
Patriot Paws Service Dogs is a non-profit organization that provides highly trained service dogs to veterans and first responders with physical and emotional disabilities.
Their service dogs are trained to assist with daily tasks, providing independence and confidence to their recipients.
Patriot Paws Service Dogs has a 95% success rate in placing their trained service dogs with recipients.
These service dogs are not just a tool, but a loyal companion that helps their recipients navigate the world with ease.
By providing these service dogs, Patriot Paws Service Dogs is empowering independence and community involvement among their recipients.
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About Patriot Paws
Patriot PAWS Service Dogs are trained to meet the unique needs of disabled American Veterans and others with mobile disabilities. They are acquired through breeders and rescues and carefully evaluated before selection.
Training a service dog takes 2.5 years and can cost up to $35,000. This lengthy process is necessary to ensure the dog is properly trained and certified.
Patriot PAWS is committed to providing service dogs of the highest quality at no cost to those who need them. This is made possible through partnerships with state and community organizations.
The organization's mission is to help restore physical and emotional independence in disabled American Veterans and others with mobile disabilities. This is achieved through the training and provision of service dogs.
It takes 18-24 months and costs $46,000 to fully train and certify a Patriot PAWS Service Dog. This investment is worth it, as the dogs are customized to meet the individual's unique needs.
Patriot PAWS also provides follow-up visits and quarterly calls to ensure a successful placement of the service dog and its handler. This ongoing support is crucial for the dog and handler to work together effectively.
Our Programs
Patriot PAWS offers several programs to help disabled Veterans and individuals with disabilities regain independence.
The Team (Veteran/Service Dog) Training Program is a 10-day training period where Veterans learn cues to handle their service dog and care for them. This program also covers general dog health care, medical needs, and ADA laws.
Inmates in the Prison Training Program learn to train service dogs for Veterans and others with disabilities, which helps reduce recidivism rates and prepares them for employment upon release.
The Puppy Raiser Program is a full-time volunteer program where individuals care for puppies and teach them basic training cues, house manners, and advanced service dog training.
Patriot PAWS has partnered with Texas A&M University to participate in the service dog-training program, which includes 150 students socializing service dogs and meeting public access certification standards.
Each service dog is customized to the individual's unique needs and takes 2.5 years to train at a cost of up to $35,000, with training beginning immediately upon acquisition.
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Empowering Independence One Dog at a Time
At Patriot PAWS, we're dedicated to empowering independence one dog at a time. Our team training program is a 10-day intensive course that teaches disabled veterans the cues necessary to handle their service dog and enable their service dog to help them in return.
Disabled veterans learn general dog health care and medical needs, maintenance and grooming, basic nutrition, traveling with a service dog, and information on ADA laws and service dog etiquette. This comprehensive training ensures that veterans are equipped to care for their service dogs and make the most of their partnership.
In addition to the team training program, we also offer follow-up visits with our training staff to provide further customization and training at the veteran's home. This personalized approach helps to ensure a successful placement and a strong bond between the veteran and their service dog.
Our prison training program is another innovative approach to empowering independence. By partnering with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, we've created a program that not only trains service dogs but also provides inmates with a valuable skill set that can be used upon their release.
Inmates learn to train service dogs to provide 55 basic service behaviors, which significantly cuts down on training time and allows more veterans to receive service dogs. This program has been so successful that it's been studied by prison officials from as far away as Poland.
Our Puppy Raiser Program is another way we empower independence. This full-time volunteer program allows individuals to donate their time 24/7 to raise a service dog from puppyhood to adulthood. Puppy raisers teach the dogs house-manners, basic training cues, and advanced service dog training cues, and many even take the dogs with them to work and on everyday outings.
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Each dog trained at Patriot PAWS is customized to the individual's unique needs, with the goal of increasing self-sufficiency. Our team works closely with the matched veterans/individuals and dogs to ensure a successful placement, and we provide follow-up visits and quarterly calls to support their partnership.
With over 400 veterans applying for our service dog program each month, we're making a significant impact in the lives of those who need it most. By providing service dogs and the training and support to go with them, we're empowering independence one dog at a time.
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Aggieland Program
The Aggieland Program is a collaboration between Patriot PAWS and Texas A&M University that's made a real impact. This university-sanctioned program includes 150 students who help socialize service dogs and meet public access certification standards.
The students are an integral part of the program, handling the dogs and living with them in dorms or student homes. The dogs receive attention and care from the students 24/7.
Patriot PAWS trainers are on-site 5 days a week, providing guidance and support to the students. The students also meet with a trainer on a weekly basis to discuss progress and receive feedback.
The program has a fully equipped training center with three trainers onsite, making it a comprehensive and well-rounded experience for both the students and the dogs.
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Our Results
At Patriot Paws Service Dogs, our results speak for themselves. We've successfully placed Service Dogs, which provide independence and support to individuals in need.
Our Service Dogs are trained to assist with daily tasks, giving their handlers a sense of confidence and freedom.
We've also had success with In-Home Working Dogs, which provide emotional support and companionship to families in crisis.
These dogs bring joy and comfort to those who need it most, and we're proud to have been a part of their lives.
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How We Work
We have a variety of programs to help disabled veterans and others regain independence and emotional stability through service dogs.
Our Service Dog Training Program trains dogs for 1 1/2 to 2 years, regardless of age, to help them become high-quality service dogs.
We have a Prison Training Program that trains prison inmates to train service dogs, teaching them basic service dog behaviors and a trade that can be helpful upon release.
Puppy Raisers are extremely involved, full-time volunteer trainers who donate their time 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for an extended period, teaching house-manners, basic training cues, and advanced service dog training cues.
We also have a Patriot PAWS at Aggieland Program, a university-sanctioned program that involves over 80 students who help socialize service dogs and meet public access certification standards, overseen by Patriot PAWS certified trainers and onsite student moderators.
Our goal is to put a leash in the hands of every applicant, and we continually train prison inmates, puppy raisers, and college students to help us achieve this goal.
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What Are the Organization's Capabilities?

We train and place high quality service dogs with disabled veterans and others with mobility disabilities and PTSD. Each dog is customized to the individual needs of the owner with the goal of increasing self-sufficiency.
Our service dogs can assist with a range of tasks, from getting help in emergencies to helping with chores. They can even provide bracing to stand, walk, and sit down.
We acquire our service dogs through breeders and local animal shelters. This ensures that we have a diverse range of dogs to meet the unique needs of our clients.
Our dogs are trained to perform specific tasks, such as opening and closing doors, taking off shoes and socks, picking up and retrieving items, pulling wheelchairs, and helping with laundry. These tasks can make a huge difference in the daily lives of our clients.
We have a rigorous training program that lasts from 1 1/2 to 2 years, regardless of the dog's age. This ensures that our dogs are well-trained and equipped to meet the needs of our clients.
Our team includes certified trainers, prison inmates, puppy raisers, and college students who all work together to train and socialize our service dogs.
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What's Next?

We're proud of what we've accomplished so far, but we're not slowing down. A total of 266 dogs have been placed since the program's inception, and there are now approximately 100 dogs in the program.
These dogs are being trained by a diverse group of people, including puppy raisers, student puppy raisers in our Aggieland program, inmates, and senior trainers in Rockwall, TX.
Our success rate for all placed service dogs is approximately 65%, significantly higher than the industry standard of 46%. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our trainers.
For prison inmates involved in the Patriot PAWS Prison Program, the recidivism rate has dropped to 1%, showing that our program is not only training service dogs but also making a positive impact on the lives of those involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the military pay for a service dog?
VA benefits may cover service dogs for eligible veterans, but approval requires a consultation with a healthcare provider to determine if a service dog is a suitable treatment approach
Sources
- https://blueribbonnews.com/tag/patriot-paws/
- https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/Patriot-Paws-Service-Dogs
- https://www.guidestar.org/profile/04-3815107
- https://petsmartcharities.org/blog/patriot-paws-bringing-service-dogs-to-veterans-and-so-much-more
- https://greatnonprofits.org/reviews/patriot-paws-service-dogs/role:1/
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