Paws with Purpose Coaching
About me
“The right team makes all the difference.”
Training your own service dog is one of the most rewarding, and most challenging, things you can take on. The process is long, the stakes are high, and finding knowledgeable support along the way can feel nearly impossible. Most resources are either written for professional trainers or come from people who’ve never lived a day as a service dog handler.
That’s why I created Paws with Purpose Coaching. I’ve been where you are. I bring 19 years of hands-on training experience, a working knowledge of disability law, and the kind of real-world perspective that only comes from navigating life as a handler every single day. I built this program because I know what’s missing, and I’m here to fill that gap.
Meet your coach
Brenda Renou
Founder · Handler, trainer & advocate
I’ve been training service dogs since 2007 and have been a service dog handler myself since 2010. My first SD, Belle, was a shepherd mix I rescued as a puppy. We never did find out what else was in her. She was retired early after being attacked by two off-leash dogs, a heartbreaking reminder of how fragile a working partnership can be, and how important it is to know your rights and options when the unexpected happens. Belle passed in November 2025. My second SD, Oren, a black lab, took a very different path. Unlike Belle, who learned organically and with ease, Oren was a genuine training challenge, particularly for the task work required by my breathing disability. He didn’t come naturally to it, and getting him there took real persistence, problem-solving, and patience. That struggle made me a better coach.
In March 2026, Oren was retired, and I’m now training Leo, a shepherd mix I brought home at ten weeks old in November 2025. Leo is tall, full of potential, and not without his own training challenges. Which means I’m not coaching from a place of distant expertise. I’m in the thick of it right now, doing exactly what my clients are doing. When I say I understand where you are, I mean it.
Beyond training, I bring a depth of disability rights knowledge that’s rare in the service dog world. I served as Commissioner and Chair of the City of Surprise Disability Advisory Commission from 2016 to 2018, after interning with that same commission while I was in college. I served on the board of the Foundation for Service Dog Support from 2021 to 2024, including three years as its statutory agent. And I’ve been a community advisor to the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council since 2014, where I moderated their National Service Dog Month webinar in 2021 and their Service Dog webinar in 2022, both featuring speakers from the Arizona Center for Disability Law. I’ve spent years advocating for the rights and dignity of people with disabilities, and I’ll make sure you understand yours.
Why I started this program
Most service dog coaches come from one world, either organization training or personal experience as a handler. I come from both. That combination is rare, and it’s exactly what owner-trainers need.
When you work with me, you get the handler’s perspective, the understanding of what it actually feels like to work a service dog every day, to navigate access challenges, to advocate for yourself in public, to rely on your dog in ways that are deeply personal. You also get the trainer’s eye, 19 years of experience assessing dogs, designing training plans, and troubleshooting whatever comes up along the way.
And you get someone who is living this journey right alongside you. Not a coach who figured it out years ago and now teaches from a safe distance, but someone who is currently training her third service dog, navigating the same uncertainty, the same hard days, and the same hope that her clients are. That’s what makes Paws with Purpose Coaching different.
“I believe that people with disabilities deserve the support and knowledge to build an extraordinary partnership with their service dog, on their own terms, in their own time, with the right people in their corner.”— Brenda Renou, founder
Ready to take the next step?
Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been at this for a while and need a fresh set of eyes, I’d love to talk. Your dog has potential. Let’s find it together.
Work with meLegal Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws and regulations may vary by location and situation. Please consult a qualified attorney or disability rights organization for guidance specific to your circumstances.