WAK-9 Service Dogs

23/07/2025

Public announcement. 📣

Let’s Set the Record Straight About Service Dogs.

I am not a shortcut. I am not a certificate. I am not here to rubber-stamp your dog as a service dog so you can bypass the system.

At WAK-9, our standards don’t just meet the ADA — they surpass them. When my name and my company are attached to a service dog, that dog becomes a reflection of not just my training, but of the entire service dog community. That’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly — and neither should you.

If you’re training with us, you will understand your rights and you will learn the laws that protect and guide you. Because being a service dog handler isn’t just about access — it’s about advocacy, accountability, and integrity.

I hold service dogs to the highest working standard — above protection dogs, above police dogs. Why? Because they must operate in every space, with total control, and provide essential life-saving support while remaining invisible to the public.

Your dog should be capable of passing an obedience rally, AKC obedience certification, or behavior evaluation with distinction. Their task work — whether it’s scent detection, retrieval, interruption, or mobility — should be consistent, reliable, and refined.

If you’re not ready to do the work, to be held to that level of excellence, or to be an advocate for the service dog community — I am not the trainer for you.

This isn’t about convenience. This is about commitment.

— Will O’Daniel
WAK-9 Service Dogs

09/07/2025

Service dog meeting tomorrow, 7/10 at 6:30 PM. Meeting will be available online only.Video call link: https://meet.google.com/nod-syhj-xax

09/07/2025

July Service dog meeting
Thursday, Jul 10 · 6:30–7:30 PM
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: -online only

02/07/2025

🌟 Teamwork in Progress: Aubrey & Buddy 🌟

We’re so proud to see future handler Aubrey coming to work alongside Buddy, our Service Dog in Training 🐾

Their bond is growing beautifully—Buddy is tuning in to Aubrey with minimal need for redirection, which shows both his progress in training and their deepening relationship.

This kind of teamwork is what we love to see in our SDiT program. Clear communication, mutual trust, and consistent structure are the foundation of a reliable service dog team—and these two are already well on their way.

Keep it up, Aubrey & Buddy! 💙

29/06/2025

📍 Heavenly Grounds & Holy Ground ☕️🙏

This morning, Buddy had his very first church experience — and he rocked it like a seasoned pro! From calmly navigating through a busy coffee shop entrance to settling beautifully underfoot during service, Buddy showed off all the hard work that’s gone into his training. 💪🐾

As a service dog in training with WAK-9 Service Dogs, Buddy is learning to stay focused and confident in a variety of public access settings, including higher-distraction environments like churches and cafes. What better place to practice neutrality, patience, and handler focus than a warm, welcoming Sunday space?

Thank you to everyone at the church who greeted us with kindness and support. Experiences like this are crucial in preparing our dogs for the real world.

🐕‍🦺 WAK-9 Service Dogs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to raising and training service dogs to support individuals with disabilities. Your support helps dogs like Buddy learn how to change lives. ❤️

📸: Buddy (Golden Retriever) proudly wearing his training boots, joined by Dipstick during today's outing.

24/06/2025

Buddy putting in the work

13/06/2025

**Meeting changed to online only! **

11/06/2025

Service dog meeting tomorrow, 6/12 at 6:30 PM. Meeting will be available in-person or online. Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ojq-durw-agt

04/06/2025

We just want to thank the City Council for allowing us to speak tonight at the community grant presentation. It is a huge blessing and honor to be able to present and be a part of this community. Buddy did amazing while he sat in on the meeting as well. Now that the scary part of presenting is over, we leave the rest in God’s hands. Meanwhile, we will be out testing Buddy’s training while our kids play soccer for the evening. ❤️❤️

This was our presentation. Presented by Karin O’Daniel.

“Good afternoon, Council members, Mayor!

Thank you so much for allowing me the time to speak with you today. We represent WAK-9 Service Dogs, a nonprofit dedicated to raising and training high-quality service dogs that transform lives through companionship, task support, and emotional connection.

I want to begin with a simple truth: dog training isn’t just a summer job. It isn’t a weekend hobby or a quick certification. Training a reliable, confident, and capable service dog takes years of consistency, specialized care, and the right environment. And that’s exactly why I’m here today.

Last year, we were grateful to receive a community grant of $1,000. With that funding, we began raising and training a dog named Buddy—and he’s here with us today.

Buddy is more than just a happy face and a wagging tail. He represents what’s possible when a community believes in potential. Over the past year, our team has poured knowledge, patience, and structure into Buddy’s development. Watching him grow has confirmed something we already believed: to build dogs like Buddy—to guarantee placement, reliability, and life-changing outcomes—we must invest in more than just training. We must build the right environment.

Through our work with Buddy, we’ve identified key limitations in our current setup. Simply put, we’ve outgrown our space. Our team is working tirelessly, but to train more dogs effectively, and to place them confidently in homes where they’re needed most, we need a facility that matches the scale of our mission.

We’re seeking funds to expand that facility—to build additional kennel space, controlled training environments, and enrichment areas that mirror the real-world scenarios these dogs will one day navigate. The goal isn’t just about housing more dogs. It’s about giving each dog the consistent structure and exposure they need to succeed—not just in training, but in life as a service partner.

Every dog we place changes a life. And behind each one is a village of supporters who believed in the process. When you invest in WAK-9, you’re not just investing in our building. You’re investing in independence, confidence, and hope—for veterans, for individuals with disabilities, and for families in need of support they can count on.

Buddy has shown us what’s possible. Now we want to multiply that success—and we can’t do it without you.

Thank you for your time, your trust, and your belief in what we do at WAK-9 Service Dogs.”

01/06/2025

Axol (previously Anubis) has found his furever home!! Congrats, Noonan Family!

27/05/2025

It’s important to know how to legally screen service dogs and since there’s no official certification, it comes down to asking the right questions.

20/05/2025

Our new grooming table has arrived! This grooming table will NOT be used for a groomer. The purpose of this will be to educate clients on cooperative care for their dogs as well as creation of online seminars for this purpose. As trainers, we have had a lot of dogs recently who need coaching on this topic. A dog who goes to the groomer and does not know cooperative care can create several issues:

1) Cause your groomer to go over time if the dog is biting/chewing/howling and is a difficult groom as a result.

2) Result in a groom you don’t like. If your groomer is taking time to manage your dog’s behaviors rather than focus on the groom cut you want, the result is probably going to be what was feasible.

3) More stress for your dog. It’s kind of like first day of a new job jitters! If you don’t know the environment, the tasks, or what’s expected of you, you may be nervous, jittery, anxious, or even a touch upset. Dogs are like this too. They have no idea what to expect.

4) More cost to you. If you want a certain groom, and your dog is anxious/stressed/biting, then your dog will take more time and will incur more cost.

5) You may be declined future services from your groomer. Not all groomers have the time, desire, or abilities to care for anxious/aggressive/biting dogs.

**At the end of the day, it is the pet owner’s responsibility to ensure their dog can manage grooming. ESPECIALLY if your dog is long haired. A poorly behaved dog with long hair could result in denial of services, and this will increase the likelihood your dog has to get shaved down by the vet instead if severely matted. We’ve seen this happen frequently. **

Stay tuned for more videos and video class series available on demand!! Coming soon!!

Also, Buddy is showing everyone that he knows how to get on the groomer’s table. He was very excited!! 😂😂