Owner Trained Service Dog Program
At Aspen Service Dogs, our Owner Trained Program empowers you to train your own service dog with the full support of our experienced team. Over the years, we’ve successfully guided handlers working with dogs of many breeds and ages, from young puppies to adult companions. From your first consultation to certification, you’ll receive expert guidance, proven structure, and access to resources and facilities that make all the difference.
A Structured, Supported Path
Our Owner Trained Program is designed to help you and your dog grow together. You’ll work alongside experienced professional trainers in a program built on decades of service dog experience. Training combines our dedicated facilities in Edmonton and Calgary with real public settings, so new skills are introduced in a calm, controlled space before being practised out in the world. This balance builds the confidence and reliability your team needs for long-term success.
Virtual Owner Trained Program
Not close to Edmonton or Calgary? Our Virtual Owner Trained Program brings the same structured approach to you, wherever you live. You’ll meet one-on-one with an Aspen instructor by video each week, working through foundation skills, public access and task training at a pace that fits your life.
How The Program Works
1. Consultation & Assessment
Your journey begins with an in-depth consultation and dog assessment. This session helps our trainers evaluate whether your dog is a suitable candidate for service work and begin developing a personalized training plan that reflects your goals, lifestyle, and needs. Even for young dogs, this early step helps set a realistic roadmap for growth and success.
2. Foundational Training
In this phase, we focus on developing a strong working relationship through clear communication, problem solving, and confidence building. Training takes place both in school and in carefully selected public environments from the very beginning. Early exposure to sights, sounds, and experiences helps puppies and young dogs build composure and resilience. Foundational skills like engagement, focus, and calm behavior also begin shaping the groundwork for the advanced tasks your dog will perform in the future.
3. Public Access & Skill Development
Real-world practice is woven into every stage of training. Classes alternate between controlled sessions in our Edmonton and Calgary facilities and practical work in public settings such as stores, cafés, and transit stations. This balanced approach ensures your dog learns to stay calm, focused, and reliable in any environment while continuing to strengthen your partnership.
4. Task Training & Refinement
As you and your dog progress, we begin shaping and refining the specific tasks that support your individual needs. Whether it’s mobility assistance, alerting, retrieval, or emotional regulation support, our trainers help you proof each behavior for consistency and confidence in public.
5. Certification Readiness & Assessment
When you are ready, we provide coaching and preparation for Alberta’s recognized qualification and public access testing process. By this stage, you and your dog will have the composure and reliability expected of a professional service dog team.
6. Ongoing Support & Community
Training doesn’t end at certification. Aspen graduates are part of a lifelong community. We offer ongoing classes, refresher sessions, and support to help you stay sharp, confident, and connected throughout your dog’s working years.
Why Aspen
Leaders in Owner Trained Service Dog Development
Aspen has long been recognized as a leader in Alberta’s owner-trained service dog community, helping to shape the standards and practices many programs follow today. Many trainers across the province began their careers learning under Aspen’s program and mentorship.
Professional Facilities in Edmonton & Calgary
Our training centres in Edmonton and Calgary give you and your dog a calm, controlled space to learn. New skills are introduced indoors, away from crowds and distractions, then practised in real public settings once your dog is ready. This step-by-step approach builds confidence for both of you and sets your team up for reliable work anywhere.
A Community That Supports You
When you join Aspen, you become part of a community of more than 175 certified service dog teams. Clients, graduates and volunteers connect through our private online community, where members share progress, ask questions and celebrate each other’s milestones. It’s a positive, supportive group that reminds you you’re never training alone.
Positive Reinforcement Training
Training at Aspen is built on trust and positive reinforcement. We follow proven, evidence-based principles that build confidence step by step, encouraging dogs to think, problem solve and stay emotionally balanced in any environment. The result is service dogs who are reliable, adaptable and deeply connected to their handlers.
Experience You Can Trust
Backed by years of proven success and leadership in the service dog community, Aspen’s staff bring deep expertise to every client and every dog.
Getting Started
Your first step is a consultation and assessment with our training team. Together, we’ll review your goals, evaluate your dog’s suitability, and create a tailored training plan that fits your lifestyle.
How to Apply
Your first step is a conversation with our team, followed by an application package and an assessment of your dog, in person at our facility or by video for virtual clients. There’s no fee for the assessment. See the full application process →
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