Our Dogs

Whether a veteran needs practical help with turning on lights, opening and closing doors/drawers or retrieving dropped items due to mobility issues or psychological aid in managing fear and anxiety or  nightmares, our trained Service dogs can help. The appropriately trained Service dog partners with the veteran to expedite the healing process and provide gentle understanding that is pivotal for rehabilitation.

We train dogs to assist our veterans with such common injuries as:

Psychological injuries

PTSD & TBI

TAV’s PTSD Service dog training program is an interactive and collaborative approach to renewing social re-integration, emotional regulation, decreased anxiety, isolation, and sleeplessness, improved sense of belonging and increased confidence.

Physical injuries

Wartime physical injuries are numerous and varied as are their treatments.  TAV Service dogs can help these veterans navigate their world with the use of:

  • Mobility and Bracing Dogs
  • Guide Dogs
  • Hearing Dogs

These canines are currently in training to become Service dogs:

 

Teddy

Teddy will be the first Service dog in the United States to be assigned as a permanent staff member at the VA Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Center within the Marion Medical Center, Marion IL.

TAV Service dogs are taught to engage with the veterans they serve.

TAV Service dogs are taught to both retrieve and hold items.

Turning on the lights

Teddy learning to engage as his handler withdraws.

Learning to fetch items for the handler

Bonding with the handler

Learning to down stay under the handler's chair