What Drives Us

Through Train-the-Trainer Training, the service dog that has been paired with our recipient is given weekly opportunities to step out and be part of the larger collaboration of Profession Award Winning Trainers and Competition Handlers. Closely monitored and by invitation only — Linda Innovator of the “Werlein Way” Canine Training Program (condensed from “Prominent North American Trainers”, an article written by D.A. Arnold, published in Canine Training Quarterly, April, 2012) Just ask those that have watched Linda Werlein work. She has a unique way with dogs. Her proven “Werlein Way” Canine Training Program, developed over a 35 year period, combines innovative Canine Marker Training with her proprietary Psychological Imprinting Technique. In addition, Linda specializes in Canine Problem Solving & Behavior Modification. She is an expert canine behaviorist and customizes her training approach, based on each dog’s unique character rather than being “married” to a particular training method. Her results speak for themselves and, at times, can be amazingly swift. Addressing the emotional component is an integral and inseparable part of her daily training. She prefers to be thought of as a “Canine Psychologist & Behaviorist” rather than a “Dog Trainer”. With over 35 years of proven breeding, training and competition experience, Linda’s diverse and well rounded professional background has been instrumental in bringing numerous dogs to their full potential as family pets or as performers in high-level international competition.

From the very beginning our T2T equips the recipient and their family with the first elements of ALERT for their puppy — praise and provide nutrition to their dogs when they experience a “dramatized startling PTSD event”. Rather than turning inward to focus on their past trauma, the collaboration allows for the recipients to get outside of their own heads to focus on the dogs and their personal mission. We always support integration into the public based on the prescribed clinical analysis supports. Additionally, our highly trained and tactically stable dogs offer opportunities to our recipients – who might often isolate themselves from society – to experience positive interactions with members of the community.