🐾 Paws with Purpose Coaching
Train Your Own Service Dog
Without the Guesswork, the Wasted Months,
or the Overwhelm
Owner-trainer coaching built by a handler with a disability, for handlers with disabilities. Real guidance, real tasks, real public access, at your pace, for your life.
“The right team makes all the difference.”
Sound familiar?
Training a Service Dog Is Hard Enough
Without Doing It Alone
If you’re trying to owner-train a service dog with a disability, you already know the pain points no one talks about.
Generic advice that doesn’t fit your life. Most training resources are written for able-bodied handlers with unlimited time and energy. That’s not you.
No idea if you’re doing it right. You’re training in your living room, hoping it transfers to public, and finding out the hard way when it doesn’t.
Confused about your legal rights. What can a business ask you? What tasks actually qualify? What does “trained” actually mean under the ADA?
High-symptom days derail everything. Training on a good day is one thing. Maintaining consistency when your disability is actively affecting you is another.
Program dogs are out of reach for most people. Training one costs an organization roughly $50,000, from breeding all the way through graduation and placement. I know the number because I helped raise and train those dogs. Nonprofits absorb that cost and place their dogs free, which is exactly why waitlists run for years and most applicants are turned away. Programs that do charge often ask $15,000 to $50,000.
Information overload with no clear path. YouTube videos, Facebook groups, conflicting advice, and still no roadmap from start to graduation.
There’s a better way
What If You Had a Roadmap, Built By Someone Who Has Lived Every Step?
I’m Brenda Renou. I’ve spent 19 years working with service dogs: 7 years raising and training for two organizations, and 16 years as an owner-trainer with dogs of my own. I have a breathing condition, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity that triggers severe asthma and an overactive immune response, and I’ve navigated the MVD, the airport, the crowded waiting room, and the medical office with a service dog at my side and a disability that most people couldn’t see.
I know what it’s like to train on a hard symptom day. I know what it’s like to get pushback at a store entrance. I know what it feels like to wonder whether your dog is actually ready, or whether you’re just fooling yourself.
Paws with Purpose Coaching is the structured, complete, disability-aware program I wished existed when I started. Every lesson accounts for the reality of training with a chronic health condition. Every module is built from professional training standards, and from 19 years of lived experience.
What you’ll gain
Everything You Need to Build
a Reliable Working Team
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A clear roadmap from Day 1 to graduation Eight complete modules cover every stage: dog selection, foundation skills, task training, public access, troubleshooting, handler skills, testing, and daily working life. No gaps. No guessing what comes next.
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Training designed for YOUR disability Every lesson includes disability-specific adaptations for handlers with mobility limitations, fatigue conditions, PTSD, cognitive load challenges, and variable-symptom days. Because training has to work on your hard days, not just your good ones.
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Complete confidence in your legal rights Know exactly what the ADA requires, what two questions businesses can ask, how to handle access challenges calmly, what qualifies as a service dog task, and how to navigate air travel, housing, and the workplace, all in plain language.
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Real public access readiness, not just home obedience The eight-stage public access progression takes your dog from your living room to the grocery store, the airport, and the medical office, with a systematic, measurable process at every step.
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Task training built for your specific disability Mobility tasks, medical alert, hearing assistance, psychiatric tasks, Autism assistance, with step-by-step training protocols, safety standards, and task-qualification guidance tailored to your actual needs.
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Community + coaching so you’re never doing this alone An active community of handlers who understand what you’re navigating, and depending on your tier, direct coaching calls with Brenda for video review, troubleshooting, and personalized guidance.
The curriculum
8 Modules. 50 Lessons.
One Complete Program.
Each module builds on the last, from assessing your dog’s suitability all the way through the working life of a graduated, working team. All tiers include 49 lessons. The 50th, a Foundation Skills Video Review in Module 2, is available to Guided and Intensive members.
Module 1
🔍 Is Your Dog the Right Fit?
The honest assessment. Seven essential qualities, the 12-station temperament test, health requirements, and what to do if your dog isn’t suitable.
Module 2
🦮 Foundation Skills & Obedience
How dogs learn, the core seven commands, loose-leash walking, socialization, session structure, and your personalized foundation skills progress tracker.
Module 3
🚪 Public Access Training
The ADA, FHA, and ACAA explained in plain language. Responding to access challenges. The eight-stage public access progression. Readiness standards.
Module 4
🎯 Task Training
What qualifies as a task, your task inventory, mobility tasks, medical alert, psychiatric tasks, hearing assistance, and proofing tasks in public.
Module 5
🔧 Troubleshooting
The diagnostic framework for any problem. Common behavior issues, fear and phobias, emotional health, training plateaus, and professional referrals.
Module 6
🎓 Handler Skills
Marker timing, reinforcement delivery, body language, criteria setting, session structure, and distraction management: the six skills that make training work.
Module 7
📋 Testing & Evaluation
The CGC test (all 10 stations), test day preparation, the Public Access Test, program graduation requirements, and what comes after.
Module 8
💙 Life with Your Service Dog
Daily care, working equipment, home safety, community navigation, travel, and the full arc of the partnership, including retirement and succession planning.
Every lesson includes a video, a complete written lesson, a quiz, and supporting resources, all part of your ongoing coaching program, alongside community support from Brenda and fellow handlers. Work through the curriculum on your schedule, at your pace, in whatever order your health allows, with real people to turn to along the way.
Built for you
This Program Accounts for What
Other Programs Pretend Don’t Exist
Every module includes specific guidance for handlers dealing with:
Your coach
Brenda Renou
Why this program exists
I Couldn’t Find
What You Needed.
So I Built It.
When I started as an owner-trainer, the resources available to me assumed I was a healthy, able-bodied person with unlimited time and consistent energy. They didn’t account for the days when training had to happen from the couch. They didn’t address what to do when standing in a line wasn’t an option. They didn’t tell me how to build a task plan for a condition that might progress. No one told me what task training actually involved, step by step. No one told me a breathing disability could be mitigated by a trained service dog, or that training would mean purposely exposing myself to the exact things that trigger my condition. That information didn’t exist anywhere I looked.
I learned everything the hard way, through years of training, advocacy work, and living as a handler with a disability. Paws with Purpose Coaching is the program I built from that experience: 7 years raising and training service dogs for two organizations, including two program dogs who lived in my home through their entire training, and 16 years as an owner-trainer with three dogs of my own.
My students aren’t just learning to train a dog. They’re building a partnership that will change what’s possible in their lives. That matters to me personally, because I know exactly what this team can mean.
Choose your path
Three Tiers. One Complete Curriculum.
The Level of Support That Fits Your Journey.
Every tier is a complete coaching program: full access to all 8 modules and 49 lessons, quizzes, supporting resources, and ongoing community support from Brenda and fellow handlers. The tiers differ in how much direct 1:1 coaching you receive, and every tier can upgrade to more support as your journey continues.
Tier 1
Foundation
A complete coaching program you work through at your own pace: full curriculum, community support, and guidance from Brenda and fellow handlers, with the option to upgrade to direct 1:1 coaching anytime.
- Full coaching curriculum: 8 modules, 49 lessons
- Video lessons + written coaching content
- Quizzes + supporting resources
- Interactive tools (progress trackers, PA readiness rubric, SDIT state reference)
- Community support from Brenda and fellow handlers
- Self-directed graduation pathway: you assemble your own milestone packet from your CGC certificate, progress tracker, training logs, and task descriptions
- Upgrade to direct 1:1 coaching anytime
- Lifetime access
- Best for: self-directed owner-trainers who want a comprehensive, structured curriculum on their own timeline
Tier 2
Guided
The full curriculum plus bi-monthly coaching calls with Brenda, video review feedback, and personalized training guidance throughout your program.
- Everything in Foundation
- Bi-monthly group coaching calls with Brenda
- Lesson 50 unlocked: the Module 2 Foundation Video Review lesson
- 1 video review per month (2 to 3 minute clips, 6 total) with written feedback within 3 to 5 business days
- Community support (3 to 5 business day response)
- Formally evaluated graduation: Brenda reviews your video submissions, training logs, and a recorded public access outing against program competency standards. Your graduation packet includes her written assessment of your handler skills, your dog’s skills, your public access performance, and a next-steps training plan
- 6-month access window (lifetime after)
- Best for: owner-trainers who want accountability and a coach who can see what they’re working with
Tier 3
Intensive
Maximum support for handlers who want direct, personalized coaching from day one. Six 1:1 calls with Brenda, scheduled biweekly or as your journey needs. Up to 3 video reviews per month. Formal PA readiness review and individualized task training roadmap. Limited to 10 clients at any one time.
- Everything in Guided
- Six 1:1 calls with Brenda, scheduled biweekly or as your journey needs
- Full access to the bi-monthly group coaching calls
- Up to 3 video reviews per month (5 minutes or less each) with written feedback within 3 to 5 business days
- Formal Public Access Readiness Review
- Individualized task training roadmap
- Priority async support (within 48 hours, business hours Mon through Fri)
- 5-month intensive window (lifetime after)
- Full graduation experience: live Public Access Test conducted by Brenda, handler and dog competency evaluation built from five months of direct coaching, and a final 1:1 coaching call covering your strengths, development areas, and next-steps plan. The most comprehensive graduation documentation this program offers
- Limited to 10 clients at any one time. If I’m at capacity you can start in Guided and upgrade the moment a spot opens
- Best for: handlers with complex needs or high-demand task lists who want a dedicated partner through the toughest stretch of the journey
🔄 You Can Always Upgrade for Just the Difference
Not sure which level of support you need right now? Start where it feels right. Every tier upgrades to a higher one at any time, even after your program ends, for just the difference in list price. You never pay twice for what you’ve already invested in. To upgrade at any time, email pawswithpurposecoaching@aol.com and Brenda will send you your upgrade link.
Enrolled during a limited-time promotion? Your savings stay with you. You upgrade at the same list-price difference as everyone else. Upgrading to Intensive starts a fresh 5-month program from your upgrade date, and any time you already spent in Guided is a bonus, not deducted. Upgrades to Intensive are subject to available space (capped at 10 clients). Email Brenda to join the waiting list.
💬 Not sure which tier is right for you? Book a free 15-minute consult →
Military & First Responder Pricing
You showed up for the public’s safety. This is my way of showing up for you.
If you served, every tier is 25% off. Always.
| Tier | Standard | Your Price |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | $798 | $599 |
| Guided | $1,998 | $1,499 |
| Intensive | $3,998 | $2,999 |
Who qualifies: Active duty military and veterans of any branch, and front line first responders (police, fire, EMS), whether currently serving, retired, or no longer working in the field due to disability. Proof of current or prior service is required, such as a military ID, DD-214, department ID, retiree credentials, or similar documentation.
How it works:
- Email pawswithpurposecoaching@aol.com with the subject line “Service Discount” and a photo of your documentation. Feel free to black out any ID numbers. I only need to see your name and the service affiliation.
- Once verified, I’ll send you a private enrollment link at your price, and I’ll delete your documentation right after.
- Enroll through your link. Your service pricing follows the same upgrade rule as every enrollment: upgrade anytime for the difference in list price, and your savings stay with you.
Questions
You’re Probably Wondering… 🤔
❓ Do I need to already have a dog to enroll?
No. Module 1 covers exactly how to assess whether your current dog is suitable, and what to look for if you’re still selecting a dog. Many students enroll before or during dog selection.
❓ My disability affects my energy and consistency. Can I still succeed?
Yes. This program was specifically designed for that reality. Every module includes a hard-day training template and guidance for variable-symptom conditions. The philosophy of this program measures progress across months, not individual sessions. You don’t need to be able to train every day. You need a plan that works on the days you can.
❓ Will this program certify my dog as a service dog?
The ADA does not require service dog certification. There is no federal certification required by law. This program builds you toward graduation from a rigorous, documented training program. Your graduation packet is your record of a legitimate, professional-standard training process. That’s more meaningful than any online certificate sold for a fee.
❓ I’m training a dog for PTSD. Is this program right for me?
Absolutely. Module 4 Lesson 5 covers psychiatric and non-physical tasks in depth, including PTSD for military veterans, first responders, and civilian survivors. Module 7 covers accommodation requests for evaluators. The program understands that PTSD is a line of duty injury, not a character flaw, and treats it accordingly.
❓ What if my dog washes out during training?
Wash-out guidance is built into the program from Lesson 1. If your dog shows signs that they’re not the right fit, I’ll help you honestly assess what’s happening and talk through your options, including how to find and assess a new candidate. For health-related concerns, your veterinarian is the right person to guide next steps and any specialist referrals. You’re never left without a clear path forward.
❓ How long does the program take to complete?
Realistically, training a service dog from selection through graduation takes 18–24 months of consistent work. The curriculum is self-paced. You access all 8 modules from day one and work through them as your training progresses. Some handlers move faster; handlers with more complex disabilities or higher-demand task lists may take longer. Progress, not pace, is what matters.
❓ I live outside Arizona. Is this program still relevant?
Yes. Federal ADA law applies everywhere in the United States. The program includes a 50-state SDIT reference chart, guidance for interstate travel, and all content is written for federal standards. Arizona-specific content (like the hot pavement guidance) is labeled as such. The rest applies to your team wherever you are.
Your Dog Is Ready to Become
Your Most Reliable Partner. 🐾
You’ve been navigating your disability, your daily life, and the world, often with less support than you deserve. A well-trained service dog changes that. And you deserve a program that understands what it actually takes to build that team.
Questions? Email us at pawswithpurposecoaching@aol.com