Are you or a loved one in need of a service dog but already have a cherished canine companion? Are you seeking a specific breed or a deeper connection with your service dog? If so, our boarding and training program at Medical Mutts is the answer you’ve been looking for. In this blog, we’ll explore the immense value of boarding and training your dog at our facility, where expert trainers will equip your furry friend with the skills to change your life. This option is particularly ideal when time is limited or you lack the ability to train your dog yourself. The Life-Changing Value of a Servic ..read more

Are you in search of a dedicated and reliable service dog but are daunted by the long wait times and hefty expenses associated with traditional training programs? If so, Medical Mutts might just have the perfect solution for you. Our online group classes offer a cost-effective and rewarding path to transform your beloved canine companion into a fully trained service dog, all while strengthening your bond. In this blog, we’ll delve into the advantages of learning how to train your own service dog, with insights from those who have benefited from the Medical Mutts experience. Comprehensive Cur ..read more

Our 2nd Annual Purse Bingo is back and better than ever! Grab your friends and reserve your spot for Medical Mutt’s 2023 Dogs and Designers Purse Bingo! Each Bingo winner will take home a designer purse by famous names such as Coach, Michael Kors, and Kate Spade. If there is a tie, second place will get a piece of designer jewelry. The evening will include Purse Bingo, raffle prizes, 50-50 Drawing, silent auction, door prizes, dinner, drinks, costume contest, service dogs, and Fun! Fun! Fun! The doors will open at 5:30 pm. Games begin at 6:30 pm. General Admission Tickets cost $50 per perso ..read more

As the prevalence of mental health conditions continues to rise, so does the demand for mental health treatments. One of the latest forms of therapy is the use of psychiatric service dogs. These trained animals are known to help individuals with a variety of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Here’s what research has found: Helps to reduce stress and anxiety levels According to a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health, spending time with dogs can reduce stress levels and increase feelings of happiness. In this study, 24 college students were subje ..read more

If you love dogs and have a big heart for rescue dogs and people with disabilities, we have volunteer opportunities where you could make a real difference! Medical Mutts is seeking volunteers to grow our team and become fosters (Mutt Mentors) or help with enrichment, grooming, training, transport, events, and more! No experience is necessary and expert training is provided. Join us for our next volunteer orientation Saturday, January 21st at 10am at our facility located at 6120 Allisonville Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46220 Sign up at: https://medicalmutts.org/ways-to-help/volunteer-signup/ The post ..read more

Since we help owners train their own dogs as service dogs, the question of how to pick the right dog comes up daily at our training facility. This is not a job for all dogs – it’s a job for the very few who come with the right temperament. The dogs that do the best love to go everywhere with their person. For them, being a service dog is the best life they could ever wish for. When we’re training a service dog, we have two goals in mind: Task training: teaching the dog all the tasks needed to help with a particular disability. Public Access: teaching the dog how to behave in a public setting ..read more

As we round the corner into the new year, we look back on all of the many trials and triumphs of 2021. We are happy to release to you our Annual Report with a grateful heart for the opportunity to do this important work. The pandemic has presented organizations worldwide with unique challenges. As a nonprofit focused on helping people, Medical Mutts has certainly not been exempt from those challenges yet we have adapted and evolved in a way that has not seen us deviate from our mission a single inch. For that we are tremendously proud. We could have not done it without the unrelenting support ..read more

In my early days as a service dog trainer, the only way to get a service dog was to apply to an organization and wait for your turn to get a dog. Today there are many more options, from getting a fully trained service dog to getting your pet dog trained for you or learning how to do it yourself. But before you consider any one of those options, it’s important to get some insight into the dog training industry and understand how to choose an organization or a trainer to work with. This is an unregulated industry. In other words, anyone could start an organization or claim to train service dogs ..read more

We read stories all the time in the media about how service dogs change lives. Over the years, I’ve experienced first-hand how a dog can dramatically improve the quality of life of those who struggle with a disability. Not only because dogs can help in many ways, but also because they’re so good at telling when we’re having a hard time and need a friend. However, even with the best of intentions, things don’t always work out as expected and sometimes, plans have to change. Oftentimes, the dream of having a service dog is met with a harsh reality: getting a service dog is work. It’s not easy, a ..read more