Testimonials
Tammy and Bruno
Bruno is currently working with Tammy in a school setting as a health alert dog.
K9-Country Inn is truly exceptional! Their service dog trainers go above and beyond in every aspect. The level of knowledge and expertise they bring is unparalleled, and their passion for what they do shines through in every interaction. What really sets them apart is their kindness and unwavering support throughout the entire training process. They take the time to understand each dog's unique needs and work tirelessly to ensure success. I can't recommend K9-Country Inn enough for anyone seeking top-notch service dog training with a team that genuinely cares. Thank you for making such a meaningful difference for my daughter and I.
Tammy and Riley
Stephan and Jude
Autism Dog
My son Stephan has been given the incredible gift of having Jude as his guardian. From the very first visit, Jude connected with Stephan in a way that we had never seen before. Stephan is nonverbal and had never interacted with anyone—family or peers—but with Jude, it was different. He looked directly into Jude’s eyes and even tried to share his juice with him. My partner and I were in complete shock. Stephan normally doesn’t engage with his environment like that.
Part of integrating Jude into our lives included family classes and private lessons. We were amazed at how quickly everything clicked. Jude became a part of our family so naturally.
Because of Jude, we can now take Stephan and our other children to the park—something we couldn’t do before. Jude is attached to Stephan and acts as an extra set of eyes. He knows his commands, keeps Stephan safe from fleeing, and has completely changed how we navigate everyday life. Car rides that once brought tears are now calm, as Jude provides comfort and acts as a grounding presence. Medical appointments no longer require sedation—Jude simply lays across Stephan, applying deep pressure and preventing self-harm.
Even I feel less anxious. Jude knows his job so well that it's hard to get him to take a break! Once we learned the right commands and how to reward him during class, Jude truly became the perfect fit for our family.
I am beyond grateful to K-9 Country Inn. Jude has given us more than we ever expected. He is not just a service dog—he is a life-changer.
With heartfelt thanks,
Samantha Medland
Richard and Timo
Retired Veteran
Richard and Timo’s Training Journey
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Over 2 years ago, I was diagnosed with PTSD. At the time, I had a German Shepherd puppy I was hoping to train to become a service dog, unfortunately, life at other plans and he passed prematurely at 14 months from a rare cancer. I was back to square one. Around the same time I discovered K9 County Inn via Wounded Warriors Canada, unfortunately, the program was closed. The breeder from the Pferdeland Kennel, worked with me to find a candidate with the right temperament to become a service dog.
In early 2023, I was regularly checking up on the K-9 Country Inn website to see if they were taking new applicants for their training program. When the waiting list opened, I immediately applied, even though I didn't have a dog to train. My breeder offered me Timo, and on April 11, 2023, I adopted him. On April 16th, I drove to Elmvale to participate in an evaluation session to assess Timo’s suitability as a service dog. I met Laura and Tara for the first time. Laura was very clear and direct from the outset. We had a few things not playing in our favour. Firstly, Timo was a German Shepherd, and their success rate as a Service dog for my disability was low. Secondly, his age, three and a half years old at adoption, which can be a curse or a blessing depending on his temperament. My heart sank...I remembered what Julie, my breeder, said; she was convinced Timo would do well, so I clung to that hope. After about an hour with Laura, she informed me that Timo and I were deemed to be acceptable candidates for the distance learning program, and she would assign Brit to work with us. Our training journey was about to begin.
We soon met Brit online and began structuring our training program to Timo’s ability and my needs. A strong bond rapidly formed between the three of us, and the training has been progressing well.
The distant learning program requires discipline and dedication to make it work. It is a mixture of daily training and recording sessions to share with your trainer, augmented by a monthly trip to Elmvale/Shelburne, a 6-hour drive for us. Timo and I are making significant progress thanks to Brit’s expert advice, enthusiasm and energy. Thanks to her, Timo and I have been able to overcome several obstacles and progress as a team. I can now do things I avoided in the past or used to cause me anxiety, panic and hypervigilance. Timo’s calming and reassuring presence has been instrumental in my ability to return to a more normal routine and enjoy being out in public again. With the support of my breeder, Julie and my family, I feel we are on the right track to succeed.
I am very fortunate to have found the great people at K9 Country Inn.
Richard & Timo
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