Starting Fresh with Otis: A Second Journey, A Deeper Bond

One of the most memorable parts of this journey with Otis was intermediate training. That’s where things started to really come together—the basic skills we were learning suddenly made sense in context. It was like a lightbulb moment for both of us. We began to understand not just what we were doing, but why we were doing it.

Now that we’ve graduated, my mindset is, “Let’s go!” This is where the real adventure begins—where we step out into the world as a team. Our bond is only getting stronger from here.

Otis has learned tasks that make a real difference in my daily life. “Snuggle” grounds me when my mind starts racing in public—and even at night when I’m dealing with nightmares. “Cover” helps reduce my hypervigilance by allowing Otis to watch my blind spot, giving me a sense of security. And because of physical injuries, I rely on “Brace” to help me stand up from a seated position.

One of the biggest highlights has been taking what we practiced in the controlled training environment and applying it in real-world situations. That’s where the magic happens—when everything clicks and I can confidently engage with the world around me.

If you’re a dog person in any way, this program is like medication for the soul. Just do it—you won’t regret it.

From Uncertainty to Connection — How Training with Sugar Changed My Life

Whenever I walked through the doors of the training center with Sugar, her excitement was unmistakable. But the moment I pulled out her vest, she understood—it was time to get serious. The transition from intermediate to advanced training marked a turning point for us. That’s when we really began to tune in to one another.

Sugar has learned tasks that are more than just commands—they’re lifelines. “Snuggle” helps pull me out of my head during moments of anxiety. “Cover” offers comfort in public by reducing my need to stay hyper-aware of my surroundings. And when she performs “Block,” she creates space behind me, gently letting me know what’s happening around us and keeping me grounded.

One of our most memorable lessons came from Cassidy, our trainer, who introduced us to something called the “box game.” It was designed to build Sugar’s confidence, but it did more than that—it helped me grow into a more skilled and mindful handler.

Today, I’m more open to meeting people, making new friends, maybe even joining a group or getting out more regularly. I truly didn’t realize how much this program would help me. It’s been an unexpected and effective alternative treatment—and I encourage others to give it a try.

Our journey isn’t over yet, but we’re continuing to grow—together.

However, at the end of Beginner class, after dog massage training, we began to bond. That bondingrelieved my frustration brought on by her lack of focus. The trainers were always there giving help through trouble spots or answering any questions I had. They made it one thousand percent worth the time and effort I put in.

Buttercup did better than I thought she would do when we moved to Public Access training considering the many distractions found when out in public.  At that point, as I realized we were almost done, I enjoyed relief.

Buttercup does the following tasks for me: “Push”, providing extra support when I’m anxious, plus, that deep pressure therapy helps a great deal. “Cover” is a great way for her to notify me if someone is coming up behind us. And “Block” essentially keeps people from getting too close as does Front where she keeps some distance between me and anyone else. In those positions I know that she’s there keeping an eye out for me.

I must say that nothing about the program surprised me although I was sure glad it was available to me. In general, I will now be able to get out more without anxiety and I look forward to hiking more often.

To those considering signing up I say, “If you can do it, do it! You get the support and tools you need plus you get to train YOUR DOG, making the bond stronger and the journey that much more meaningful.”

Accomplishing the obstacle course and learning commands were truly memorable. Having a big dog go through agility training was impressive. The more time I had to focus on her working with her every day allowed us to become close and gain trust of each other.

Zuri has learned tasks like Snuggle which brings out affection and makes both of us feelspecial and close. She does Cover so we won’t be startled by someone coming up behind us. And when she stands at Center, that’s a proud feeling, as though we are there together conquering anything that comes our way.

Seeing her manage all of the distractions and sounds during Public Access training has been a true highlight of the program. It’s a boost to my confidence and rewarding to have her as a trained dog. Now I see us operating as a unit.

I used to be hyper-vigilant and paranoid, but if Zuri is cool, I can be too. Having the routine of caring for her and working with her calms me.

My wife Carol has notice my raised confidence level and how I interact with Zuri. We’re doing more traveling and it was a huge boost factor to have her on an airplane, surprising us how well she did. We both realize it’s comforting to know that Veterans have this kind of support.

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So to anyone asking about the training I would say, “I know a place with an excellent program and team that will make sure you can reduce your symptoms.”