Community Events

WAGS - The Wisconsin Academy for Graduate Service Dogs

Member, Assistance Dogs International

The WAGS Mission

Since 1987, the Wisconsin Academy for Graduate Service Dogs (WAGS) has helped people with physical disabilities achieve a higher level of independence through partnerships with skilled service dogs. WAGS service dogs assist their partners with daily living tasks such as operating light switches, opening and closing doors, removing articles of clothing and retrieving dropped or out of reach items. In addition to providing love and companionship to their partners, WAGS dogs open doors to a greater sense of freedom, safety and social connectedness.

The WAGS Program

Early Puppy Education: WAGS believes strongly in early puppy education. Puppies enter the WAGS Program at the tender age of 8-12 weeks and live with Volunteer Puppy Raisers for the first 8-12 months of their lives. Puppies need a loving and stable home to lay the foundation for future training. Puppy Raisers play an active role in shaping responsive and confident dogs by providing socialization, teaching foundation service dog skills and exposing the puppy to a wide variety of environments and stimuli.
Advanced Training: WAGS dogs who have completed their foundation training move on to live with Volunteer Trainers. At this stage dogs prepare for their future role, learning advanced service dog skills and developing their ability to be in a variety of public situations by continuing to accompany their trainer to work, places of business and other public venues.
Placement: When a WAGS dog completes its training, it is ready to be placed with a human partner. WAGS staff carefully match dogs with prospective clients based on the personality and skills of both partners. Customized client training occurs at the time of placement, including handling skills in public and home environments, canine psychology and health and retirement of service dogs. Follow-up training is available to clients throughout the lifetime of their dog.

Wisconsin Academy of Graduate Service Dogs (WAGS)
1338 Dewey Court
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 250-9247
www.wags.net

WAGS Photos

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The Veterinary Emergency Service, VES, is excited to sponsor all of Henna's Veterinary Care while Henna is in service with the Wags program. Henna is currently with her puppy raiser and learning the skills she will need to be a service dog. She has been to VES for all her wellness exams and has passed with flying colors. She has also received all her puppy vaccines, which were donated by Janssen Pet Clinic, of Middleton Wisconsin. We look forward to many years with Henna. Watch the web page for updates on Henna's career.