Can Do Canines
Can Do Canines is a Minnesota-based nonprofit founded in 1989 that trains and places six types of assistance dogs — mobility, autism, seizure, diabetes, hearing, and facility — free of charge to people with disabilities, primarily in Minnesota and Wisconsin, supported by an in-house breeding program, a prison puppy training network, and donation-based funding.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersHope, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Can Do Canines does
Can Do Canines is a private nonprofit organization founded in 1989 and headquartered at the WAG Center in New Hope, Minnesota, that trains and places assistance dogs with people with disabilities at no cost. The organization places six categories of dogs — Mobility Assist, Autism Assist, Seizure Assist, Diabetes Assist, Hearing Assist, and Facility Dogs — plus two newer offerings (Skilled Home Companions and the Owner-Provided Dog Program), with dogs typically training for 2–2.5 years before placement. The organization has placed more than 1,000 assistance dog-client teams since inception, with the 1,000th placement celebrated in May 2026.
The core operating technology consists of an in-house breeding program, a customized dog-client matching process, and a network of volunteer puppy raisers, with the distinctive Prison Puppy Program placing dogs in nine correctional facilities across Minnesota and Wisconsin for 24/7 socialization and early training. Training is conducted at the WAG Center campus and via university partnerships (e.g., UW-River Falls FETCH program). Corporate volunteer groups such as Best Buy's PAW Pack and dozens of Lions Club chapters provide community-based supply and demand infrastructure.
The business model is donation-funded, not commercial. Revenue streams are individual contributions, event-based fundraising (Fetching Ball Gala, Can Do Woofaroo, Capes & Cocktails, graduations), corporate sponsorships (litter, team, event, puppy naming), and merchandise sales. All dogs are provided free of charge to clients; the organization is ADI-accredited, holds Candid Platinum Transparency, and is governed by an independent board under Executive Director Jeff Johnson and Director of Training Julianne Larsen. Distribution is currently limited to Minnesota and Wisconsin, with a campus expansion underway under the 2026 Unleashing Independence Capital Campaign.
Can Do Canines firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Can Do Canines
- Legal name
- Can Do Canines
- Website
- https://candocanines.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Can Do Canines is a Minnesota-based nonprofit founded in 1989 that trains and places six types of assistance dogs — mobility, autism, seizure, diabetes, hearing, and facility — free of charge to people with disabilities, primarily in Minnesota and Wisconsin, supported by an in-house breeding program, a prison puppy training network, and donation-based funding.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Can Do Canines industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Assistance Dog Services
- NAICS
- Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Behavioral Medicine & Training-Integrated Veterinary Services (HLAMAAAI)
Keywords
Where Can Do Canines is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hope
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Can Do Canines business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Contributions and Donations: Can Do Canines relies primarily on individual contributions to support its operations. Donors contribute at various levels, with detailed donor recognition programs including Legacy Club for planned giving, workplace giving programs, and various sponsorship opportunities.
- Event-Based Fundraising: The organization hosts multiple fundraising events throughout the year including the Fetching Ball Gala (annual spring gala), Can Do Woofaroo (family festival in September), graduation ceremonies, and open houses. These events generate revenue through ticket sales, sponsorships, and donations.
- Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Corporate partners provide financial support through various programs including litter sponsors, team sponsors, event sponsors, and puppy naming opportunities. Best Buy's PAW Pack program is one example of corporate volunteer group involvement.
- Merchandise Sales: The organization sells merchandise including branded items through their online store, generating additional revenue for operations.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Can Do Canines product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Can Do Canines breeds, trains, and places specialized assistance dogs — including Mobility Assist, Autism Assist, Seizure Assist, Diabetes Assist, Hearing Assist, and Facility Dogs — at no cost to people with disabilities in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The organization also offers Skilled Home Companions and an Owner-Provided Dog Program that trains clients' own dogs. Dogs are trained for 2-2.5 years, custom-matched to each client, and delivered with handler training and lifetime support.
Product overview
Can Do Canines is a nonprofit assistance dog organization providing six types of specially trained dogs free of charge to individuals with disabilities in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The organization offers Mobility Assist Dogs, Autism Assist Dogs, Seizure Assist Dogs, Diabetes Assist Dogs, Hearing Assist Dogs, and Facility Dogs as its core service offerings. Since 1989, the organization has placed over 1,000 assistance dogs. Supporting these core services are the Client Services Portal (for graduate support) and Puppy Program Portal (for volunteer puppy raisers), along with additional programs like Skilled Home Companions and the Owner-Provided Dog Program.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mobility Assist Dogs Specially trained assistance dogs placed with individuals with mobility challenges. Dogs perform tasks such as picking up dropped items, opening doors, turning lights on/off, and providing physical stability for walking or standing. Provided free of charge to clients in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
- Autism Assist Dogs Trained dogs placed with children on the autism spectrum, particularly those who are nonverbal or prone to bolting. Dogs provide safety tethering to prevent wandering, emotional regulation, and companionship. Provided free of charge.
- Seizure Assist Dogs Trained assistance dogs for individuals with seizure disorders. Dogs are trained to remain calm during seizures, retrieve help, and provide comfort during post-seizure recovery. Provided free of charge.
- Diabetes Assist Dogs Trained assistance dogs for individuals with Type 1 Diabetes complicated by hypoglycemia unawareness. Dogs detect low blood sugar through scent and provide advance alerts before dangerous hypoglycemic episodes. Provided free of charge.
- Hearing Assist Dogs Trained assistance dogs for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Dogs alert to important environmental sounds including smoke alarms, doorbells, phone calls, and alarm clocks. Provided free of charge.
- Facility Dogs Trained assistance dogs placed in professional facilities such as hospitals, police departments, and educational institutions. Dogs work alongside staff to provide comfort, support, and specialized assistance to patients, victims, students, or community members.
- Skilled Home Companions Dogs trained to provide companionship and limited assistance for individuals who may not qualify for full assistance dog placement. A companion-tier service offered free of charge.
- Owner-Provided Dog Program A program that trains dogs owned by individuals with disabilities, enabling them to work with their own pet as an assistance dog. Provided free of charge as part of the mission.
Quantifiable outcome
- More than 1,000 assistance dogs provided to individuals since 1989
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Can Do Canines
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Can Do Canines technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Can Do Canines partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, notable and minor.
- Assistance Dogs InternationalcoreAccredited member of Assistance Dogs International since establishment. ADI is the international accrediting body for assistance dog organizations, setting standards for training and welfare.
- Correctional Facilities (9 prisons in Minnesota and Wisconsin)corePartnership with nine prisons throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin for the Prison Puppy Program. Inmates share cells with dogs, providing 24/7 care while receiving weekly instruction from Can Do Canines staff. Includes Stanley Correctional Institution, Faribault Prison, Federal Medical Center, and more.
- Best Buy (PAW Pack Program)notableBest Buy's PAW Pack is a corporate volunteer program where employees volunteer to raise and train assistance dogs. Launched in 2022 with employees hosting puppies in their homes during early training phases.
- Lions Clubs (Multiple Chapters)notableNumerous Lions Club chapters across Minnesota and Wisconsin donate at various levels ($500-$999, $1,000-$2,499, $2,500-$4,999, $5,000+). Organizations include Alexandria Lions Club, Anoka Lions Club, Rochester Host Lions Club, and dozens more.
- Federal Medical Center (Prison Program)coreFederal Medical Center in Rochester, MN participates in the prison puppy program, housing puppies for training as assistance dogs.
- UW-River Falls (FETCH Program)notableUniversity of Wisconsin-River Falls partnership through the FETCH (Friends Teaching Dogs) program, where students participate in assistance dog training.
- Star Tribune (Media Partnership)minorRegular coverage in Star Tribune newspaper and involvement in Give to the Max Day Minnesota.
- Google (Super Bowl Commercial)notableFeatured in a Google Super Bowl commercial in February 2025, significantly raising national awareness for the organization.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Can Do Canines competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Guide Dogs for the Blind: One of the largest and oldest ADI-accredited guide dog schools in the U.S., training guide dogs for the blind and visually impaired at no cost. Overlaps with Can Do Canines on the assistance-dog mission and free-of-charge model, but is much larger and more narrowly focused on guide work.
Direct peers
- Paws With a Cause: Michigan-based ADI-accredited nonprofit that trains mobility, hearing, seizure, and autism assistance dogs, plus facility dogs, at no cost to clients. Operates a volunteer puppy raiser network similar in structure to Can Do Canines' community model.
- Service Dogs Inc. Texas-based ADI-accredited organization that custom-trains assistance dogs for mobility, hearing, and other disability-related tasks and provides them free to clients. Closely matches Can Do Canines' customized dog-client matching approach.
- Freedom Service Dogs: Colorado-based nonprofit that trains and places service dogs (mobility, PTSD, autism) with veterans and others with disabilities at no cost. Comparable in client segments, training approach, and reliance on volunteer puppy raisers.
- Canine Companions for Independence: National nonprofit that trains and places multiple types of assistance dogs (mobility, hearing, service, facility) free of charge to clients with disabilities, and is ADI accredited. Operates regional training centers across multiple states, making it the most direct comparand to Can Do Canines' multi-type service model.
- NEADS World Class Service Dogs: ADI-accredited nonprofit that trains multiple service dog types (mobility, hearing, autism, PTSD) and places them with clients at no cost. Comparable in mission, training pipeline, and client-funded model to Can Do Canines.
- Dogs for Better Lives: Oregon-based nonprofit (formerly Dogs for the Deaf) that trains hearing assistance dogs and autism/mobility service dogs, placing them free of charge. Direct comparand in assistance-dog categories and free-of-charge delivery model.
- America's VetDogs: ADI-accredited nonprofit that trains guide, service, hearing, and facility dogs for veterans with disabilities free of charge, leveraging a national volunteer network. Comparable in placement model, though focused specifically on veterans.
- Patriot Paws Service Dogs: Texas-based nonprofit that trains and donates service dogs to disabled American veterans. Comparable in donation-funded, free-of-charge placement model, though narrower in target client population.
- K-9 Partners for Independence: Ohio-based nonprofit that trains mobility, hearing, autism, and seizure alert dogs for clients with disabilities and provides them free of charge. Closely comparable in service mix, free delivery, and volunteer-driven operations.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Can Do Canines social profiles
Digital presenceCan Do Canines financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Can Do Canines leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Can Do Canines funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Can Do Canines M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Can Do Canines
What does Can Do Canines do?
Can Do Canines breeds, trains, and places specialized assistance dogs — including Mobility Assist, Autism Assist, Seizure Assist, Diabetes Assist, Hearing Assist, and Facility Dogs — at no cost to people with disabilities in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The organization also offers Skilled Home Companions and an Owner-Provided Dog Program that trains clients' own dogs. Dogs are trained for 2-2.5 years, custom-matched to each client, and delivered with handler training and lifetime support.
Is Can Do Canines a public or private company?
Can Do Canines is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Can Do Canines founded?
Can Do Canines was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Can Do Canines based?
Can Do Canines is headquartered in Hope, United States, in the North America region.
How does Can Do Canines make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Contributions and Donations are the primary driver. The others are event-Based Fundraising, corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships and merchandise Sales.
Who are Can Do Canines's main competitors?
Guide Dogs for the Blind is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Paws With a Cause, Service Dogs Inc., Freedom Service Dogs, Canine Companions for Independence, NEADS World Class Service Dogs, Dogs for Better Lives, America's VetDogs, Patriot Paws Service Dogs and K-9 Partners for Independence.
Does Can Do Canines have an API?
No public API is recorded for Can Do Canines.
What industry is Can Do Canines in?
Can Do Canines's product category is Assistance Dog Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAMAAAI, Behavioral Medicine & Training-Integrated Veterinary Services. Its NAICS code is 81291 and its SIC code is 8300.