Where Our Dogs Come From

Our dogs fetch amazing things

These are no ordinary dogs; our dogs bring freedom, independence and peace of mind to their human half, making them extraordinary canine partners!

Dogs with a Purpose

Can Do Canines provides highly skilled assistance dogs to qualifying individuals free of charge. Successful dog and handler teams rely on finding the right dog for the job. This is why the majority of our dogs are bred, raised and trained by us! Through careful review of genetics, appropriate exposures and expert education we are able to create dogs ideal for work. Working dogs are smarter, healthier and more willing to please their partners.

Assistance dogs not only need to love work, they also need to love people, be able to cope well with change and must be suited to the average lifestyle of our clients. For these reasons, we choose to breed primarily Labrador Retrievers. We also use Golden Retrievers in our breeding program and occasionally breed hybrid litters of Labradors and Golden Retrievers.

In order to keep our breeding lines genetically diverse, Can Do Canines works with top breeders in North America to obtain outside Labrador Retrievers to add to our program. We are also a member of the Assistance Dog International Breeding Cooperative, which shares genetics and puppies between member organizations.

Pups from Other Paths

A small number of other dog varieties in our program are donated by generous breeders. These dogs must meet the same health and temperament criteria as our own dogs to help ensure that they will be a good fit for the assistance dog life.

True to our roots, we also add shelter or rescue dogs to our training program. While the success rate with these dogs may not be as high, we are always on the lookout for prospective pups in need of a second chance!