there to help guide you through it.

04/04/2024

Join us for a fun evening at Expedition Paws Dog Training's Pokémon GO Club! 🐾📱

Meet fellow Pokémon trainers on the 3rd Sunday of each month starting April 21st. We gather at 6:30 pm in different parks around Orlando.

This is a free event where you can socialize with other humans and hang out with real life Pokemon (our dogs!). Remember to pack treats for your pup, a comfy blanket, and remember to follow all park rules for a fun, safe experience. Check our bio for the club calendar and highlights for upcoming club events. Let's catch 'em all! 😎 🐾

01/31/2024

Our website will be down for maintenance this coming month!

For information and training inquiries, please text us at 407-547-1102, or email us at [email protected]

Workshop and Guided Outing sign up links can still be found in our bio.

This post will be removed once maintenance is complete--so if you are seeing it, that means maintenance is still ongoing.

10/05/2023

Calling all service dog handlers!

If you like and also love to rep your dog, this shirt is calling your name 😎

Our "He/She's My Patronus" shirts can be found in our online merch shop in every house color and more ⚡️

I love wearing this shirt on park days when I've got my girl in Harry Potter-themed gear. It's the perfect way for us to add a little ✨magic✨to our day.

Get yours today! Shop link in bio!
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Training your own service dog? Check out our online course “Raising A Service Dog” at the link in our bio

10/03/2023

Today is the DAY!

We had so much fun at our workshops in August, and many of you have been asking when the next ones will be. I can officially say we have nailed down dates for upcoming workshops. So without further delay...

Drumroll please......

Our upcoming workshop dates are as follows:

2023
October 23/24 - Disney (Epcot/HS)

November 27/28 - Universal Orlando Resort

December 6/7 - Disney Springs

2024
January 8/9 - Universal Orlando Resort

Feb 21/22 - Disney (Animal Kingdom)

Each workshop is $75. All workshops will be 10:30am to 2:30pm each day. Service dogs and service dogs in training ONLY.

Updated sign up link can be found in our bio. We would love to see you there!

For now, here are some fun moments we had at our workshop at Universal Orlando. We had lots of learning moments, with tons of fun sprinkled in between. Can you spot all the dogs hiding from the raptor?

Training your own service dog? Check out our online course “Raising A Service Dog” at the link in our bio

Service Dog Handler merch is here! Find the link to our merch shop in our bio!

# servicedogtraining

07/11/2023

Join us for this 2-Day Public Access Workshop at Universal Orlando!

During this workshop, we will be covering advanced public access, including navigating crowded spaces, settling in stimulating environments , working around new dogs, ignoring high level distractions, working around various loud sounds, as well as both handler and service dog conduct when in public.

This workshop is designed for service dogs and service dogs in training who have already are already proficient with public access and are preparing for major public access (cruises, theme parks, air travel, etc). We recommend your dog be proficient in the following skills to attend this workshop:

Sit, stay, down, loose leash walking/heel, regular public access in busy locations like malls and farmers markets

Dates: 8/21-8/22
Location: Universal Orlando Resort
Time: 10AM-2:30PM
Price: $75/person

Sign up link in our bio!

07/10/2023

Join us for this 2-Day Public Access Workshop at Disney Springs!

During this workshop, we will be covering public access basics, including navigating crowded spaces, settling in public, working around new dogs, ignoring distractions, as well as both handler and service dog conduct when in public.

This workshop is designed for service dogs and service dogs in training who have already begun public access training. We recommend your dog be proficient in the following skills to attend this workshop:

Sit, stay, down, loose leash walking/heel, working in mild crowds and outdoor spaces.

Dates: 8/7-8/8
Location: Disney Springs
Time: 10AM-2:30PM
Price: $75/person

06/28/2023

Anyone else ready for Autumn and Winter? No? Just me? 😅

Autumn is just a few months away, and that's close enough for me. Looking forward to longer hikes and beautiful weather so I can spend more time outdoors with my dogs 🐾

Do you have a favorite Autumn or Winter activity you like to do with your dog? 🍂❄️

06/26/2023

That face you make when your mom makes you pose for the 12 millionth time 🤨

But you know you really love photo shoots 😁

We are in the hottest part of the year right, and it is BRUTAL! Here are a few tips to help beat the summer heat:

- Always bring water (and then extra water) for outdoor, or partially outdoor activities with your pup!

- Invest in cooling towels, coats, and bandanas to help your pup stay cool for longer amounts of time; always keep in mind that double coated dogs (like Goldens!) do better without cooling coats--a cold cooling towel wrapped loosely around the neck works nicely!

- Find water activities--You can use kiddie pools in your backyard, and sprinkler attachments to have a fun day at home. Local dog-friendly beaches, and lakes are great ways to stay cool as well; if your dog is swimming in lakes, ponds, or rivers, always make sure there is no blue-green algae present!

06/23/2023

Who do you think won this tug match? 😜

I love all four of my dogs and love that they can all coexist together--it certainly makes life easier when they all get along!

However, this was not always the case! While my oldest three have always gotten along well, introducing Rhye into our household was a different story.

Apache (the border collie pictured) has become more and more dog selective as he's matured. I knew this when I decided to add another dog to our pack, and had a game plan for how I was going to manage them until Apache felt comfortable around her.

We managed their interactions and coexistence for 8 months before I could trust him around her without a muzzle, 10-11 months before I could trust Rhye to be off-leash around him.

The key here was managing BOTH dogs. I set boundaries on both sides, while also ensuring that everyone remained comfortable in shared spaces.

Management plays such a massive role in training, and dog owner lifestyle in general. How you manage your dog sets the tone for each and every day. How you manage your dog can either set them up to succeed, or set them up to fail. The next time you're feeling frustrated with your dog's behavior, ask yourself this:

"Did I set them up to succeed?"

06/21/2023

We love to see adolescent dogs blossom 🦋

We've been working with Reddington and his handler for a little more than a year now. I've had the honor of watching this silly puppy transform into quite the impressive service dog in training. Adolescence hit him hard, but he has matured so beautifully, and we get more and more glimpses of the amazing service dog he is going to be 🧡

We love you Red & Kristina! 🦮🫶✨

06/20/2023

We are so excited to announce the expansion of our training services!

We have created several new services designed to provide continuing support for pet and service dog owners alike.

We have limited availability for our workshops (10 spots) 🦮

Each service is currently available for booking! DM us to sign up!

06/20/2023

06/20/2023

We have a NEW business number! Our old number (305-203-2237) will no longer be active. Please make sure to update our contact to the new business line: 407-547-1102

06/19/2023

3 Things I Teach Service Dog Handlers: Part 3

#1 Accomodation can be taken away or denied
Equal access is important, but it is also important to know that a business is not required to give you the accommodation of having a service dog if your service dog is not behaving appropriately! Before taking your dog into a new situation, be confident that your dog can handle all the circumstances you come across in that environment.

#2 Know the Laws When You Travel
Service dog (and service dog in training) laws vary from state to state. While ADA (federal) Law takes precedence, State Laws and Statutes can expand on the ADA, giving service dog handlers more accommodations than under federal law. I tell my clients to download the NAGDU App for service dog laws in each state and US territory.

#3 When to Use "In Training" Gear
Most clients ask me "when will my dog be considered fully trained?" Most times, I tell them "It depends!" If you are not fully confident that your dog can handle a situation without extra guidance and training, it is good practice to use "in training" gear so people can be aware that your dog might make a mistake. Always check state laws regarding public access rights for service dogs in training

06/16/2023

3 Things I Teach Service Dog Handlers: Part 2

#1 Be Respectful of Public Spaces
When you go into a business that is not pet-friendly, it is good practice to be respsectful of the space you are in. Don't put your dog up on displays, or pose them near places where food and beverages are served or consumed. Don't let them distrub landscaping like flower beds and topiaries. And as a general rule of thumb, if it is not meant for dogs, keep your service dog off of things like benches, statues, and elevated surfaces you find in malls and theme parks.

#2 Prepare Your Family and Friends for Access Issues
Make family and friends aware that if you run into an access issue, their job is not to get involved and cause a scene. If someone is being verbally or physically aggressive, their first job is to film or record it so that you have evidence of the situation. Additionally, inform them of any medical episodes that are likely to be triggered by stress and how thye can best help you through that moment--like helping you sit, find a quiet space, or call the paramedics.

#3 Your dog should behave as if they are invisible
Service dogs should be better behaved than most dogs you see on a regular basis. When actively working, your dog's behavior should make them invisible to the public eye--meaning they should not know your service dog is there unless they are right next to you. This invisibility does not include attire!You can dress your dog up, have fun patches and matching outfits, or nothing on at all! Just know the more you put on your dog, the more attention you get!

06/14/2023

3 Things I Teach Service Dog Handlers (A Three Part Series): Part 1

#1 Always respect other handlers' space:
When you go out with your service dog, you will eventually see another team. Whether you think it's a real service dog or not, always give them space! Don't stand in line right behind them, or get close enough that one of the dogs could potentially be distracted. This helps keep everyone safe and prevents you from putting your medical equipment (and yourself!) at unnecessary risk.

#2 When you have an access issue, your job in that moment is to not make things difficult for the next handler who comes along:
Access issues can be immensely frustrating. Trust me, I've had my fair share. But screaming, cursing, berating employees, and causing a huge scene does not help anyone. Calmly try to educate the business. If they aren't willing to listen and you have the time, call the non-emergency police and file a report. But overall, you want to leave the environment without soiling the reputation of the entire service dog community.

#3 Always Carry An Emergency Potty Kit
This may seem less important than the first two, but the amount of times this comes in handy will make you think otherwise! Service dog handlers fight regularly just to have access to the spaces that we should legally have access too. If your dog has an accident somewhere and you leave it, it looks bad for all of us. By having an emergency potty kit on hand, you can be ready for any upset tummies and accidents that may happen.

05/29/2023

Just two girls and a Grootie 💚

Happy Monday from Rhye, Bunny, and Groot!

05/26/2023

SDiTs Reddington and Rhye love their Universal trips!

This duo absolutely LOVE working together--and we all know that friends who train together, stay together 🥰 Having other service dogs to work with and around can make all the difference in the training process. They learn from each other, take guidance from each other, and help make outings an extra fun experience!

This photo was from a few months back while we were still enjoying our beautiful Florida "winter". These two still thoroughly enjoy their outings, but now we have to be extra mindful of the heat.

Does your service dog have a working friend? Tag them in the comments below to show them some love 💚

05/24/2023

We talk a lot about our service dog clients, but we love our family dog clients too!

You may remember Kenzie from earlier this spring. She came in for a board and train to work on some reactivity and confidence building. She made some massive progress while she was here, and thanks to her hard working handler, has continued to make amazing progress at home.

Like every reactive dog, she has good days and bad days. But with lots of hard work, she often has more good days than bad.

We love you Kenzie, you are lucky to have such a dedicated mom 🫶

05/22/2023

Just some post-lesson cheezin' from Rhye and Zoey! 😁

Zoey may not be your typical service dog breed, but she is small and mighty! She completed the board and train portion of our Gold Program for Service Dogs back in Fall of 2022. She has been a massive help for her handler, and has travelled all over Central America and parts of the US with him.

Here at Expedition Paws, we stand by the philosophy that any breed can be a service dog. This is not to be confused with the idea that just any dog can be a service dog--a service dog has to have a specific set of qualities that allow them to function in this kind of working capacity. While Zoey may not be the perfect service dog for just anyone, she is perfect for her handler 💙🐾

05/18/2023

We love hearing from our clients! This was from one of our service dogs in training who had just come home from the board and train portion of our Platinum Program for Service Dogs.

While this is not the case for every dog, it feels good to see our SDiTs already helping their owners before their program is even finished! Puppies may not make this kind of progress right away, but most of our adult dogs are able to start working in some capacity when they come home from board and train--and they still have 5-6 months of lesson afterwards...how awesome is that!

There is nothing we love more than seeing the positive impact our training has for service dog handlers 🦮🫶✨

05/16/2023

Just a little post featuring some golden girls, Rhye and Nala 🫶

Hoping these two silly faces bring some metaphorical sunshine to your day ☀️✨

05/14/2023

Happy Sunday!

Just three girls ready to hike!

From left to right, my personal dogs Indy, Rhye, and Tiva waiting in the back seat while we get ready tango hiking. Nothing like some quality time with your own dogs 🐾🌲

05/13/2023

CiCi likes to blep: a series

We think SDiT CiCi makes the cutest faces--how could you not love this adorable face 🥰🦮

12/25/2022

Merry Christmas from the Expedition Paws Pack 🎄🎅🏼💚🐾

11/10/2022

Common Misconceptions About Service Dogs

“Only Certain Breeds Can Be Service Dogs”

This is false! While Labs, Goldens, and Poodles are most commonly used, any breed of dog can be a service dog. The majority of dogs I work with are “off-breed” dogs, from Goldendoodles to Jack Russels to Frenchies!

“Service Dogs are required to pass a test in order to be considered fully-trained”

You may be surprised to find out this is also false! While some organizations have their own testing, under ADA law, there is not test required. In order to be considered a service dog, 1) the SD user must have a legal disability, 2) the dog must be trained in at least one task that mitigates that disability, and 3) the dog must be potty trained and under control at all times.

“Service dogs handlers are required to show a business proof or training and/or proof of disability”

Also false! Businesses cannot require handlers to show proof of any kind that they are disabled or that their dog is trained for certain tasks. Businesses can legally as two questions: “Is this a service dog required for a disability” and “what tasks does this dog perform to mitigate said disability’. However, any seasoned handler will tell you—the proof is in the pudding! It is fairly easy to spot a fake service dog vs a real service dog if you know what you’re looking at.

11/09/2022

An Open Message to Service Dog Trainers

Service dog training is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. Not only do I get to help dogs, but I get to help people gain back their independence and live a fuller life.

And while this career path may seem fun, there is much more to it than just training dogs to do tasks and public access.

A major part of my job as a service dog trainer is educating handlers on ADA law, state law, and all the legalities surrounding having a service dog and being a service dog handler.

We cover how to handle access issues, how to prepare for your first flight with your service dog, how to advocate for yourself and your service dog when traveling or running daily errands, and more.

I’ve seen a trend lately of so-called service dog trainers spreading misinformation that can be extremely harmful for handlers and the service dog community as a whole.


I’ve heard of trainers telling handlers that protective behavior is an acceptable task, that service dogs are required to pass CGC & public access tests in order to be considered a service dog, and one of the most concerning—that a handlers nervous/neurotic/under-confident dog is fine to work public access.

As a service dog trainer, you should be able to
- Educate handlers on ADA law, and reference the claims you make from the ADA
- Know what does and does not make a dog legally a service dog
- Know how state laws and federal laws differ, and which of those laws takes precedence over which
- Educate handlers on how to safely and responsibly advocate for their rights under the ADA

This is the bare minimum (not including the actual training knowledge and skills) that you should know if you are teaching service dog handlers how to navigate the world.

And if you can’t do any of the above things, in addition to actually being able to train the dog, then you have no business calling yourself a service dog trainer.

Service dog trainers should be educated on all things surrounding service dogs. Period. End of Story.

Have you ever had a service dog trainer give you misinformation?

11/08/2022

Do you have an adolescent dog?

Is your adolescent dog giving you a run for your money?

Maybe you feel like you’ve hit a wall. Or maybe you feel like your dog is even regressing.

Is your dog training for a specific job like service work, search and rescue, or a dog sport?

Adolescent dogs can make you feel hopeless. They can make you feel like you are doing everything wrong. Like you’ve failed your dog.

You probably rack your brain every single day wondering if there is anything you could have done differently.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. It’s not you. It’s your dog.

Adolescent dogs are wild. They’re hormonal. They’re pushy. They will test every single boundary you create, even if they previously understood and respected that boundary.

They are teenagers. And similar to when you were a teenager, they are starting to form their own opinions about life and will test you to see what rules they can break and remake to fit what they want in that moment.

You’ll ask them for a down, a behavior they’ve performed hundreds of times; but this time, they’ll hesitate. They’ll look at you like they have no idea what you’re saying. They may even walk away or try to do something else.

What you choose to do in that moment may tell them the rules are still the same or that they have the ability to change the rules.

You may even see this pattern of behavior for weeks or months depending on the dog.

If this sounds like you, it may be time to take a step back.

Stop worrying about teaching new behaviors, or even advancing old ones.

Focus on play. Focus on enjoying your dog. Focus on letting them just go through adolescence without the pressure of accomplishing new things.

Go on long walks where they get to sniff and be a dog. Play fetch in the back yard. Play tug while you watch TV. Sometimes, instead of pushing harder, it’s better to just ease up and let things be easy.

So if you have an adolescent that is throwing you for a loop, here is your reminder that it’s okay for your dog to be going through this. It’s normal. You did not ruin your dog. There is nothing you could have done differently to prevent them going through adolescence the way they are.

11/08/2022

New Service Alert!

Here at Expedition Paws, we are always looking for ways to help our Alumni continue to make progress and achieve greater levels of training where both the dog and the human can have fun.

That’s why we’ve created Alumni Fun Club—an exclusive EPDT Alumni subscription that allows our Alumni to mix and match training activities to fit their lifestyle and training goals.

For just $55/month, our Alumni can get access to group classes, trainer Q&A’s via Zoom, and Social Hours hosted here at EPDT Headquarters.

We currently have 9 events available on the calendar each month—and when you sign up, you can choose any 3 events, mixing and matching as you see fit!

Not only is this service extremely customizable to fit your schedule, it’s also a budget-friendly way to help you stay on top of your training goals and have fun with your pup!

This service is available to EPDT Alumni ONLY! Message us today to sign up!