Certified Service Dog Coach Jeanne Hodson holds a CPDT-KA and offers service dog training through her business, Birklandshire K9 Dog Training, based in North Metro Atlanta. She also offers pet dog training and behavior help through board-and-train and private lesson services.
What made you decide you wanted to train service dogs?
I became interested in training service dogs when I went to work for a dog training company in Atlanta that offered service dog training. Up until then, my experience had been focused on pet dog training and teaching obedience classes.
Initially, I was drawn to the challenge — learning to train tasks and behaviors that I thought were amazing. Service dog training combined everything I loved about dog training with the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in someone’s life. The company paired me with an experienced trainer who mentored me for a time.
The more I learned, the more I realized how much I didn’t know — and honestly, that’s still true more than ten years later. My career has been shaped as much by curiosity and my desire to better communicate with dogs, as by my love of them. When I started out, training was much more correction – based, and aversive methods were common. But, as I learned more and began studying applied behavior analysis, I started questioning that approach. I became interested not just in getting a dog to do what I asked, but in creating a two-way conversation — understanding what the dog was communicating and finding ways to make my own communication clearer.
That shift has been especially meaningful in service dog training, where communication and partnership are critical to creating a reliable working team. But I’ve found it equally rewarding with pet dogs. My curiosity continues to push me to study, seek out mentors, and question my assumptions, with the goal of achieving reliable results while respecting the welfare of the dog.
Tell us about your work training service dogs.
Most of my service dog training begins with candidate evaluation and selection, followed by a 30- to 60-day board-and-train program. I also offer private lessons, and many of my clients combine the two programs. Initially, I focus on obedience, foundation skills, confidence building, socialization, and exposure. I teach public access skills and the specific tasks needed to help mitigate the symptoms of their handler’s disability when the dog has appropriately matured.
When I first began, I accepted a very broad range of service dog cases. I trained psychiatric service dogs, mobility support dogs, diabetic alert dogs, migraine alert dogs, seizure alert and response dogs, autism assistance dogs, hearing dogs, vision support dogs — you name it.
As I’ve gained experience, I’ve learned the value of specialization. Today I primarily focus on mobility support dogs, hearing dogs, psychiatric service dogs, autism assistance dogs, and medical response dogs. Rather than trying to do everything, I’ve chosen to focus on the areas I enjoy most and where I believe I can provide the best support to my clients.
I’ve also learned that becoming successful isn’t about adding more services — it’s about developing deeper knowledge and experience in the areas you choose to pursue. My experience has made me more comfortable recognizing both my strengths and my limitations.
One of the first service dogs I trained from start to finish was a Labradoodle for a young man who suffered a traumatic brain injury after being struck by a truck on his college campus. He experienced seizures and lost the peripheral vision on his right side. I trained his dog to perform seizure response tasks and provide support for his vision impairment.
Seven years later, he’s back in college finishing his degree, and his service dog is approaching retirement. The family recently asked me to help select and train the dog’s successor, and we’ve found a promising English Lab puppy that will be joining them soon. Seeing one service dog complete her career while preparing the next to continue that partnership is something I’ll always be grateful to be part of.
Tell us about your dog training business.
My pet dog clients are all in the Metro Atlanta area, while my service dog work extends much farther, with clients throughout the Northeast and Southeast U.S.
I started my own business, Birklandshire K9, when I moved to Canton, Georgia, in 2021. Before that, I was doing contract work for a dog training company in Atlanta. My business grew quickly, largely through referrals from clients, veterinarians, groomers, and breeders. I provide pet dog training and behavior modification services, and service dog training has been a significant part of my business from the beginning.
I’m the sole trainer, which I love, and I operate out of my home. I’m so lucky to have an ideal setup, with the entire lower level of my home dedicated entirely to my business. It includes an indoor training room where I work with clients, provide private lessons, and hold group classes.
How has offering service dog training impacted your business?
Offering service dog training has helped distinguish my business from other trainers. Service dog work requires a broad skill set, including training, behavior modification, public access preparation, and problem-solving. Supporting my clients requires an understanding of their disability and their lifestyle, as well as the ability to communicate, educate, coach, and often cheerlead. Teaching people how to work with their dogs is the most challenging part of my business.
Working with service dogs has made me a better trainer in every area of my business, including pet dog training. The long-term relationships I develop with service dog clients are also one of the most rewarding parts of the work. These relationships often span months or years, allowing me to watch dogs and handlers grow together over time.
What motivated you to enroll in the SDC course?
I first heard about Cooperative Paws and the programs Veronica has developed through a colleague, and I was immediately interested. I was looking for a program that aligned with my positive reinforcement philosophy and would help me continue developing as a service dog trainer.
I also wanted to connect with other service dog trainers who shared similar values. While earning the SDC designation was valuable professionally, my primary motivation was continuing my education and learning from others in the field.
I was also aware of the lack of governance in the dog training industry — which means that anyone can call themselves a service dog trainer. By the time I enrolled in the SDC program, I had already been training service dogs for several years. However, earning the SDC designation distinguishes me as an expert in the field — a trainer who invests in myself to improve my skills, continue learning, and identify areas where I can grow as a trainer. It provides potential clients with information that differentiates me as a credible resource as they navigate the decision to select a service dog trainer.
What did you like the most about the SDC course?
The quality of the instruction and mentorship stood out the most. The self-paced structure was also very important since my schedule can be crazy.
Working with Veronica was a fantastic experience. She challenged me to think critically, encouraged me when I got stuck – and helped me learn training from different perspectives. The business tools and resources provided in the course continue to be extremely helpful in my work. The course significantly elevated my effectiveness – lots of “aha” moments!
I highly recommend this course to any trainer that wants to strengthen their skills or fill in gaps in their methodology.
What has surprised you about working with service dogs?
Dogs never stop surprising me. The more I learn about them, the more I appreciate how extraordinary they are. What fascinates me most is learning to really tune in—to understand what a dog is telling me through their own language and challenging myself to try to see things from their perspective rather than through my human lens. Working with service dogs requires that kind of two-way communication. When I suddenly understand what a dog is telling me, it’s like a lightbulb goes off – for both of us! Those moments are so rewarding and are a big part of what keeps me motivated.
What has surprised me most, though, is how deeply this work has impacted me personally. You can’t do this job and remain unaffected. There have been plenty of highs and lows—heartbreaks and celebrations—and my service dog clients have changed the way I see the world.
What advice would you give to trainers thinking about getting involved in service dog training?
Build a strong foundation before accepting service dog clients.
Study learning theory. Read widely. Seek out mentors. Continue your education. Some of the resources that have had the greatest influence on me include The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell, The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson, Plenty in Life Is Free by Kathy Sdao, and Dr. Susan Friedman’s Living and Learning with Animals course, and of course, the Cooperative Paws SDC program.
I would also suggest that you teach your own dog to perform the types of tasks you are interested in teaching before offering them professionally. You will learn a tremendous amount from the process and gain a better understanding of the challenges involved.
Some of the most meaningful growth in my training has come from recognizing when what I had been taught no longer resonated with me. Be willing to change your mind and never assume you’ve arrived.