Student Training

Simply put, we teach students to train dogs to help people. Since 1995, over 3500 youth in New Mexico have taken part in the ADW Student Training program, the largest of its kind in the world. This work strengthens relationships, builds skills and nurtures empathy among young people, the dogs they train and our clients.

The student trainers learn from our professional trainers, whose job is to instill behaviors in dogs that form the foundation for learning 90 commands. The staff trainers take the dogs into classrooms where the students reinforce the dogs’ behavior, refine the commands in public settings, and experience first-hand what training service dogs entails.

Our student program encompasses a wide spectrum of ages and learning forums including:

• Programs held in-school, after-school and during summers at public and charter middle schools and at our training center for normal learners aged 8-18 years;

• Programs held for children aged 8-18 years with developmental, cognitive or physical disabilities