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Press Kit

two yellow and two black Lab puppies, sitting in grass, wearing service vests

Overview

Can Do Canines is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities by creating mutually beneficial partnerships with specially trained dogs. Since 1989, Can Do Canines has provided more than 900 assistance dogs to people with disabilities, all free of charge. Can Do Canines trains six types of assistance dogs. Our fully trained dogs are provided to our clients who live with disabilities that involve the following:

  • Mobility challenges
  • Hearing loss or deafness
  • Seizure disorders
  • Type 1 Diabetes complicated by hypoglycemia unawareness, or
  • Childhood autism

Can Do Canines also trains dogs to work in facilities, such as hospitals or with community service providers.

Can Do Canines is one of the largest assistance dog organizations in the country and relies on individual contributions to support its important work. Currently, we place dogs for clients in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. Can Do Canines is one of only two Minnesota-based assistance dog organizations that is an accredited member of Assistance Dogs International.

What is an Assistance Dog?

An assistance dog is one that is trained to perform certain skills to help its handler. Examples may include picking up dropped items, alerting to a smoke alarm, opening a fridge to retrieve a juice bottle, detecting a handler's low blood sugar level, keeping a child from bolting into traffic, and much more.

The terms "assistance dog" and "service dog" are synonymous. As an accredited member of Assistance Dogs International, we prefer the term "assistance dog," as it is more internationally recognized.

An assistance dog is not a therapy dog, an emotional support animal, or a guide dog. These terms have different meanings.

The Journey of a Can Do Canine

Can Do Canines has its own breeding program. Many of our dogs begin their life with us in this way. We also have dogs donated to us--especially those needed for clients with allergies--and receive dogs through a breeding cooperative or through rescue situations.

Hundreds of volunteers help raise and train our dogs in their homes, from whelping newborn puppies to helping them learn basic obedience and social skills.

Others who help develop our dogs are those living in one of eight prisons throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin. Inmates and dogs share cells, and these people give the dogs 24/7 care while receiving weekly, in-person instruction from a Can Do Canines staff member.

Between about 2 and 2 1/2 years of age, dogs move into the Can Do Canines facility for their final training. During this process, a trainer works with them to determine what type of assistance they want to provide. Trainers and Client Service Coordinators work together to make the best possible customized match between each dog and each client handler.

Images for Use

This is just a small sample of the Can Do Canines photo collection. The photos shared here may be used for news, editorial, or educational purposes, but not for advertising or trade. They should in no way violate the rights of any person, organization, corporation, or firm. 

Can Do Canines reserves the right to refuse use deemed either inappropriate to our mission or insensitive to a subject depicted in the photo.

Copyright and credit must be attributed to Can Do Canines each time an image is used.

Woman posing with a white Standard Poodle wearing a red Can Do Canines cape

Team Photo 1
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Man sitting on a couch with a yellow Lab wearing a red Can Do Canines capes sitting in front of him.

Team Photo 2
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Boy walking with hi Autism Assist dog along side his mother

Team Photo 3
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Litter of young lab puppies wearing tiny Can Do Canines capes

Litter of Puppies
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Young golden retriever puppy

Young Puppy in Cape
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yellow Lab wearing a red Can Do Canines cape

Yellow Lab in Cape
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black Poodle, yellow Lab, and black Lab laying down in the grass

Trio of Dogs
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Man using a wheelchair has black Lab press door button

Mobility Skill (Photo credit Liz Banfield)
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yellow Lab wearing a red Can Do Canines cape retrieves a phone

Dog Retrieves Phone
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inmate walking a black Lab wearing a red Can Do Canines cape

Prison Program Dog Walking
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Two inmates getting kisses from a yellow Lab puppy

Inmates with Puppy
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Women inmates posing with a black Lab puppy

Waseca Inmates with Puppy
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In the News

Contact

For questions or to request an interview, contact communication@candocanines.org or 763-200-6151.