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Service Dogs of Virginia

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Charlottesville, VA
Service Dogs of Virginia

Because life can change in an instant. www.servicedogsva.org Service Dogs of Virginia, Inc. raises, trains, and places dogs to assist people with disabilities.

Highly trained dogs perform a wealth of tasks that allow greater personal freedom and independence. We place dogs for residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia and we are based in Charlottesville, Virginia.

08/17/2025

🎓 This Week at SDV: A Look Inside Advanced Training 🐾

From public outings to precision skills, this week we’re diving into what advanced training really looks like at SDV.

We’ll be sharing the tools our trainers use, what it takes to guide a dog through the full journey, and how we practice skills in real-world settings.

And this week, you’ll meet Caroline and SDV Baldwin, a team that shows exactly why we do what we do. 💛

It’s all for our clients. 💛
For the child who feels safe holding a leash.
For the individual who can count on early alerts to dangerous blood sugar drops.
For the veteran who can finally step into a crowd.

Pictured: Caroline & SDV Baldwin

08/15/2025

SDV Trainer Linda wears many hats – and one of her favorites is helping our puppies begin their journey to becoming service dogs. 🐾

Each week, Linda meets with our puppy raisers—either at our facility or out in public—to teach them new skills to practice with their pups.

When asked about her favorite part of puppy class, Linda says, “Watching the lightbulb moment when a puppy finally ‘gets it’ never gets old—it’s pure magic.” ✨

📸 Pictured:

Linda working with puppy raiser Nancy and SDV Carl at Best Buy

Linda with puppy SDV Ralph (fun fact: Ralph is named after Linda’s grandfather!)

08/14/2025

🐾 Pup-date on SDV Carl! 🐾

Carl has been growing and learning so much! He’s been attending puppy class at our center, where he’s working on learning basic cues.

His awesome puppy raiser has been taking him on short outings to help him get used to the world around him—new sights, sounds, and experiences—all at a pace that’s right for a young pup. 🐶

In class, Carl has been practicing using the paw pad and walking over different surfaces—like this metal grate behind our facility. While it might seem simple, grates can be tricky for dogs. They feel different under their paws, and since you can see through them, they can look a little strange or uncertain to navigate.

Carl’s doing a fantastic job building confidence—way to go, Carl! 🙌
Keep an eye out for more Carl pup-dates soon!

08/11/2025

Did you know the first few months of a puppy’s life can shape their entire future?
That’s why early training is so important. Just like children, puppies are soaking up the world around them—learning what’s safe, what’s scary, and how to interact with people and other animals.

Why Early Training Matters:

✅ Socialization – Builds confidence through exposure to people, places, and situations.
✅ Positive Reinforcement – Strengthens trust and teaches skills through encouragement and rewards.
✅ Adaptability – Prepares dogs to stay calm and focused in new or busy environments.
✅ Resilience – Develops emotional strength to handle setbacks and challenges.
✅ Strong Foundation – Sets the stage for advanced tasks and smooth progression later on.

At SDV, we begin training our pups as young as 8 weeks old—building the foundation for a future filled with purpose. 💙

👉 What’s the first thing YOU taught your dog as a puppy? Tell us in the comments!

Pictured: (Left) Puppy Raisers Marty with SDV Nitro, and (Right) Puppy Raiser Mary with SDV Penny during a puppy class at the grocery store.

08/10/2025

🐶 This week at SDV—it’s all about the puppies!

We’re taking you behind the scenes to show how early training lays the groundwork for future service dog success.

👉 Get a glimpse inside puppy class
🐾 SDV Carl Pupdate
🎙️ And hear from Trainer Linda about her favorite part: watching these pups grow into their potential
Don’t miss it—there’s a lot to learn (and a lot of cuteness, too)!

08/05/2025

Welcome, Mary!
Mary brings a background in IT and a heart for our mission—she’s a former SDV puppy raiser and now joins our staff team! She’s already making a big impact by helping develop our new online training database, stepping into the role of volunteer liaison, and supporting many behind-the-scenes tasks.

When asked why she wanted to work at SDV, Mary shared:
“I’ve seen firsthand what a life-changing difference service dogs can make for people. I’m thrilled to have found a place where I can use my professional background to contribute to fostering more of these types of partnerships.”

At SDV, we’re a small but mighty team of just five—so we all wear many hats! We’re so excited to welcome Mary in this new role. 💛🐾

08/04/2025

🐾 25 Years of Life-Changing Partnerships 🐾
In 2000, Service Dogs of Virginia was founded with a simple but powerful belief: that a well-trained dog could change someone’s life.
Today, we’ve placed dozens of service dogs across Virginia—helping children with autism, veterans with PTSD, individuals with mobility challenges, and more.
Swipe through to see where we started, how far we’ve come, and where we’re going next.
You make this possible. Thank you for being part of our journey.

08/03/2025

🌍💙 Happy International Day of Friendship! 💙🌍

After a long week of training, SDV Stratos and SDV Penny relax together in the back of the car—quiet, calm, and ready for what’s next. 🐾

At Service Dogs of Virginia, building trust and strong bonds is key to preparing our dogs to support their future partners.

Tag someone who’s been a steady friend in your life. 👇

07/31/2025

Come see us tomorrow at the Albemarle County Fair James Monroe's Highland.

Stop by the Service Dogs of Virginia table to:
🐾 Learn about our mission
🎁 Spin the Wheel for a Chance to Win a Prize!
👧🧒 And for the kids — complete our activity booklet to become an official SDV Junior Trainer!
We can’t wait to see you there! 💙🐶

07/28/2025

SDV Finn Is Exactly Where He Belongs🐾💙 It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a year since SDV Finn joined his family to become an Autism Service Dog.

Since that day, Finn and JJ have become an inseparable pair. Finn is more than just a dog—he’s JJ’s steady presence when the world feels overwhelming, his calming force when emotions run high.

JJ’s mom recently shared this touching moment:

“In Target today, JJ was having a difficult time regulating his emotions. He said he needed a break, so he sat on the floor. I asked if he wanted Finn to lay on his lap and he said yes. Within 15 seconds, JJ was able to regulate past his hard feelings and was giggling with Finn. It was heartwarming to watch!”

This is what an Autism Service Dog can do—create comfort, connection, and calm in the everyday moments that matter most.

💙 Help us continue to make life-changing matches like JJ and Finn.
Visit www.servicedogsva.org/ways-to-give to learn how!

Address

Charlottesville, VA

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 5pm
Tuesday	10am - 5pm
Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm

Website

http://www.servicedogsva.org/

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