Empowering lives with the love of a service dog since 2011

Start Here

Supporting families with clear education, real-world guidance, and steady support through every stage of the service dog journey — from informed decisions to partnership.

TRAIN YOUR OWN

Take the lead in training your own service dog with expert tools, guidance, and support.

FULL SERVICE PLACEMENT

Get matched with a professionally trained service dog, ready to support your child and family.

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Tools created to educate, inform, and support families exploring a service dog.

Join Us Live — It’s Free!

Learn about autism service dogs, explore your options and get to know Good Dog! through one of our FREE online Zoom meetings.

Service Dog Infurmation Hour

A program-neutral introduction to autism service dogs—what they do, who they may help and what to consider when exploring a service dog for your family.

Train Your Own Overview

A Good Dog! program-specific orientation covering how our Train Your Own Program works, what’s involved and whether this hands-on path may be a good fit for you.

Full Service Placement Overview

A Good Dog! program-specific overview of our Full Service Placement Program, including the process, requirements and what to expect. (Available Oct-Jan)

Support a Good Dog! Team

Give to a participant in our Scholarship Program and help make their service dog possible.

Give Now

August at Good Dog! — graduations, new beginnings, and a whole lot of Good Dog! growth. 🐾

Fig graduates! Welcome home, Team Fig! 🎓
Nash graduates! Welcome home, Team Nash! 🎓
Oreo is rocking his loose-leash walking
Welcome, Gil! Thanks to our friends at @guidedogsofamerica for another Good Dog! puppy
Welcome, Apollo! Thanks to the @exceptionalsidekickapollo team
Dutch officially starts his TYO journey
Brent is working hard in finishing training — homecoming is next!
Lua is working hard in finishing training — homecoming is next!
New dogs, new teams… and NEW VESTS! ✨ (Thanks for modeling them Nash!!)

From brothers in training to Good Dogs! 💛🐾

Nash may have grown up with the amazing PPH team, but just like his brother Fig, he was destined to become a Good Dog! ✨ And today, we get to celebrate Team Nash’s graduation! 🎓

So much hard work, dedication and heart went into reaching this moment, and we are incredibly proud of Nash and his family for everything they put into becoming a team. 💛

We are so grateful to the entire @pawsforpurplehearts.tx team who helped raise and train this special boy, and to Emma, who brought it all home as Nash’s finishing trainer and Team Training instructor.

Congratulations, Team Nash — you worked hard for this one. Now the adventure begins! 🐾✨

🎓🐾 Team Fig has officially graduated! 💛

So much love, learning, hard work and heart went into getting this incredible team to this moment. We couldn’t be prouder of Fig and his family — congratulations, Team Fig! ✨

And a huge thank you to the village behind them: Fig’s amazing trainers Sam & Ashley T. (and their families!), and our Team Training crew, Rick & Sydney. It truly takes a team to build a team. 🐾💛

Go do great things, Team Fig! 🎓✨

July at Good Dog! — new teammates, perfect matches, and plenty to celebrate. 🐾

-Good Dog! Nova has officially landed. ✈️
-Welcome to the team, Nova!
-Nova meets her trainer, Kelsey — welcome to the pack!
-Nash matched with his forever family—congratulations Team Nash + Niko! 🧡
-Brent matched with his forever family—congratulations Team Brent + Seby! 🧡
-Lua matched with her forever family—congratulations Team Lua + Izzy! 🧡
-Scully proves puppies in training work hard… and nap harder. 😴
-Fig’s final exam… Disneyland.
-Next stop: Fig’s forever home. 🐕‍🦺
-Chance gets a head start on Halloween. 🎃

As a family-founded organization, we know firsthand how overwhelming the service dog journey can feel. There are so many options, so much conflicting information, and a lot of big decisions to make. 🦮

That’s why we created free educational resources to help families understand their options, avoid common pitfalls, and move forward with confidence. Whether you’re just starting to explore service dogs or deciding which path is right for your family, we’re here to help with trustworthy, practical guidance—no pressure, just education. 🐾

Because every family deserves clear information before making life-changing decisions. 🧡

#ServiceDog #ServiceDogEducation #AssistanceDogs #DownsyndromeServiceDog #AutismServiceDog

June at Good Dog! — new faces, wagging tails, and exciting new chapters 🧡

🐾Bea officially joins the Good Dog! family—and yes, she’s every bit as adorable as she looks
🐾Chance confirms he’s just as adorable as he imagined
🐾Nash couldn’t be happier to join our Full Service Program, thank you @pawsforpurplehearts.tx
🐾Welcome, Oreo, to our Train Your Own program!
🐾Abbott travels with his trainer, Kelly—welcome to the team, Kelly!
🐾Brent heads to his finishing trainer Sam with Ashley by his side
🐾Olive making summer even better

May at Good Dog! — lots of reasons to celebrate. 🧡

Cade and Charlie graduate high school
Olive celebrates her birthday
Scully sneaks in a kiss for Vin
Scully sneaks in another kiss for Vin
Introducing Bea, joining our program from PPH
Chance visits a farmers market for training
Retired Grom joins Successor Chicago on vacation
Retired Grom still being a Good Dog!

April at Good Dog! — here’s what’s been happening. 🐾

Scully and Vin training together
Sunny gets a raincoat
Sunny’s BFF practices leash handling
Gus finds his forever home with a Good Dog! family
Brent gets ready to move on to finishing training
Mando and her girl celebrate one year together
Chance … bunny ears

April: a little training, a little teamwork, and a lot of cuteness. 🧡

“She’s helping by just existing, she didn’t do anything, but she also did everything!” - Jenna, Mom & Trainer of Good Dog! Scully

On World Autism Day, we’re grateful for the dogs who show up every day—serving, loving, and wholeheartedly adoring the people they support. 🧡🐾

March: new teams, first adventures, and plenty of good dogs doing what they do best. 🧡

Fig matched with his forever family — congratulations Team Fig!!!
Hunter provides loving support
Rugby joins the TYO program
Mando takes his first vacation flight
Chance begins public access work at his first baseball game
IndyJo doing yoga with Lilly
Buck celebrates his birthday

February at Good Dog! — here’s what we’ve been up to🐾

Chance’s first Super Bowl appearance
Sunny’s first family road trip
FSP applications in full swing
Rita doing what she does best
Dixie meets snow with Snowy
Ella working the aisles at Target
Digital Workbook officially live

#autismservicedog #servicedog #trainyourown

Good Dog! Sunny’s family chose the Train-Your-Own path, while Good Dog! Indy Jo’s family chose a Full Service Placement. 🐾

There is no single right way — only the path that fits your family’s needs, readiness, and goals.

Join our FREE Infurmation Hour for family-centered guidance on readiness, pathways, and real life with autism service dogs.

March 29th at 11am Pacific 🔗in bio
(Offered every 4th Sunday)

✨ Followed by a FREE TYO Info Session at 12:15 PM.

#AutismServiceDog
#ServiceDog
#AutismParent
#AutismAssistanceDog

For families navigating the service dog journey — we’re opening a new chapter of clarity and guidance. 🧡🦮

#AutismServiceDog
#ServiceDog
#AutismParent
#AutismAssistanceDog

January photo dump - joining the trend.

TYO Sunny tries on his vest for the first time 🧡
Good Dog! grad Mando working with his girl 🦮
Fig flies to his finishing trainer ✈️
Brent SDiT turns one ☝️
Good Dog! grad IndyJo goes to the movies 🍿
Gus SDiT working on public access ☕️
Chance joins the GD! pack 🐾
Dixie demos realities of the TYO 🤣
Honoring Orbit 🤍

Thanks for being here with us.

#AutismServiceDog
#ServiceDog
#AutismParent
#AutismAssistanceDog

What Delivery Day REALLY Looks Like: Chance Edition 🐾

Early alarms. Miles of freeway. Coffee fuel. Puppy breath.
Every clip in this reel is timestamped—because bringing a future service dog to their trainer isn’t a moment, it’s a day.

Endless gratitude to the ADI Breeding Cooperative and Guide Dogs of America for the care, intention, and partnership that make days like this possible.

Chance is officially on his way. 💛

#AutismServiceDog
#ServiceDog
#AutismParent
#AutismAssistanceDog

Saying goodbye to the dog that started it all.

Orbit came into our lives and quietly changed everything.

He walked beside us as we learned,
grew, and began to imagine a different future—
one where children aren’t asked to fit in, but belong.

The work we do today exists because of what he showed us, simply by being who he was.

Thank you, Orbit,
for showing us the way. 🧡

Happy National Labrador Day!
Meet Good Dog! Dixie, one incredible Lab in our Train Your Own program. This video says it all—joy, connection, and a whole lot of ball-throwing love. Labradors don’t just love their people… they change lives. And Dixie is doing exactly that, one happy moment at a time. 🎾🐕‍🦺

#AutismServiceDog
#ServiceDog
#AutismParent
#AutismAssistanceDog

Thank you to everyone who donated, entered a name, and voted in our Name That Good Dog! Contest! Your support helped make this our most joyful Giving Tuesday yet.

✨ And the winning name is… CHANCE! ✨
Submitted by longtime supporter and friend of Good Dog!, Wendy Alexander, Chance received 95 votes, with a strong second place going to Edna (72 votes), followed by Riley and Waffles.

We’re thrilled to share that Good Dog! Chance will be joining our team at the beginning of February. We can’t wait for you to meet this future life-changing partner!

>> VOTING has ended.
Help us choose the name of our next Good Dog! in training.

Tap the ❤️ (heart) next to your favorite name in the comments to vote. IMPORTANT ⚠️ Please do NOT add any new comments to the thread - added comments will be deleted so we can accurately track votes. 🙏🏻✨

Vote for as many as you like!
Voting closes December 12 — every vote counts!

Because of YOU, we surpassed our Giving Tuesday goal! 🧡 Thank you for lifting up Good Dog families.

▶️ Still time to donate + enter a name 🔗in bio

5 feel GOOD reasons to give today - Giving Tuesday!!
🔗 link in bio

Happy Thanksgiving from our Good Dog! family to yours. 🧡🐾

Today we’re celebrating the entire village it takes to raise, train, and place a life-changing service dog.

Each step of a Good Dog’s journey is made possible by you — the incredible community that believes in the children and families we serve.

We are endlessly grateful for your hearts, your support, and your partnership.

Thank you for helping us change lives, one extraordinary Good Dog! at a time. 🐶🧡

Giving Tuesday is just one week away… but the magic starts NOW! ✨🐾
Every donation to our Name That Good Dog! Puppy Contest will be doubled, starting today.
Help us name a future Good Dog! and make an incredible impact for a child and family in need. 🔗 in bio

Our first TYO family is already showing what it’s all about — heart, connection, and purpose. 🧡 “I’ve been noticing a real bond building between Dixie and our daughter.” - Carrie (Mom)

✨ Our heartfelt thanks to the @legacy.endowment and Angel Society of Fallbrook for your continued generosity and support of our Train-Your-Own program. It is because of your generosity that makes moments like these possible!! 🧡

🐾 Hot off the press! 📰 Good Dog! Service Canines was featured in this week’s @fallbrookvillagenews highlighting the launch of our new Train Your Own Service Dog Program.

We’re so grateful to our hometown supporters — Elisabeth S. Wilson Grant Fund of @legacy.endowment, North County’s community foundation, and The Angel Society of Fallbrook — whose generosity made this expansion possible. 💛🐶 Together, we’re opening doors for families and individuals nationwide.

Pick up the Village News to read the full story or visit gooddogservicecanines.org to learn more.

#GoodDogServiceCanines #VillageNews #FallbrookStrong

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