United States Veteran Service Dogs was founded in 2018 by Cody Bellanger
One of the many assets of the dogs we take with us to the field, especially the retrieving breeds, is their eagerness to please us. It would be fair to say that the relationship is more of a team rather than the typical master/dog dynamic.
What makes Labs, Goldens and other retriever breeds excel when hunting also translates over to many other jobs they are given. You’ll find them doing everything from drug and bomb detection to guiding the visually impaired. They’re used in cancer and other disease detection, seizure onset alert caused by diabetes and other conditions, and as therapy, support and service dogs.
Founded in May of 2018 by Cody Bellanger, United States Veterans Service Dogs (USVSD), located in Folsom, trains and provides service dogs to veterans free of charge. They are trained to help with PTSD, anxiety, mobility assistance and even hearing-impaired assistance, such as alerting for a smoke detector going off. USVSD has trained and placed close to 80 dogs since its inception.
Proper training
I got to know Bellanger through mutual contacts in the dog training space and reached out to learn more about what USVSD does and how the dogs are trained and matched with their veteran partners.
“The dogs are mainly British Labs, with occasional Goldens that come from hunting stock,” Bellanger said. “We get them at a year old from breeders and trainers we have relationships with. The purchase contract includes a 30-day period to work with and assess the dog.”
This ensures a high success rate in training as well as when the dog is placed.
“The dogs already have gone through basic obedience when they come to us,” he said. “From there we train the advanced tasks the dog will be asked to do, as well as taking the dog out in public as much as possible.”
Bellanger and his wife, Nicole, do most of this. Nicole also works with the veterans who apply for a dog to determine not only what the veteran desires, but what is needed in the dog so it can be trained to match the teams together.
“When the dog is through training, its veteran partner is brought in so the two can bond together and the veteran can learn how to “handle” the dog so it will do what it was trained for,” she said.
As with any type of working dog, training never stops, and this is emphasized heavily.
Since so much of the dog’s time will be spent around people and out in public, the dogs are kept at night and on the weekends with foster families, further enhancing good behavior and socialization.
“Though it depends highly on the dog and what it will be asked to do, formal training takes anywhere from 2-4 months,” Bellanger said.
Making a difference
Steven Cook is a U.S. Army veteran as well as Vice President for Executive Leadership at USVSD. He suffers from PTSD, but “Guppy,” his 4-year-old female black Lab, has been at his side since the two were matched, and the difference she’s made has been monumental.
Cook was very gracious to talk about Guppy and what the organization does.
“When we’re out in public, Guppy can sense any anxiety I might have, and she’ll position herself to give me space,” he said. “She’ll also use pressure therapy such as touching my feet or chest when we’re at home, especially late at night. I really can’t imagine my life without her, and our mission is to help others experience the difference she’s made in my life.”
If you are a veteran, or know of a veteran, who would be interested in USVSD, their website, www.usvsd.org, has a wealth of information. Those wishing to provide support will find a tab to make monetary donations, as well as learn about other ways to help.
The USVSD folks will have a booth at the Louisiana Sportsman Show in Laplace on March 20-22. Please stop by if you’re attending. This is an incredible organization providing amazing dogs to amazing people who have earned our respect and gratitude.
