How Do You Train in a Way That Works for Every Neurodivergent Client?
Welcome back to Part 2 of our three-part blog series on neurodiversity! In Part 1, we explored what it means to be neurodivergent, challenged some common misconceptions, and heard from Atlas trainers and clients about why building a more inclusive training world matters. Our Facetime Live hour also opened up some wonderful conversation on the topic, and we look forward to continuing to bring new voices — from both the trainer and client perspective — to future events.
In this installment, we turn toward practice. How do we take what we know about neurodiversity and actually apply it in training sessions? What does a flexible, client-centered approach look like in the room — or on a walk, or in a parking lot, or wherever training happens to unfold? That is what we will explore here.
What Is Client-Centered Training?
Client-centered training takes into account the individual needs, preferences, and challenges of the specific person and dog team in front of you. It prioritizes consistent collaboration, client input, and flexibility over a rigid, one-size-fits-all methodology. For neurodivergent clients especially, this approach is not just a nice-to-have — it is essential.
Service dog trainers are already practiced at thinking outside the box. Every client-dog team presents a unique situation, and every trainer brings their own toolkit of approaches, experiences, and education to the table. That means you are already offering something distinctive to every team you work with. Client-centered training is about leaning into that, and making sure the client’s voice is actively shaping the process alongside yours.
You are already offering a unique perspective to every client-dog team you work with. Client-centered training is about making that visible and intentional.
Building Your Support Network as a Trainer
Having a “hive mind” of like-minded, client-centered positive reinforcement trainers can be invaluable — especially when you encounter a new situation that requires some creative thinking. No trainer has all the answers, and reaching out to a trusted community can open up approaches you might not have considered on your own.
Some places to connect with other like-minded trainers include:
- Within Atlas — such as the Team Facilitator & Trainer Facebook forum
- Online positive reinforcement training communities, many of which offer virtual gathering options
- In-person within your own community — dog training collective spaces are becoming more common, where trainers share rented facility space and naturally have opportunities for regular collaboration
If you identify as neurodivergent yourself, it is worth considering what type of environment helps you feel most comfortable exchanging information. Knowing your own social and processing style — whether you thrive in live discussion, prefer async written formats, or do best one-on-one — can help you find the kind of community that actually sustains you.
Starting the Conversation with Clients
From the very first meeting, invite clients to share what might be helpful to them. This includes things like session length, environment preferences, and whether they need breaks. Asking early signals that you are paying attention to the whole person, not just the dog.
Atlas Assistance Dogs has resources available to trainers — including a checklist to help Trainers and Team Facilitators begin this conversation with clients about identifying strengths, needs, and potential challenges.
Keep in mind that not everything will emerge in an intake conversation. More information often surfaces in live sessions as you work together. Training plans are living documents — they continuously adapt and evolve as you get to know a client-dog team more deeply. Build that flexibility in from the start.
Neurodivergent-Affirming Training Approaches
Pattern Games
Pattern Games, created by trainer Leslie McDevitt as part of the Control Unleashed Program, help client-dog teams develop focus and regulation together — particularly useful when working in public or in stimulating environments. Examples include 1-2-3, Look at That (LAT), Take a Breath, and Whiplash Turn.
Pattern Games allow for creativity and flexibility in training, and they can be genuinely fun for both the human and the dog. Because the patterns are predictable and repetitive, they can feel grounding and manageable for clients who thrive on structure and clear expectations.
Biofeedback and the Relaxation Protocol
Biofeedback is a mind-body technique that teaches individuals to regulate certain body functions such as heart rate and breathing. The Relaxation Protocol developed by Dr. Karen Overall offers a structured way to apply these principles directly to training sessions, so that the human and dog team are co-regulating together through breath, body awareness, and quiet time.
This approach is especially meaningful in service dog training, where the human’s nervous system and the dog’s nervous system are deeply interconnected. When the person regulates, the dog often follows — and vice versa. Free demonstration videos are widely available on YouTube for trainers and clients who want to explore this approach.
Recognizing Trigger Stacking in Humans
We talk often about trigger stacking in dogs — the cumulative buildup of stressors that pushes them over threshold. The same principle applies to people, and neurodivergent individuals may reach their threshold more quickly or in ways that are not always immediately visible.
As a trainer, regularly notice your own responses to environmental stimuli and consider taking breaks or cultivating shorter, more frequent sessions. If you observe signs of possible frustration, anxiety, or shutting down from your human client — a change in tone, disengagement, distraction, or visible tension — take a break and check in. Simply asking “What might be helpful right now?” can open a lot of space.
Shorter, Cleaner Sessions
A training session does not have to be long, highly repetitive, or complex to be effective. In fact, shorter sessions with cleaner repetitions tend to be more useful than long or complicated ones. Dogs learn best through clear, clean communication and by working on a single piece of a task at a time — and this principle applies equally well to human learners.
When the trainer, client, and dog are all comfortable and engaged, everyone is more likely to keep showing up. End on a positive note whenever possible, and resist the temptation to push for more when things are going well. It can feel counterintuitive, but noting the success out loud and intentionally closing there is often more value-added than squeezing in one more repetition.
When you see success, name it and stop there. Ending on a win is not wasted potential — it is good training.
Looking Ahead to Part 3
Resources
- Relaxation Protocol by Dr. Karen Overall — free resources and videos available online demonstrating how to apply the protocol
- Control Unleashed Program by Leslie McDevitt — home of Pattern Games and other flexible, positive reinforcement-based training approaches
- Leslie McDevitt’s YouTube channel — demonstrations of Pattern Games and Control Unleashed concepts
- The Distracted Dog Lover — ADHD Dog Owner Training Tips: What Actually Works When You’re Overwhelmed
- Atlas Assistance Dogs Trainer Checklist
About Atlas Assistance Dogs
Atlas Assistance Dogs is a non-profit organization that fundamentally expands access to assistance dogs. We support people with disabilities to train and certify their own service dog using positive, ethical training methods. At Atlas, we believe anyone who would benefit from a qualified assistance dog should be able to have one.
We work with people with a wide range of disabilities who wish to train their own service dog as well as offer a comprehensive Academy for professional trainers wanting to become service dog trainers. For more information about Atlas’ Client Certification program or other training services, please visit www.atlasdog.org or contact info@atlasdog.org.
