Our Philosophy

At Veterans With Dogs, our philosophy is rooted in three core values: Respect, Care, and Compassion.

These principles guide our approach to creating transformative partnerships

between veterans and their assistance dogs.

Through these core values of Respect, Care, and Compassion, we aim to create partnerships that are not just functional, but truly transformative for both veterans and their assistance dogs. Our bond-based approach, including innovative methods like Bond-Based Option Learning (BBOL)™, ensures that our assistance dogs and their human partners form deep, intuitive connections that enhance their lives in profound ways.

Bond-Based Option Learning

At Veterans With Dogs, we've pioneered a groundbreaking educational approach: Bond-Based Option Learning (BBOL)™.

This innovative system, developed exclusively by our organisation, revolutionises the way we understand and nurture the relationship

between veterans and their assistance dogs.

Respect

We treat every person as a unique individual, acknowledging their personal life experiences and challenges.

This respect extends to both our veterans and their canine partners, recognizing the dignity and worth of each participant in our programme. By valuing individuality, we foster an environment where veterans feel understood and supported throughout their journey.

Care

We are committed to providing exemplary care for our assistance dogs. Our approach transcends traditional command-based training by engaging our dogs in a collaborative learning process. This care ensures that our dogs are empowered to thrive, developing strong bonds with their human partners and enhancing their overall well-being.

Compassion

We approach our work with genuine empathy and understanding.

Our programme is designed to enrich lives through companionship, promote personal growth for both veterans and canines, and create lasting, meaningful partnerships built on mutual understanding and support. By embracing compassion, we strive to make a profound impact on the lives of those we serve.

We champion a unique philosophy in assistance dog training: the bond-based approach. This method is rooted in our core values of Respect, Care, and Compassion, and goes beyond traditional command-driven techniques.

True Partnership

We believe in fostering genuine partnerships between veterans and their assistance dogs. Our approach emphasises:

Living and working together as equal companions
Developing mutual trust and understanding
Building confidence in both the veteran and the dog

The Power of Connection

Our bond-based approach is founded on the conviction that profound, enduring connections yield remarkable results. These relationships:

Create an intuitive understanding between veteran and dog
Enable dogs to offer spontaneous, unprompted assistance
Provide support precisely when it's needed most

Through this bond-based approach, we witness the emergence of truly extraordinary assistance dog partnerships — ones that transform lives and exemplify the deep connection possible between humans and canines.

A Unique Approach

BBOL™ is rooted in social learning principles and goes beyond traditional training methods:

It empowers veterans to truly understand their dogs' individual needs
It equips dogs with the skills to regulate their own behaviour effectively
The focus is on fostering a deep, intuitive bond rather than mechanical responses

Our approach is designed to create a balanced, mutually beneficial partnership:

Veterans learn to interpret and respond to their dog's unique communication style
Dogs are encouraged to make independent decisions based on their partner's needs
Both partners develop a heightened sense of trust and understanding

BBOL™ transcends the limitations of conventional command-based training:

Instead of relying solely on cues, dogs learn to read and respond to situations
The emphasis is on promoting the dog's natural problem-solving abilities
This approach results in more spontaneous and tailored assistance

The BBOL™ method offers lasting advantages for both veterans and their assistance dogs:

It cultivates a deeper, more meaningful bond between partners
The skills learned are adaptable to various situations and environments
This approach promotes ongoing growth and development in the partnership