Golden Heart Service Dogs

A fun training day in Eureka Springs!

Today we made the drive to beautiful Eureka Springs, Arkansas to drop Winston off for his next sleepover with his future handler, Tammy! 💙

Tammy has been part of our program for several months now, and this is Winston’s second stay with her. These sleepovers are such an important part of the pairing process because they allow the team to continue building trust, confidence, and a real working partnership. Over the next couple of weeks, they’ll be practicing the commands and homework we’ve assigned, working through real-life situations together, and most importantly, strengthening their bond.

One of our other trainers joined us for the trip, so we turned it into a great training opportunity for Teddy and Theo as well! We took them to a completely different environment where they experienced new sights, sounds, and textures. They walked across pebbles and large rocks, explored around the lake, listened to the moving water, and practiced staying calm and focused despite all the exciting distractions. Every new environment helps build confidence and prepares them to work reliably no matter where life takes them.

Now we’re headed back home, proud of all three of these amazing dogs. We can’t wait to hear all about Winston and Tammy’s progress together and see how much they’ve grown when we pick him up in a couple of weeks.

These moments may look like simple outings, but they’re the building blocks of dependable service dogs and successful partnerships.

- GLDNSD

Winston gets dropped off for his next sleepover with his future handler Tammy!!

Teddy goes to Arkansas

Theo goes to Arkansas!

Honey goes on a field trip!!!

Teddy and Theo go to the vet to get their next round of vaccinations and preventatives 🤩

Sweet Lily is doing so amazing working with her mother and becoming the best service dog possible for her future forever person.

Lily is in training to become her mobility and psychiatric support service dog.

She has been in training since she was eight weeks old and she is now six months old. It’s so crazy how time flies!

This evening her trainer made some homemade birthday cakes for Oakley to celebrate her first birthday with her friends tomorrow we know her birthday has passed, but she still deserves to be fully celebrated!!!🎉

Oh my gosh, I don’t even know where to start. I’m getting emotional just writing this.

A year ago, you were born, and just eight weeks later I got to pick you up and begin the journey of raising and training you to become the best service dog possible for your sweet boy.

Over this past year, I’ve had the privilege of watching you grow into the most beautiful dog with the biggest heart. And your family? They are genuinely some of the kindest, most loyal people I know. Their hearts are almost as big as yours.

Sweet Oakley, you have been one of my greatest accomplishments and one of my dearest friends. I cannot even begin to express how thankful I am for you. You are so smart, so talented, and everyone always says you’re the cutest thing—and honestly, I can’t disagree. You’re pretty darn cute.

It’s been so incredible getting to walk alongside you through every stage of life. From an innocent puppy, to that temperamental toddler phase, to the stubborn teenage months where you tested everyone, and now into an amazing young adult dog who has already accomplished so much and knows so much.

I love you, love you, love you, sweet Oakley.

Please know that all of us here care about you so deeply, and we are beyond grateful for your wonderful family. They have been absolutely amazing, and it has been an honor to be part of your journey.

Happy 1st Birthday, Oakley. 🎂

Here’s to many more years of adventures, belly rubs, and changing lives.

Your trainer Nicole 🐾🖤

All of the pup got dressed up worked inside, because we had storms all day yesterday🙈🌦️