It’s this right here. The connection. The time you spend just being with your dog. These moments aren’t separate from training—they’re a huge part of it. When you take time in between sessions to get on the floor, love on your dog, play a little, or just give them your full attention… you’re building something way bigger than a behavior. You’re building trust, you’re building engagement. You’re becoming their favorite place to be! And when you pair that kind of connection with your actual training sessions—whether you’re working on desensitization, obedience, or a specific task—it changes everything. Training becomes more rewarding. More valuable. More fun for the dog. Because now it’s not just “do the thing.” It’s: 👉 do the thing 👉 get rewarded 👉 AND spend time with your favorite person That combination is what makes dogs love the training game! So yes… the bonding moments? They’re the best part for us. But they matter just as much—if not more—for them. 💛🐾

One of our recently graduated ASA Service Dog teams put this video together as part of a feature with WebMD!! 🐕‍🦺 Nurse Joy ✨ the precious poodle in pink showing off her service dog tasks, public access skills, and the incredible bond this team has developed through consistent communication and training 🐾 Thank you for sharing your adventures, Stepho and Joy Joy!!

When you’re out and about with your service dog — doctor’s appointments, travel days, long outings — it’s always a good idea to have a doggy go bag ready to roll. Think of it like a diaper bag… but for your very important working dog!! Here’s what Saffy’s go bag looks like as a great example: 🦴 Comfort + Entertainment • Chew bone • Non-squeaky toy • Mat for your dog to settle on • Dog Booties 💧 Food + Water • Water jug • Drinking bowl • Extra treats • Food training pouch 🧻 Cleanup + “Just In Case” Supplies • Poop bags 💩 • Pee pad • Paper towels • Gloves • Towels • Wet wipes • Hand sanitizer • Extra Leash 🔌 Extras • Chargers Julie and Saffy even keep two versions of the bag: 👜 Small bag → quick outings like doctor appointments 🎒 Big bag → longer adventures when you want all the essentials Because when you’re prepared like this… you’re basically ready for anything. And trust me — if your dog is working somewhere boring for a while, having a chew or something to occupy them can make a huge difference. 💬 Now I’m curious… What do you keep in your dog’s go bag? Did we miss anything? Huge thank you to @Julie Kelley and Saffy for showing us Saffy’s diaper bag setup! 🐾✨

We’re so excited to officially share something we’ve been working on behind the scenes… In addition to our highly trained service dogs, ASA Service Dogs is now offering fully trained Service Goats. Yes—you read that right. Service goats bring a unique set of skills to the table, including: • Natural terrain stability and balance support 🏔️ • Gentle grounding presence • Highly motivated food-driven task work (seriously… very motivated) • And of course… unmatched personality Our team has been carefully developing this program to expand accessibility and provide alternative options for individuals who may benefit from a different type of working partner. We are currently accepting a limited number of applications for our first group of Service Goat placements. More details coming soon! … APRIL FOOLS 😂🐐 We’ll stick to the dogs—but you’ve gotta admit… a service goat would be pretty great 😆

Wishing you a day filled with joy, love, and some quality time with your pups! What are you and/or your doggos up to today?! 🐾