Category Archives: Texas

The Veteran Owned Business Project

Service Dog Express, LLC is proud to now be an approved member of this wonderful organization that features other business that are owned by veterans! The Veteran Owned Business Project is a comprehensive, user friendly portal/directory of small, medium and large businesses owned by veterans, veteran spouses, active duty military, reservists and service disabled veterans released on Veteran’s Day 2008. Now Americans in the United States and abroad have an easy way to proudly search for products and services that are unique in the fact that they are all made by, sold by or serviced by United States military veterans!

Veteran & Veteran Spouse Owned Business Directory, Get your free listing, now!

Lucia and Lily at Home Depot

YAY for our trainer in Austin! She’s been working hard! Here is her latest update on dear, wonderful Lucia, who suffers from PTSD, and her SDIT, Lily!

“Hi Laurie!

I had a GREAT session with Lucia and Lily at Home Depot tonight! We wanted to work on Lily heeling with distractions around and Lily did AWESOME job! I also had Lucia work on her loose-leash walking and no leash – just walking by her side! Lily did so great, a few times she would forge ahead but Lucia would call her back into a close and continue heeling! Even without the leash!!! She has great recalls now! I am so proud of them!!!

We also worked on sit/stays and down/stays as well and Lily can hold them for about eight feet and then breaks them but it’s great progress!!!


They are getting real close to taking the PAT! This was ONE of the BEST sessions we have had so far!

YAY FOR LUCIA AND LILY!!! I SIMPLY LOVE THESE TWO! LUCIA IS ONE OF THE SWEETEST PEOPLE I’VE EVER KNOWN, AND HER WORK WITH LILY IS SO CONSISTENT IT ALMOST BRINGS ME TO TEARS!! AGAIN, WONDERFUL TRAINING FROM OUR AUSTIN TRAINER!!!

Lee and Hagger

From our trainer in Austin, who is working with wonderful client, Lee, who suffers from Bipolar Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder and Major Social Anxiety, major hearing loss in the left ear which also causes balance issues, scoliosis, and chronic right shoulder pain – at such a young age! Lee is SO inspirational!

“Hi Laurie,

I just had my third session with Lee and Hagger tonight. They are doing very well Lee wanted to work on Hagger’s possessiveness/resource guarding with dinner and his bone towards their friend Johnny. Hagger gives a little growl anytime Johnny walks by him while he is eating dinner or chewing on his bone. So I worked with Johnny on being in Hagger’s space while eating dinner and had him reinforce Hagger for not growling, positive reinforcement for no reaction. Same thing with his bone as well. I also questioned if it was because Johnny would stand over him and if that was a trigger for his growling, so I told Johnny and Lee to watch if he growls when Johnny sits down at Hagger’s level or only when he stands…..

We also worked on his Hagger’s heeling in the parking lot; by that time, Hagger the Humungous was tired from training. I also give Lee some tips on what to do when Hagger forges ahead. I taught Lee the close position to bring Hagger back to place. His eye contact was good. After talking with Lee and keeping up with his Facebook posts on training, I know they are ready for the PAT in the next couple of sessions. I am so proud of Lee for being committed to the training and Hagger is doing a fine job!”

SO PROUD OF YOU, LEE AND HAGGER! YOUR CONSISTENT WORK, STRONG BOND, AND BELIEF IN THE PROCESS IS PAYING OFF! WONDERFUL TRAINING BY OUR TRAINER IN AUSTIN!!!!

Latest on Tyler and SDIT Destiny

An extremely moving comment from Jo, whose son, Tyler, struggles with epilepsy and has SDIT Destiny, rescued and trained by Cherry Jenkins with Service Dog Express and In Dog We Trust, and still receiving training up where Tyler lives to help alert to and help with seizures. Jo writes:

epilepsy “Nobody really gets having a child with epilepsy unless they live it too. Watching Tyler swim at this competition today in TWO events is mind blowing. Considering what he has going on in his brain while trying to swim FAST. Fighting constant electrical surges in his brain that confuses his body. Fighting FOUR anti-seizure meds in his system whose jobs are to SLOW his brain down.

So my son may not finish first. He may come in last. Either way, I could never be more proud of him.

And yet still I wonder what WOULD he be capable of doing without all that gunk. I just battle myself to not let my mind go there too often.

Waiting on his two swim events! Proud nervous mom in the stands. Dad is on deck in case of emergency”.

Update – 2nd in his heat for 50 freestyle 30.80!!

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU, TYLER!!!!!

Update on Lucia and SDIT Lily

An update from our trainer in Austin, who is working with Lucia, who suffers from PTSD and anxiety, and her wonderful SDIT, Lily.

“Hi Laurie!

I had another session with Lucia and Lily yesterday. It went alright, but Lucia was having a hard day since she has a tough week emotionally. Thus, we took our session easy. We worked on heeling, using high value treats and worked on close, (training her to pivot into a close position next to Lucia’s leg). Lily is a smart dog and definitely is getting it down. We also worked a little bit on “leave it” with the grass and trees that seem to distract her when Lucia needs her attention.”

I KNOW LUCIA HAS HAD A DIFFICULT WEEK, AS RECENT POSTINGS HAVE INDICATED. SHE HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH MANY DIFFICULT PEOPLE IN PUBLIC. CHIN UP, LUCIA!!! YOUR TRAINER AND LILY WILL MAKE IT ALL COME TOGETHER!