Rachel Weatherington, Author at Atlas Assistance Dogs

What I learned as an Atlas Assistance Dogs Summer Intern

October 29, 2025August 20, 2025 by Rachel Weatherington

A young woman with long brown hair wearing a blue and white floral dress smiles while seated outdoors, with vibrant pink and green foliage in the background.

If I had to sum up my Atlas internship experience in three words, they would be listening, learning, and growing. I was born profoundly deaf and hear using cochlear implants. Growing up, I had been asked multiple times if I ever wanted a service dog. I always shook my head no and quickly mentioned a … Read more

Meet Jana Hinken: New Atlas Board Member and Champion of the Human-Canine Bond

October 29, 2025August 7, 2025 by Rachel Weatherington

A woman in a pink jacket smiles while sitting in a field of yellow flowers, with snow-capped mountains and trees in the background under a clear blue sky.

As part of our ongoing Q&A series spotlighting the people behind Atlas Assistance Dogs, we’re thrilled to introduce new board member Jana Hinken. A seasoned operations leader and proud dog mom to Beanie, Jana brings a global perspective and a deep belief in the healing power of dogs. In this interview, she shares what drew … Read more

Boundaries for Yourself—The Most Important Ones to Keep

October 29, 2025August 1, 2025 by Rachel Weatherington

Illustration of two older adults looking concerned at a younger person outlined in yellow, who stands apart with arms defensive. An uncapped yellow marker lies on the ground between them.

This article is the third in a three part series. Part one and two can be found here respectively. Often, people find that others do not respect the boundaries in their lives. This could be for several reasons, and it can feel very frustrating, leading some to retract boundaries altogether. One reason boundaries don’t seem … Read more

Boundaries for Service Dog Handlers & Trainers

October 29, 2025July 28, 2025 by Rachel Weatherington

Three dogs wearing teal service vests sit side by side on a wet sidewalk near green wreaths. The dogs appear attentive and calm, with cars parked in the background.

This article is part two in a three part series on boundaries. Part one can be found here. Part three can be found here. Everyday Boundaries for Service Dog Handlers In the last blog post, we established what boundaries are and explored the different types: physical, emotional, time-based, and relational. We also looked at the … Read more

Why Boundaries Matter—Especially for Service Dog Handlers and Trainers

October 29, 2025July 21, 2025 by Rachel Weatherington

Picture of Book titled Set Boundaries Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself By Nedra Glover Tawwab

This article is the first in a three part series. Part two can be found here. Part three can be found here. “Burnout is overwhelming, and boundaries are the cure,” is the wisdom written by Nedra Glover Tawwab, MSW, LCSW, in her book called Set Boundaries, Find Peace. It sounds simple, but implementing boundaries can be … Read more

More Than a Name: How Savvy Lived Up to Her Calling

October 29, 2025July 16, 2025 by Rachel Weatherington

A smiling woman in sunglasses and a patterned swimsuit sits on a paddleboard next to a large, fluffy dog wearing a yellow life jacket. They are by the water with a sandy shore and greenery in the background.

At Atlas Assistance Dogs, we believe that service dog training should be inclusive, accessible, and built on mutual trust. Through our Client Certification Program, we support people with disabilities in training their own service dogs using positive, force-free methods. In this blog series, we’re highlighting the stories of our certified teams—owner-trainers and their incredible dogs—who … Read more