How Dogs Help

Can Do Canines brings greater freedom, independence and peace of mind to your life by creating a mutually beneficial partnership with a specially trained dog matched to your personal assistance needs.

Mobility Assist Dogs

Mobility Assist Dogs help people with physical disabilities such as those who use wheelchairs, crutches or walkers. They are trained to pick up and carry objects, pull wheelchairs, retrieve a cordless phone, open doors and perform other daily tasks. Learn More

Diabetes Assist Dogs

We train Diabetes Assist Dogs to help people with Type I Diabetes. Diabetes Assist Dogs are trained to sniff for a specific scent on the human breath that is related to rapidly dropping or low blood sugar levels. They are trained to “alert” the person by touching them in a significant way, such as pawing at them, licking their face, or nudging a hand. The canine partner can also be taught to retrieve juice or a snack, get an emergency phone, or get help from another person in the house. Learn More

Autism Assist Dogs

Our Autism Assist Dogs are trained as assistance dogs with full public access rights. We train the dogs to provide safety, a calming influence and peace of mind for these children and their families. When in public, children are tethered to their dog for safety. If the child bolts away suddenly, the dog will lay down and hold position, keeping the child secure and close by. We are currently accepting pre-applications from families who have a child with autism between two and seven years old and live in Minnesota. The expected wait for placement of a dog is more than two years. Learn More

Hearing Assist Dogs

We train these dogs to alert a person who is deaf or hard-of-hearing by making physical contact and then leading the person to the source of the sound. Some of the sounds a Hearing Assist Dog may be trained for include alerting the individual to a door knock or doorbell, an oven timer, a smoke detector, an alarm clock, the individual’s name being called, a phone ringing, the sound of an intruder, or a baby crying. Learn More

Seizure Assist Dogs

We train Seizure Assist Dogs to help people during and after they have a seizure. The dog stays with the person and licks their face to comfort them while they recover from their seizure. The dog can be trained to bring an emergency phone or get help from another person. In addition, the dog wears a backpack with pockets that can hold medicine and medical alert information in case the person is unable to communicate. Learn More