Can Do Canines

Can Do Canines transforms people's lives by creating mutually beneficial partnerships with specially trained dogs. We envision a world where people with disabilities live free and independent lives.

Can Do Canines opened in 1989 and to date has matched over 900 clients with their canines!

Can Do Canines trains assistance dogs for people with physical disabilities. We train dogs to assist in 6 ways: Hearing Assist, Mobility Assist, Diabetes Assist, Seizure Response, Autism Assist, and Facility Assist.

We place trained dogs with qualified applicants in Minnesota and Wisconsin at no charge to them. 

Can Do Canines could not place assistance dogs with the people who need them without the help of our wonderful volunteers!

Volunteers act as short and long term fosters to the puppies and dogs while they grow up and get trained in. Long term fosters help with positive reinforcement training to prepare dogs to learn basic skills and accompany their humans in public. 

Volunteers in this program should live in either the Twin Cities area or near Eau Claire, WI to attend training classes once a month. Can Do Canines covers the costs of the dog food, vet visits, and monthly preventatives! 

Volunteers also help with other activities such as walking and grooming dogs at our facility (must be 18 yrs or older) and helping at events such as our Woofaroo dog walk, Graduation ceremonies, Fetching Ball Gala, and other events.

We also work with prison programs in Minnesota and Wisconsin. These restorative justice programs are a win-win for both us and the inmates. The inmate handlers help train our puppies and learn valuable life skills such as patience, consistency, and unconditional love. They get a great sense of pride and accomplishment in helping to train a dog to assist someone with their disability.