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Star Dogs and Training

Our Core Mission

  • Selected from Shelters and Rescues - Our dogs are assessed for desired behaviors and characteristics to start training to be a service dog.

  • From Shelter to Prison - Our dogs will start their daily training overseen by the trainers at Blue Star Service Dogs in one of two prison housed training programs. Located in either Thumb Correctional Facility in Lapeer or in Saginaw Correctional Facility in Freeland. In these Michigan prisons, a dog is housed for 4-6 months with their inmate handlers, to master basic obedience, command training, and pre-task training before they are paired with their veteran participant.

  • Once paired with a veteran, the dog will go home with that veteran and attend weekly sessions at the Training Center in Pinckney Michigan. In those sessions the veteran and dog team learn trust, skills, and the tasks required to become a service dog. Over 250 hours of training will include several levels of testing including Canine Good Citizen, Canine Good Citizen Advanced, Canine Good Citizen Urban. We also use standardized testing from Assistance Dogs International to measure successful community training prior to graduation.

Taking the dog for a walk
Our Programs: About

Bring Your Own Dog

Sometimes our veterans have formed a bond with a dog already in their home. With the Bring Your Own Dog program, once the veteran is accepted, the dog will be evaluated to determine training as a service dog. Some of the criteria for the dog is;

  • Completed basic obedience classes/ training prior to application

  • Must be Spayed or Neutered

  • Veterinarian certification of health and up to date on vaccines and preventatives

  • No history of aggression or other undesired behaviors

The training will also take place weekly for at least a year at the Training Center in Pinckney, Michigan. Where the veteran and dog team will strengthen their bond working together and healing.

Our Programs: About
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