Business Details
Trusted Guide and Service Dogs in Washington, KS
KSDS Assistance Dogs is a fully-accredited non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing independence for individuals with disabilities through professionally trained guide, service, and facility dogs. Founded with a mission to create life-changing partnerships, we provide comprehensive training programs on our Washington, Kansas campus, offering two-week team training sessions at no cost to recipients. Our dogs are meticulously trained to navigate obstacles, assist with mobility, and support handlers in professional environments. Accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI), we maintain transparent financial practices and operate under 501(c)(3) status.Our programs include guide dogs for the visually impaired, service dogs for physical disabilities, facility dogs for therapeutic settings, and career change dogs for alternative roles. We also manage a puppy raising network, breeding program, and prison partnership initiatives to ensure a steady supply of qualified dogs. With over six decades of experience, we combine rigorous training methodologies with ongoing support to ensure lasting, proficient working partnerships for life-changing impact.
Services
Guide Dogs
Service Dogs
Facility Dogs
Career Change Dogs
Puppy Raising Program
Breeding Program
Prison Program
Highlights and features
- We are ADI-accredited with 60+ years of experience placing 667+ dogs
- Our 501(c)(3) non-profit status ensures transparent, mission-driven operations
- We provide free two-week training programs with room/board included
- Our dogs undergo rigorous selection and specialized task training
- We maintain a nationwide puppy raising and breeding network
Associations and certifications
- Assistance Dogs International
Services
Guide Dogs
Our guide dogs provide life-changing mobility solutions for individuals with visual impairments. Through specialized training, these dogs master obstacle navigation, curb detection, and safe street crossings while responding to directional commands. Recipients receive two weeks of intensive training at our Kansas campus to develop essential handling skills. Each partnership includes ongoing support to ensure long-term success in daily navigation tasks.
Service Dogs
We train service dogs to assist individuals with physical disabilities through task-specific skills. These dogs help with object retrieval, door opening, and balance support while adapting to unique handler requirements. Our program includes comprehensive public access training and personalized instruction during on-campus sessions. Each placement comes with follow-up support to maintain effective working partnerships in various environments.
Facility Dogs
Our facility dogs provide specialized support in therapeutic and educational settings. These highly trained dogs assist professionals in delivering services for children with disabilities, veterans with PTSD, and patients in medical facilities. We provide handler training programs and ongoing support to maintain proper working conditions while ensuring the dogs' well-being through regular health assessments.
Puppy Raising Program
This community-based program trains future assistance dogs through volunteer puppy raisers. Participants receive structured guidance for basic obedience and socialization during the dogs' critical developmental months. Our program includes regular evaluations and training support while preparing dogs for advanced professional instruction. Volunteers play crucial roles in identifying potential career paths for each dog.
Breeding Program
Our selective breeding program develops dogs with optimal temperament and health for assistance work. We maintain detailed genetic records and conduct health screenings to ensure puppies meet rigorous working standards. The program focuses on producing dogs with stable temperaments, physical soundness, and trainability while collaborating with veterinary specialists for ongoing health monitoring.
Questions
How do I apply for a guide dog?
Contact our Client Services at 785-325-2256 ext 100 to start the application process, which includes eligibility verification and a two-week training commitment.
What training programs do you offer?
We provide two-week on-campus training sessions for all dog recipients, including room and board at no cost during the training period.
How are dogs selected for training?
Puppies undergo temperament evaluations and health screenings before entering training programs, with regular assessments throughout their development process.
Can I volunteer as a puppy raiser?
Yes, our Puppy Raiser Application is available online for individuals willing to help socialize and train future assistance dogs.
Are your services free?
Our dogs and training programs are provided at no cost to recipients through generous donations and fundraising efforts.
How can I support your mission?
Support options include direct donations, naming opportunities, wish list item contributions, and participation in our volunteer programs.
Videos
Reviews (4)
K. R.
Mar 27, 2022
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I have been a volunteer with KSDS for 6 years, and enjoy every minute of it. They breed their best dogs to get excellent assistance dog candidates and support their volunteer puppy raisers very well. Great training staff develops the dog into the best dog they can be and match them to people that need them.
Jeffery Olson
Jun 30, 2020
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A wonderful place to support and play with dogs that are being trained to help those in need. The staff is super friendly too
Terri Strom
Feb 28, 2019
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Woohoo! If you are disabled or work with the public and need either a service dog or a facility dog, this is the place to connect with. And, folks they can also use as much support as everyone can give. Support not just with money, but also with the day to day essentials. These dogs mean a life of difficulty or a life of more normality.
Martha J.
Dec 05, 2014
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If you are an advocate of animals or a dog lover, this may interest you. From breeding to training dog s to become facility dogs that help the physically impaired, th helping teachers, doctors, therapists, very informations, a must see, demonstration of dogs in training