Alliance Service Dogs is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities train their own service animal. Our program includes training for mobility aid, hearing alert, scent-based medical alert, psychiatric support, and multipurpose service dogs.

Setting the standard for service dogs in Toronto.

Flagship Training Program

One to two years of individualized, professional coaching in the Greater Toronto Area. Delivered via weekly private lessons, with a focus on public access skills and disability-mitigating task behaviours.

Are you starting from scratch? If you don’t already have a dog, please start with our Prospect Search Consultation services. Booking a consultation with Claire will help you get started the right way, and minimize a lot of possible issues down the road. Students who book a Prospect Search Consultation and follow recommendations are guaranteed a spot in the Training Program.

Do you already have a dog? If you have a dog who you’re hoping is a good candidate, you can book a Meet & Greet after going through our application process. We’ll evaluate your dog’s suitability for the job, and you’ll complete a 12-week Trial Period and then attempt an Entrance Exam. Service-specific training starts after that, including public access and task training.

Virtual Learning Options

Do you need help, but can’t see us in person? Virtual private lessons are an option, whether you want a single lesson, intermittent support, or regular coaching. Students attending virtually benefit from the same quality instruction as students in our Training Program, though please note, letters of attestation and program vests are only available for in-person students.

Do you prefer training on your own time? For lower-cost resources available worldwide, we offer virtual seminars and mini-courses. These options are available live, with working (coached) spots and auditor spots, or on-demand for self-paced learning.

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Meet Your Instructors

Claire Kilburn, CPDT-KA, KPA CTP, Atlas CT has nearly a decade of experience in the dog training industry, and hands-on experience working with folks with disabilities of all types.

Testimonials

  • Sarah

    I have been with Alliance for almost a year now and I cannot say enough good things about them! When I first joined, I wasn’t even sure my dog Ruby had what it takes to be a service dog but thanks to the guidance of Claire and Ari, she is now working full-time and even coming with me to college. Alliance uses effective and ethical training methods for both the dog and the handler and a customized our training plan to fit my training abilities and Ruby‘s individual learning needs. Thank you so much to all the amazing people (and dogs) at Alliance for giving Ruby the skills needed to help me live my life to the fullest!

  • Mai

    “From choosing Umi to caring for her during my hospital stay, Claire and Ari have been more than just trainers - they’ve been one of our biggest cheerleaders and a support system. They believed in us from the very start, validating our struggles and empowering us to grow into the best team we can be. None of this would’ve been possible without Claire and Ari, who believe in our potential and remind me that we are doing amazing and that we’re a team. Umi and I are both still learning, but thanks to them, I have a partner who shows me every day what love, trust, resilience and the little joys in life look like.”

  • Heather & David

    “Our experience working with Claire and Alliance Service Dogs has amazing! Claire is an incredibly knowledgeable service dog trainer and she not only knows how to teach all of the critical skills that service dogs (and their handlers!) need to know to be successful with public access and tasking, but she can also teach those skills in different ways that may be better suited to you or your dog specifically to optimize the learning experience. Claire is a wonderful and patient teacher, she is very talented and her lessons are also very organized and well thought out where we are either learning new things or improving them significantly in every lesson. We really enjoy working with Claire and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for an experienced service dog trainer!”

  • Laurie

    “We chose Claire for several reasons: one, she is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by EVERYONE that knows her and the work that she does. Two, we needed someone that has extensive knowledge and experience in service dog training. Many of the service dog trainers we interviewed claimed to have this, but we learned that it is not always the case. Three, Claire is HONEST and ETHICAL and will not provide service dog training to anyone that does not have documentation to verify their medical condition and their need for a service dog. Clearly, she takes her professional and ethical responsibilities very seriously. Last but certainly not least, we chose Claire because she very kind and very patient.”

  • Katrina

    “Claire is kind, knowledgeable and professional. She really listened to my needs and has come up with a solid training plan for my service dog. I can't say enough good things about my experience working with her and her team.”

  • Irene

    “I very much enjoyed working with Claire. She is deliberate in her training program, having created a plan and helped us keep track of progress. She is confident in her handling of dogs, and is very in-tune with their body language which allows her to adjust her methods/theory to suit your dog. She gives great follow-up notes after each session. Claire is passionate about her work, and I hope to work with her again in the future.”

Committed to accessibility.

As a company working to benefit individuals with disabilities, we are committed to maintaining an open, inclusive, and accessible community. Here are some of the ways we foster inclusion:

  • Students are worked with at their own pace, and are never forced into situations they are uncomfortable with. Training never involves purposefully triggering medical episodes.

  • We are available for communication over the phone, over email, and through social media. 

  • We are flexible with physical and virtual meeting spaces to ensure students are met in an environment they feel confident working in.

  • Our prices are competitive, and we offer savings packages and incremental payments.

  • Most of all, we’re always open to suggestions on how to better accommodate our teams.

Compassion for all, without exception.

Positive reinforcement training extends beyond the dog. We strive for kindness, whether we’re interacting with students, their dogs, or the public. Our training methods are science-based, highly practised, and involve ongoing evaluation of the dog’s mental state while working. Dogs in our program love to work, and retain their own adoring personalities while off-duty. This means that you won’t see us using tools that have the ability to easily scare or hurt the dog, such as prong collars, e-collars, or slip leads.

Dependability, for your peace of mind.

Whether you need to be able to trust your dog to alert you of an oncoming medical episode, to retrieve objects you can’t reach from your wheelchair, to help you regain your senses after a panic attack in public, or any number of other tasks, know that our training is effective. A service dog should allow you freedom, and freedom requires trust in your animal. We use the most up-to-date methods in our training, and have access to a network of other professionals in the field to ensure you receive the best coaching.