Atlas' May 2022 Updates

We are excited to tell you about everything that has been going on at Atlas this month. Keep reading to learn about two new Atlas Certified Trainers, find out what puppy Lottie has been up to, and meet a brand new puppy entering the program. Don’t forget to check out our latest blog post, and don’t miss our important announcement at the bottom of the newsletter about an event coming up in June.
Five dogs with service vests lie on a sidewalk in front of green bushes. The dogs vary in breeds and colors, including black, brown, and two shades of white. Leashes are placed on the ground in front of them.

Introducing Cal

Please give a warm welcome to Cal, our newest puppy entering our Assistance Dogs Set in Motion program! Cal is an adorable chunky chocolate lab who will be spending the next several months with Atlas Puppy Raisers to work on his foundation skills until he is ready to go home to his person, a veteran, who will continue training with him in our Client Certification Program.

You’ll be getting monthly updates on his progress but make sure to follow our various social media accounts to get a closer look and follow him along on his journey. #CalsJourney.   

A chocolate lab puppy lies on a textured carpet, gently holding a small stuffed toy lamb in its mouth. The puppy looks up with soft, curious eyes, positioned near the wooden leg of a rocking chair.

Meet Our New Atlas Certified Trainers

A huge congratulations to Liv and Claire for completing our Trainer Academy and becoming an Atlas Certified Trainers! Both have shown great dedication and passion as they have gone through our courses.

A person with long dark hair, wearing a gray jacket, smiles while looking at a fluffy gray and white dog with pointed ears and a dark collar. The dog gazes back at the person. The background is plain light-colored.

Claire (pictured above) serves the Portland, OR area. With a background as a guide dog trainer, she has extensive experience developing public access skills. Having transitioned to coaching owner trainers, she’s worked with clients training for psychiatric, mobility and hearing tasks. She each client and dog as individuals, supporting them in forming a team and meeting their personal goals.

Person playing with a brown dog on a sandy beach. The person is bent forward with hands on knees, while the dog is in a playful stance with its front legs down. The ocean waves are gently crashing in the background.

Liv (pictured above) serves southern Orange County, CA. Here is what they tell us about their experience going through the Academy: “Enrolling in the Atlas Trainer Academy has been one of the most valuable educational opportunities of my career! I found the program to be incredibly thorough, and I received detailed feedback from faculty on every assignment. My favorite part of this organization is its openness to growth; they are so willing to incorporate new information and clearly value continuing education at all levels.

Growing up, I was a primary caretaker for a parent with progressive Multiple Sclerosis. Having a qualified assistance dog would have been quite literally life-changing for us. I am thrilled to be part of the solution to make ethically-trained assistance dogs more accessible for the people who need and deserve them.“

Even more exciting, Liv will be continuing to further their skills and passions by becoming an Atlas Team Facilitator!

Interested in becoming an Atlas Certified Trainer? Through our Academy you will gain extensive knowledge and skills on how to work with disabled people and service dogs. And did we mention 21 CEUs towards KPA and CCPDT?
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Did you know? We also offer our Sweet Snoopers® Medical Scent Detection Course as a stand alone option for $495. Contact us to learn more.

#LottiesJourney Monthly Update

A chocolate Labrador retriever sits on a wooden porch in front of a dark green cabin with a red door and a small window. A red bench is nearby, and there are trees and dry leaves around the porch area.

Here is your monthly Lottie update! Can you believe she is already six months old? She continues to explore new environments and is learning many new skills. This month she experienced her first swim and it seems fair to say that she enjoyed it quite a bit. Check out the video below to see her splashing and zooming! 

Great job, Lottie. Keep on exploring!
We need volunteers! Come join our team and become a volunteer in one (or more) of the many areas we could use some support in. We are currently looking for volunteers who can help us with outreach, digital advertising, website maintenance, SEO implementation, as well as many other areas. Contact us if you are interested in volunteering.
An infographic titled Dos & Donts Interacting with a Service Dog. Dos: speak to the owner/handler, maintain distance while walking your dog, treat the handler with respect. Donts: talk to the dog, allow your dog to approach, ask why they need a service dog.

Do you know the important do’s and dont’s when it comes to interacting with a service dog team? Check out our latest blog to learn all about proper service dog etiquette so you can know what to do next time you see a working team out and about. Read blog here >>

A cartoon girl with long brown hair, wearing a green Fern 2 shirt and blue pants, joyfully dances with a black and white dog on a striped floor. Pink musical notes are in the air against a patterned pink background.
June Auction! We’re excited to announce our upcoming virtual auction, with many incredible items up for bidding. Make sure to keep an eye out for our emails in the coming weeks to get a chance to bid on and win vacations, wine tours, art pieces and more!
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