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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.

09/04/2025

🎥 The Journey of a Service Dog 🐾

From playful puppy to life-changing partner, every service dog has an incredible journey. Watch as these amazing dogs grow, learn, and train to perform tasks that help people live with independence and confidence.

💙 Every step matters:
Puppy raising & socialization
Professional training for specialized tasks
Matching with the perfect handler

Transforming lives with love, skill, and dedication

At Service Dogs of Virginia, we don’t just train dogs—we create teams that change lives.

👉 Watch the full journey and see what it takes to be a service dog!

09/02/2025

🐾 Words Matter in the Assistance Dog World

Using the right terms isn’t just about being precise—it’s about respect, safety, and understanding. In the world of assistance dogs, terms like “service dog,” “assistance dog,” “guide dog,” and “hearing dog” have specific meanings.

What is a Service Dog?
A service dog is a dog trained to perform tasks that help a person with a disability live more independently. Tasks can include pulling a wheelchair, bracing, retrieving items, alerting to medical crises, or assisting during emergencies.

Why terminology matters:
It ensures the public knows which dogs are working dogs, not pets.
It protects handlers’ legal access rights.
It preserves the integrity of training programs that change lives.

At Service Dogs of Virginia, we believe using the right terms honors the incredible work these dogs do every day. 💙

09/01/2025

🐾 September is National Service Dog Month! 🐾
And at Service Dogs of Virginia, we’re celebrating all month long! 🎉

Here’s how YOU can be part of the celebration:
🐕 Follow Along – Learn what makes service dogs different from other support animals.
📚 Get Informed – Discover public access rights and proper service dog etiquette.
💬 Join the Conversation – Share your questions or experiences in the comments.
❤️ Celebrate With Us – Help spotlight the amazing work of our service dog teams.
🔄 Spread the Word – Share our posts to raise awareness.

These dogs change lives—let’s honor them and the people they serve, together.

08/31/2025

🇺🇸 Happy Labor Day! 🇺🇸
We’ll be closed Monday, September 1 for the holiday and will reopen Tuesday.

Enjoy a safe and relaxing long weekend! 🐾

08/28/2025

This is What Your Support Makes Possible 💛🐾

Airports can be overwhelming—but for a child with autism, they can be too much.

On a recent trip, SDV Client Lucas was on the verge of a meltdown after a long travel day and a delayed flight. But before things escalated, his service dog SDV Tully stepped in.

Thanks to her training and bond with Lucas, Tully calmly positioned herself between him and the crowd, then rested her head in his lap. That simple, grounding connection helped slow his breathing and shift his focus.

Within minutes, Lucas was calm again.
They stayed. They boarded.
No meltdown. No crisis.

People in the terminal were amazed by what they witnessed—but what they didn’t see is you made that moment possible.

Your support trains dogs like Tully.
Your gift gives families like Lucas’s the freedom to live more fully and independently.

👉 Give today at www.servicedogsva.org/donate to help create more moments like this.

Pictured: Lucas and SDV Tulley in the airport

08/26/2025

🐾 Takeover Tuesday!

Hey everyone, it’s me—SDV Stratos! 🎤 I’ve taken over the socials today to show you what a “typical” day looks like for me.

From morning training sessions to afternoon outings (and yes… maybe a snack break or two 🍪), I’m practicing all the skills I’ll need to help a child with autism one day.

💙 Watch the video and come along for the ride! 🐶✨

08/25/2025

🐾 It Takes $40,000 to Change a Life 🐾

That’s how much it costs to raise, train, and place just one service dog. At Service Dogs of Virginia, we never charge our clients for the cost of training—because independence, healing, and hope should never come with a price tag. 💙

Every donation helps bridge that $40,000 journey. Here’s how your gift makes a real impact:
💙 $25 – Training supplies & tasty treats to keep learning fun
🍽 $50 – A month of high-quality food to fuel growth
💉 $100 – Vaccines & medications to keep pups healthy
🦺 $250 – 7 service dog vests for focus & recognition in public
🩺 $500 – Pet insurance to lower ongoing veterinary costs
🏥 $1,000 – Emergency veterinary care when it’s needed most

When many people come together, $25 here, $100 there, piece by piece we reach the $40,000 it takes to prepare each life-changing dog.

💙 Support independence—donate now to fund the training of a future service dog: www.servicedogsva.org/donate

08/23/2025

🎉 We’re thrilled to share that Service Dogs of Virginia has been named Runner-Up for Best of C-Ville in the Social Programming Nonprofit category! 🎉

This recognition means so much because it reflects the impact of our incredible clients and their service dogs. 💙 Every vote cast was a vote of support for the life-changing partnerships that bring independence and confidence.

🐾 Thank you to everyone who voted for us—we couldn’t do this without you, our dedicated supporters, volunteers, and clients. Together, we’re building brighter futures, one service dog at a time!

08/22/2025

🐾 SDV Nouri celebrated her first birthday on July 4th and has officially started training at our facility with our trainers. Since we don’t have a kennel, our advanced dogs live with amazing volunteers who host them on nights and weekends. Each day, the dogs get “dropped off” for training, just like a child going to school.

📚 Since Nouri just began this exciting new chapter, she decided an outing to check out the back-to-school styles was the perfect way to start!

Wishing all students, teachers, and families a wonderful school year ahead! 🍎✏️

08/21/2025

Ever wonder what tools our trainers use to teach these amazing dogs? Here’s a quick look behind the scenes:

1️⃣ The Clicker: This little device marks the exact moment a dog does the right behavior. It tells them, “Yes, that’s it!”

2️⃣ Treats: After the click, trainers reach into their treat bags to reward the dogs with their favorite snacks—because who doesn’t love a tasty motivator? 🍪🐶

3️⃣ Treat Bag: Our trainers keep their treat bags clipped to their belts or worn around their waist—always within easy reach to quickly reward good behavior and keep the dogs motivated.

4️⃣ The Target: That odd-looking stick? It’s a target trainers use to teach dogs to “bump” or touch the target with their nose —a key step in many cues and skills.

5️⃣ Our service dogs never leave home without their vest and leash—it’s their “uniform” and a vital part of their work.

Every tool plays an important role in building focus, confidence, and success on the journey to becoming a service dog.

08/19/2025

This is why we do it. 💛

All the training, time, and care we put into our dogs comes down to one purpose: helping someone living with a disability gain more independence.

That independence looks different for everyone. For a mom of a child with autism, it might mean being able to go to the grocery store alone with her child—without the constant fear of them running off.

Hear from mom Ashley as she shares how her family’s life has changed, and why this work matters so much. 🐾💬

08/18/2025

🐾 Out and About: Advanced Training Adventures! 🐾

When our pups reach advanced training, it’s time to level up! That means tougher public outings and more complex skills—like opening doors, staying focused in crowds, and working through distractions.

But these outings aren’t just for practice—they’re a test. Can the dog still respond to simple cues like sit when the world around them is loud, busy, or full of smells? If not, that’s a sign they might be over threshold—and it tells us what they still need to build confidence.

Nailing a cue at our training center is just the beginning. The real magic happens when they can do it out in the world.

📸 Meet two of our rising stars:
👉 SDV Penny, showing off her “Jump On” skills during a store visit.
👉 SDV Augie, making friends with a cow at the Albemarle County Fair—talk about distractions!

These pups are making amazing progress, and we’re so proud of the work they’re doing.

Stay tuned for more training adventures from our SDV team!

Address

673 Berkmar Court
Charlottesville, VA
22901

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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