Legend Retrievers & Working Dogs

02/24/2026

Just a couple gals at the beach… 🏖️ what was supposed to be a relaxing weekend turned out to be Mardi Gras, so we got tickets, got front row seats to the battle of the bands 🥁 and danced our asses off! Such a fun girls weekend at my favorite beach town!! 💗💗💗 ⚜️💜💚💛⚜️

01/26/2026

** Business Update**
Over the past decade, I’ve been living with chronic pain, swelling, and symptoms that never quite made sense. At different points I was told it was rheumatological, then lupus, and after years of testing and multiple specialists, I finally have an answer.

What I went in thinking might be POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia) turned out to be Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) a genetic connective tissue disorder that disrupts normal collagen production and structure. Because collagen supports nearly every system in the body, EDS can cause widespread effects beyond just joint instability.
EDS doesn’t just impact ligaments and tendons. It affects organs and blood vessels as well. I’ve had ongoing issues with my kidneys, bladder, and reproductive organs. My blood vessels are fragile and prone to collapse, which has led to blood-pressure instability and clotting issues. Even my eyes are affected — the connective tissue stretching, slowly impacting my vision.
The most serious concern, however, is my cervical spine. Dog training and whelping are physically demanding under the best circumstances, but with EDS, the constant bending, stooping, and looking down have caused repeated nerve compression. Doctors are now concerned that my vertebral artery may be getting pinched, which helps explain why my heart rate spikes and why I nearly pass out when I bend over for too long.
I still have more testing and specialists ahead of me, but I’ve been told very clearly that I must immediately minimize all bending and stooping. That reality makes continuing dog training and breeding unsafe for me.

At the same time, my dad’s health has declined, and I’ve stepped into the role of his full-time caregiver. Between his needs and my own health, it’s become clear that I need to pivot into a career that supports my physical limitations and allows me to stay close to home.
So, with a lot of reflection and a heavy but peaceful heart, I’m sharing that Legend Working Dogs will no longer be offering puppies, training services, or boarding. I will be spaying my females and closing my breeding program. I will keep Airess intact, and if I ever decide to breed her, the litter would be whelped by an outside professional and announced here.

What doesn’t change is my commitment to the people and dogs who have trusted me over the years. As always, I will continue to provide free phone or in-person training consultations for life to past clients, exactly as promised.
We had a truly great run. I am incredibly proud of the dogs, the families, and the community that came out of this chapter. Thank you for your trust, your support, and your understanding as I step into what’s next.

💛

12/18/2025

Due to significant changes in my family circumstances, I want to share an important update regarding my training and boarding services:
My father is currently facing serious health challenges, and I have stepped into the role of his full-time caregiver. As a result, I will no longer be accepting new Board & Train clients.
I will, however:
Complete all current and remaining service dog clients already under contract.
Continue boarding on a very limited, case-by-case basis for dogs who have previously trained with me.
Continue my breeding program, though future litters will be spaced out and dependent on my father’s health and care needs at the time.

For the foreseeable future, this page will primarily feature my personal dogs and upcoming dogs in the program, with fewer regular posts than in the past.
I am deeply grateful to all of my clients, supporters, and friends who have trusted me with their dogs over the years. We truly had a wonderful run, and your support has meant more to me than I can express.
For now, I am setting this portion of my work to the side to focus on family. I sincerely hope you’ll continue to follow and support the page during this quieter season.

Thank you for your understanding, kindness, and continued support. - With Love, Allie

11/03/2025

10/31/2025

10/22/2025

🐾 Did you know we specialize in training Practitioner Dogs?

Most people have heard of therapy dogs, but here’s the difference:
A traditional therapy dog is typically a well-mannered pet volunteering alongside their owner. These dogs provide comfort, but they aren’t specifically trained for the therapeutic environment they visit.

A Practitioner Dog, on the other hand, works as part of a professional team. These dogs receive specialized training to understand their work environment and intentionally engage with clients. For example, a physical therapist’s dog might retrieve a ball to help a client practice motor skills — truly becoming a partner in the healing process.

Today I had the pleasure of meeting Rio, a chiropractor’s dog who works alongside his dad in sessions with both humans and dogs. Rio had been showing some barking and posturing when new (canine) clients arrived, so I brought my dog Molly, who’s very calm and neutral, to help him practice.

Using a gentle titration and communication method, we helped Rio realize that the new dog wasn’t scary — and that tuning in with his dad earned him treats. Within just ten minutes, both dogs were lying calmly side by side, relaxed and focused.

With a few more practice sessions and positive experiences, Rio is well on his way to becoming a fantastic, balanced, and confident practitioner dog! 🐶✨

10/17/2025

Sweet Stagg was very unsure when he started training, he was afraid to get in and out of the car, afraid to get on the boat, afraid of loud noises.
Because my program is focused on communication and relationship, I only start teaching training command when a dog shows me that they feel comfortable and safe in the world. Stagg was definitely not there yet, so this week we focused a lot on reframing the world as a safe place. We focused a lot on body awareness and confidence. He started the week too afraid to put his front paws on anything and is finishing off the week climbing into the chair, turning around to sit and jumping out confidently!

It’s not all about what I can train a dog to do, it’s how he feels while he’s doing it that’s key. If he feels confident, powerful, connected to me and believes that even when he struggles I will be there to support and teach him, he will e willing to do just about snuthibg with and for me! Way to go Stagg!! 💪💪💗💗💗🐾🐾

10/16/2025

K and Pops have been training with me for a little over a year and a half, pops works on the Texas A&M Campus which is a pretty high intensity environment, and K has a pretty complex task list. This week when she had a break from classes we met up at the Domain to practice around squirrels, the excitement of seeing a friend and maintaining heel. We had breakfast in a restaurant, then Pops maintained a down stay while I and a couple kiddos had a great time climbing an outdoor structure and rolling around on the ground in front of him. Pops knew the assignment and maintained a nice down stay.

This is the proofing stage of his training, he knows where he should be and what he should be doing most of the time. In the proofing stage we test him in more extreme or extra ordinary circumstances. Great work pops!

10/16/2025

Are you or someone you know need of a service dog? Dacus is one of the best professional service dog breeders around.

10/07/2025

Some new kids on the block in obedience training- meet Stag the fox red Labrador and Coper the Golden doodle 💗
Dacus Doodles
Taking advantage of my happy plants on the front porch as a beautiful backdrop for pictures of these cuties. Place stay is the first thing our pups learn as it’s a gross motor skills command. Starting here helps the pups build self confidence and relationship with me. Great work boys! 💪🐾

10/02/2025

Pearce is a medical response/ psychiatric service dog in training. He is starting to practice orbit in public but he gets easily distracted so his handler needs to bend rather low to lure, causing her to become faint. So in the teaching phase of our training tasks I often take the leash to establish the behavior so that we don’t stress her health conditions. It is a bit of a challenge to manage the leash, and the lure but we got it done and Percie was successful on his first round of Orbit in public. Great work Percie!