Legendary Service Dogs

Legendary Service Dogs Legendary Service Dogs offers Obedience Training, Customized Training, and Service Dog Training. Unleash Your Dog’s True Potential!

Our Relationship Course is about teamwork and improving your bond with your dog. Legendary Service Dogs trains service dogs for disabled individuals. We work with the dogs and as well as their handlers to bring together the best team possible. We also train pet dogs and help them become better mannered, happy members of the family.

Portioning out dog food two weeks in advance has been a lifesaver!At the end of the day, instead of measuring food and t...
09/06/2026

Portioning out dog food two weeks in advance has been a lifesaver!

At the end of the day, instead of measuring food and trying to make sure your dog gets the right amount, just grab a container, empty it, and feed them.

Chew supplements can also be added so you don't forget, like August's in the photo.

It also gives you an advantage when it comes to training throughout the day.

Dump part or all of the meal container in a Ziploc, then add it to your treat pouch, and you're good to go!

You'll know exactly how much your dog is getting each day, and having the portions ready to serve makes things much easier on a tired brain.

A man waited until Zuri SDIT's Mom wasn't looking before he made his move.While at a store, she turned her back to the m...
09/05/2026

A man waited until Zuri SDIT's Mom wasn't looking before he made his move.

While at a store, she turned her back to the man briefly and he took that exact moment to quickly close the distance between him and Zuri.

Hands outstretched, he grabbed at her face.

Zuri broke her down, moved back, and dodged further attempts to interact with her.

"She must be shy," the man chuckled.

His conclusion was incorrect.

Zuri is actually trained to move aside, duck, or dodge if people are invading her space and interacting with her without permission (unless she's given a specific command to hold her position, depending on the circumstances and situation).

Zuri's Mom politely yet firmly set a boundary and explained why what he did wasn't appropriate.

Please, do not interact with a Service Dog, or any dog for that matter, without permission.

And NEVER ambush or take advantage of a situation to get a few "pets" in on a dog you don't know.

While she is trained on how to handle these types of situations, she shouldn't have to.

Azraylea SDIT jumped in the tub to get to the water bowl and started slowly licking about an inch above the water, then ...
09/04/2026

Azraylea SDIT jumped in the tub to get to the water bowl and started slowly licking about an inch above the water, then stared at me. I couldn't figure out what the problem was, then laughed a moment later, dumping the water and refilling it fresh. She happily drank her fill. I don't blame her at all. I wouldn't want to get a drink after a Lab that leaves drool in there either.

Today, we got to help two very sweet little girls with their fear of dogs.They haven't been bit or had a terrible experi...
09/04/2026

Today, we got to help two very sweet little girls with their fear of dogs.

They haven't been bit or had a terrible experience that really stands out.

However, their fear escalated to where they started skipping play dates and avoiding situations with dogs to the point that their mother became concerned and sought out help, worrying about what kind of impact this would have on them now and in the future.

Encounters with dogs who were pushy, didn't have manners, invaded their space, etc didn't help their perspective on dogs.

When they arrived, I could see the nervousness in their eyes as they scanned the room, searching for which kennel had a dog in it.

They sat across the room as we got to know each other and I let them adjust to the environment, before getting Natsu out.

I showed them our kennel protocol and how we teach the dogs to wait for their release word before exiting.

As Natsu relaxed beside me and I answered their questions, some of their apprehension began to fade.

After a bit, curiosity started to grow and they wanted to see what training Natsu looked like.

We started simple and demonstrated a few of Natsu's favorites, including getting into heel, center, picking up items, and, of course, his shame trick.

They declined my invitation to pet him, which I completely expected.

I told them that was totally fine and that my priority was for them to feel comfortable.

Interacting with him wasn't a requirement and Natsu was perfectly content either way.

We simply moved on and I went back to answering their questions.

I wasn't sure if they'd want to be done early or not, but before we knew it, our time was up.

Natsu absolutely loved being a demo and they even saw him do a heart rate alert at the end when I had a spike, then a drop.

They enjoyed learning and asking whatever questions came to mind.

One positive experience can leave a lasting impression, opening the door to building confidence and a better understanding.

We hope to see them again soon!

09/03/2026

From A Roof Over Their Heads To Homeless.

That's the reality for one of our past clients.

Keyni SD and Bastian SDIT are living on the streets with their Mom.

They're currently waiting for the slow process of getting back into an apartment with a Section 8 Housing Voucher.

Until then, they wander every day, review Keyni's training while working on Bastian's, and hoping for better days ahead.

They sleep under bridges or wherever they can find shelter, with their belongings strapped to their Mom's back.

When I asked what they needed the most, she said dog treats.

Previously they were staying at a shelter, however, multiple reactive and aggressive dogs were also residing there.

Several lunged, barking, and tried attacking both her dogs.

Unfortunately, this resulted in Bastian becoming insecure around other dogs, believing his life was at risk.

We'll be resuming training, at no cost to them, to help address Bastian's fears and rebuild his confidence.

Overall, their Mom said that both dogs are adapting to their current way of life and doing well training in tandem.

Keyni and Bastian's Mom wanted me to share their story and follow their training journey, especially with so many people not understanding or knowing what it's like to be homeless, let alone as a Service Dog Handler.

I dropped off some human snacks and dog treats, which they were grateful for.

After relying on just kibble for training, which got them this far, the treats will definitely help as we work on Bastian's rehabilitation and do our best to prevent him from washing out (discontinuing) Service Dog work.

Sharing this video with permission of them reviewing some commands and tricks to get the yummy treats.

Azraylea SDIT did fantastic at Pizza Pie Cafe!She navigated by crowded tables, children, and food dropped on the floor.H...
09/03/2026

Azraylea SDIT did fantastic at Pizza Pie Cafe!

She navigated by crowded tables, children, and food dropped on the floor.

Holding her Down when I asked for it, she ignored people passing by within inches of her carrying fresh delicious smelling food.

It's incredibly rewarding seeing all your hard work come together. I can rely on her almost as much as Natsu before he retired. She needs a little fine tuning and I'd like us to flow just a little better as team, otherwise, she's got it! I'm looking forward to her taking the final Legendary Test.

09/02/2026

Charmy SDIT enjoying a training session at Lowe's.

She's bouncy, happy, curious, and nosey. All of which, I love!

My rules this session:
- Don't pull on the leash
- Don't visit with people without permission
- Potty only in appropriate areas.

That's literally it.

What I rewarded:
- Voluntary eye contact
- Choices I liked
- Appropriate responses and good recovery to loud / sudden sounds, people coming around a corner suddenly with a cart, getting cooed at because she was wearing shoes.

What am I taking away from this session?

Observations of things I liked:
- Super confident
- Unbothered by pretty much everything
- Great engagement with me
- Friendly but not pushing for interactions from people

Things that need work:
- Auto Leave It, in particular with small kibble sized items that she might think are food before actually considering if they're edible. (It was a little rock this round and thankfully she didn't eat it).
- Loose leash was decent, especially at her current level and considering the environment and distractions. Could definitely use some work as she did go to the end of the leash and add some mild tension off and on throughout the session.
- Left turns. Got sticky and had to have extra guidance to follow through a lot of the time.

Overall, she did fantastic! She's right where I expected her to be.

Each time you train, you can gather a lot of information about where the dog, and you, are currently at.

When doing a session, it's important to note victories, what needs improvement, what needs to be worked on, clarified, or practiced at home, the dog's mindset and confidence level, and even your own handling, including timing, coordination, communication, etc.

09/01/2026

Not All Disabilities Look the Same

I get random muscle spasms.

They can look different for other people, but for me, this particular one is pretty common. They usually last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes.

In the video, I kept my hand relaxed. This is the spasm doing its thing. I've found that if I do try to fight it, suppression often makes it worse and more painful.

The spasms move around to different areas at random and rarely affect both my hands at the same time, so I often switch which hand is holding the leash when training.

Thankfully, most of the time it only affects one finger or my thumb (not several at once like it was here) and doesn't interfere with my ability to hold the leash or treats. Other times, I drop things.

This is one of the reasons why I teach the skills that I do to the dogs, including sticking around if I do accidentally drop the leash and not diving for a treat I fumble.

Dexterity issues are something we help many of our clients with. We've modified and improved our training to help those who struggle with this still be successful with their dogs.

I'm sharing this for educational purposes and to give those who don't have to deal with things like this a glimpse into my world.

Punishment, Corrections, and BoundariesI know there's a lot of controversy surrounding punishment when it comes to dogs....
09/01/2026

Punishment, Corrections, and Boundaries

I know there's a lot of controversy surrounding punishment when it comes to dogs. However, without some kind of line drawn between desired and undesired behaviors, reaching training goals can get frustrating for the owner and confusing for the dog.

There are two types of punishment in dog training: Negative Punishment and Positive Punishment.

Positive punishment: something is added → behavior decreases in the future.
Example: dog jumps up → handler applies leash pressure → jumping decreases.

Negative punishment: something is removed → behavior decreases in the future.
Example: dog jumps up for attention → person removes attention → jumping decreases.

So many people are looking for one right path to take, and a trainer who magically fixes all their problems and has all the answers.

This is not realistic.

Dogs are not chocolate chip cookies that you can make using the same circle shaped cookie cutter.

There are a lot of factors to take into consideration, not just getting from point A to point B. Such as the dog's personality, your living situation, their daily routine, how consistent you are, any physical or medical limitations, and so much more!

So, how do you choose what to use?

Simple answer, trial and error, while being fair to the dog. Each is an individual, which means one way that works for one dog may not work for another. Perhaps a third dog benefits from several different ways. I personally take those things into consideration, while coming at training from a teacher mindset, as opposed to a "do what I say because I said it" mentality. If I get frustrated or discouraged, that's a me problem, not the dog's problem. It's important to add yourself into the equation too, which includes considering your needs, limitations, personality, daily life, etc.

For Legendary Service Dogs, this is how we define them:

- A punishment is a consequence that decreases a behavior.

- A correction gives the dog feedback that what they just did was incorrect or should change.

- A boundary establishes what is and isn't available or permitted.

Here's an example:
A dog crosses a known doorway threshold.

- Boundary: Don’t cross without permission.

- Correction: The handler interrupts the behavior and guides the dog back.

- Punishment: If that consequence makes crossing the threshold less likely in the future, it functioned as punishment.

That doesn't mean every boundary needs to be taught the same way. Boundaries can also be taught without positive punishment: by preventing access, reinforce being behind the threshold, and building the desired behavior.

The dog should also have a reasonable opportunity to learn the behavior before being corrected. We call this the Learning Phase.

A boundary should not exist just to control the dog. A correction should not come from anger or frustration. And punishment should not replace teaching.

The goal is not to punish the dog for making mistakes. It's to help the dog understand what is expected of them.

There is no one right way to teach a dog.

08/31/2026

Teaching "Place" To A Deaf Dog.

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