The Smoky Mountain Service Dog Foundation

The Smoky Mountain Service Dogs (SMSD) are our favorite working pups, and they are doing fantastic work in 2024!

The SMSD Foundation matches working dogs to wounded veterans with service-connected physical disabilities. They’ll also place dogs in facilities settings with a veteran when the pup is more suited to facility work.

SMSD doesn’t just match pups to heroes though; they train cohorts of working dogs, starting when they’re tiny pups. So what does it take to become a Smoky Mountain Service Dog?

Here’s a little insight into the journey each SMSD candidate takes to become the furry heroes they are.

Start Training Young SMSD implements a structured training program that starts when the pups are just eight weeks old. Each fur baby is placed in the home of a volunteer puppy raiser . In the care of these volunteers, the pups receive guidance, love, and exposure to new experiences until they turn one year old.

Start Training Young

SMSD implements a structured training program that starts when the pups are just eight weeks old. Each fur baby is placed in the home of a volunteer puppy raiser . In the care of these volunteers, the pups receive guidance, love, and exposure to new experiences until they turn one year old.

Train & Assess At one year old, the Smoky Mountain Service Dogs undergo a thorough examination and are neutered. Then, they transition to the kennel to begin full-time advanced training in mobility assistance tasks. Volunteers at the kennel help with weekend respite, environmental exposure, and social interactions for a well-rounded experience.

Train & Assess

At one year old, the Smoky Mountain Service Dogs undergo a thorough examination and are neutered. Then, they transition to the kennel to begin full-time advanced training in mobility assistance tasks. Volunteers at the kennel help with weekend respite, environmental exposure, and social interactions for a well-rounded experience.

Advanced Fostering & Pairing Once the dogs pass their final assessment (usually around the 18 month old mark), the pups are moved to advanced foster homes. These fosters keep up task training until the SMSDs are ready to be paired with their veteran — usually around 2-2 ½ years old. The entire training program is structured by specialists to ensure that the working pups can make a meaningful impact on the lives of their veterans. Steve Reith, an advanced foster for SMSD Kola, says, “As an advanced foster you are constantly asked how we can give them up. I always say that it’s not easy, but it is so rewarding to see the difference they make in the life of a deserving veteran.”

Advanced Fostering & Pairing

Once the dogs pass their final assessment (usually around the 18 month old mark), the pups are moved to advanced foster homes. These fosters keep up task training until the SMSDs are ready to be paired with their veteran — usually around 2-2 ½ years old. The entire training program is structured by specialists to ensure that the working pups can make a meaningful impact on the lives of their veterans. Steve Reith, an advanced foster for SMSD Kola, says, “As an advanced foster you are constantly asked how we can give them up. I always say that it’s not easy, but it is so rewarding to see the difference they make in the life of a deserving veteran.”

Now, An SMSD Update!

In the last three months since our last update , the SMSD team has flourished. In 2023, the organization graduated 7 new teams of service dogs, including 3 facility teams. They placed eight SMSD pups — 5 with veterans and 3 as facility dogs. We are so proud of these sweet working pups!

The SMSD Foundation also brought in 4 new SMSDs in January! Welcome Oak II, Clancey, Jerry, and Dusty. These new fur babies in training are working hard and looking precious while doing it.

If you want to follow along with these SMSD team, you can follow them on Facebook and take a look at the year in review. Trainers took daily videos and photos throughout 2023, and they’re all available for your viewing.

Volunteer And Help The SMSD

The Smoky Mountain Service Dog Foundation is actively looking for volunteers to contribute as puppy raisers, volunteers, sponsors, donors, and more. Consider the following ways to help out this amazing organization:

• Raise a Puppy: One of the more significant roles you can take on in the SMSD Foundation. Puppy raisers volunteer to raise a new 8 month old puppy for 9-12 months. In certain cases, puppies are co-raised with another volunteer to foster collaboration and ease stressors.
• Donate: If time is a barrier, consider giving money. Donating any amount to the organization makes a massive impact! Learn more about the costs of the foundation and how to donate here.
• Follow and Share: Stay connected with the Smoky Mountain Service Dogs by following along on social media. If you can, share their posts! Spreading the word helps them find more volunteers to help in the future.

• Raise a Puppy: One of the more significant roles you can take on in the SMSD Foundation. Puppy raisers volunteer to raise a new 8 month old puppy for 9-12 months. In certain cases, puppies are co-raised with another volunteer to foster collaboration and ease stressors.
• Donate: If time is a barrier, consider giving money. Donating any amount to the organization makes a massive impact! Learn more about the costs of the foundation and how to donate here.
• Follow and Share: Stay connected with the Smoky Mountain Service Dogs by following along on social media. If you can, share their posts! Spreading the word helps them find more volunteers to help in the future.

The job of a good service dog is to bring ease and joy to the lives of people they assist. The Smoky Mountain Service Dogs are excellent at their job! These furry friends are making a meaningful impact in the lives of our nation’s heroes — and we are so proud of each one of them. If you’re an eligible veteran in the Great Smoky Mountain region, you can apply for the SMSD program here.

Read Jason's Experience Given the extent of Jason’s injuries while in Iraq, we never thought it possible for him to benefit from a service dog. As you know, his service dog, Freedom has helped Jason far more than anyone could have expected. Jason requires assistance 24/7. With Freedom’s assistance, we are able to give Jason some independence. That independence however, does not include Jason running his own errands. The service pawTree provides is one less burden. The healthiest dog food just magically appears on our doorstep each month. As you can see by the attached picture, Freedom has maintained a healthy weight all these years. And because this service is provided to Jason, he doesn’t realize that this is an errand he is unable to do.

Read Jason's Experience

Given the extent of Jason’s injuries while in Iraq, we never thought it possible for him to benefit from a service dog. As you know, his service dog, Freedom has helped Jason far more than anyone could have expected. Jason requires assistance 24/7. With Freedom’s assistance, we are able to give Jason some independence. That independence however, does not include Jason running his own errands. The service PawTree provides is one less burden. The healthiest dog food just magically appears on our doorstep each month. As you can see by the attached picture, Freedom has maintained a healthy weight all these years. And because this service is provided to Jason, he doesn’t realize that this is an errand he is unable to do.

pawTree is proud to support the foundation by providing holistic products to these heroic dogs, enhancing their well-being and giving back to our nation’s heroes.

You Might Also Like

Spotlight On Smoky Mountain Service Dogs Read More

Supporting Our Heroes: Updates From Smoky Mountain Service Dogs Read More

Service and Sacrifice: A 'second' service dog Read More

Spotlight On Smoky Mountain Service Dogs

Read More

Supporting Our Heroes: Updates From Smoky Mountain Service Dogs

Read More

Service and Sacrifice: A 'second' service dog

Read More