Based on their personality, health, temperament, trainability, and suitability for specific careers, most of our dogs enroll in one of the following programs. All are provided at no cost.

Dogs for people with vision loss:

• Guide Dogs – help people with vision loss navigate independently; trained in over 40 skills.
• Kids Companion Dogs – skilled companion dogs enhance independence for children with vision loss, preparing the way for a future guide dog.

Dogs for veterans:

• Guide Dogs – help veterans with vision loss navigate independently; trained in over 40 skills.
• Service Dogs – help veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other disabilities; trained in 15 – 20 skills.
• Facility Therapy Dogs – provide comfort in military medical facilities nationwide.
• Emotional Support Dogs – benefit veterans and help restore a more active lifestyle.
• Gold Star Family Dogs – comfort military family members who have lost a loved one in active service to the nation.

Dogs for children and teens:

• Guide Dogs – help teens with vision loss—ages 15 and up—navigate independently.
• Kids Companion Dogs – skilled companion dogs enhance independence for children with vision loss, preparing the way for a future guide dog.
• Gold Star Family Dogs – comfort military family members who have lost a loved one in active service to the nation.
• Kids Therapy Dogs – matched with adults who assist children and families in adverse circumstances, providing therapeutic reassurance to children in need.

Dogs for genetics & reproduction:

• Breeder Dogs – selected for their fine qualities and traits to ensure continuity of our lines; matched and placed in pre-screened volunteer host homes.

It depends on the type of dog. For our Gold Star Family Dogs for children who have lost a parent in the military, there is no lower age limit for the child. Our Kids Companion Dogs for children with vision loss are available for kids and teens between the ages of 5-17.

We provide guide dogs to mature teens ages 15 and up. For these teens, we recommend attending our informational, hands-on guide dog camp first to find out if the teen is ready to take this step.

Recognizing the sacrifices made when a family member dies in service to the nation, Southeastern Guide Dogs offers loving, skilled companion dogs to Gold Star families in need, at no cost. These well-trained and gentle dogs give the gift of comforting friendship to children and families enduring unimaginable hardship, loneliness, and grief.