about student programs

adw assistance dog student trainer program

Assistance Dogs of the West delivers the Assistance Dog Student Trainer Program, an educational/ vocational program designed to enhance the lives and opportunities for mainstream and at-risk students in New Mexico. This is accomplished through contact with and responsibility for the care and training of assistance dogs and provides highly requested service dogs to people with disabilities in our community.

ADW student trainers learn responsibility and a compassionate awareness of people with different abilities while making a concrete contribution to their community. The program promotes self-confidence, assertiveness and leadership skills, and has been active since 1995.

Students who participate in the program learn the importance of patience and leadership, how to give and receive love, the necessity for emotional self-control, and the value of encouragement. As they build a relationship with their assistance dog, students also gain an understanding of the challenges facing people with disabilities. They learn about generosity and sacrifice when they present the assistance dog they have trained to the client.

Five Program Constituencies:

• Main stream elementary, middle and high school students are taught to train and place assistance dogs with people with disabilities.
• At risk teenagers and juvenile detainees are taught to train and place assistance dogs with people with disabilities.
• Youth and adult student trainers with developmental and physical disabilities advance occupational therapy goals as they are taught to train and place assistance dogs with people with disabilities.
• Much needed assistance dogs are placed with people with disabilities in our community, providing them a means to live more independent and fulfilled lives.
• Dogs contribute supportive, viable roles in today’s modern society, along with nurturing relationships.

Assistance Dogs of the West provides trained instructors who bring these programs to institutions and facilities throughout our community. ADW instructors regularly share the program concepts with local agencies to outline program details and benefits. The ADW Assistance Dog Student Trainer Program has a proven track record of working with students to enhance behaviors, skills and attitudes.

After School Registration Forms can be found here.