Domino Service Dogs

What Domino Service Dogs does

Domino Service Dogs (DSD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2013 in Lakewood, Colorado, that operates a 24-month owner-trainer service dog program for people with disabilities across Colorado. Rather than placing pre-trained dogs, DSD teaches individuals with disabilities (or their families) to train their own service dogs through weekly instructional classes, private sessions, and real-world public access outings, using evidence-based, reward-based clicker training and TAGteach techniques led by CPDT-KA certified professionals. The core product portfolio includes the Owner-Trainer Program, the Caitlin Tyra Brady Training Fund (a permanent scholarship vehicle), expert instruction and evaluations, task and public access coaching, legal advocacy education on the ADA, FHA, and ACAA, lifelong alumni coaching, and a Team Sponsorship Program.

DSD is staffed by six employees, 75% of whom are program graduates or current students, and is governed by a board that includes executive directors of multiple Colorado independent living and disability rights organizations. The organization has supported over 200 owner-trained service dog teams since 2013 and claims a delivered training value of approximately $65,000 per scholarship recipient against a stated true program cost of $25,000 per team.

Revenue is generated through individual donations, recurring giving, Team Sponsorships, signature fundraising events (e.g., Paws & Pasta), community outreach, and government grants, with a 2025 major award from the Colorado Disability Opportunity Office (CDLE). Distribution is direct-to-handler through the Lakewood Training Center and statewide travel to Denver metro, Western Slope, Southern Colorado, and rural communities, with an online donation portal via Colorado Gives. The owner-trainer model is positioned as a lower-cost alternative to traditional agency placements ($25,000 versus $35,000-$65,000) and explicitly addresses age restrictions and waiting lists that exclude many handlers from conventional programs.

Name

Domino Service Dogs

Legal name

Domino Service Dogs

Website

https://dominoservicedogs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Domino Service Dogs is a Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs a 24-month owner-trainer program, teaching people with disabilities to train their own service dogs using evidence-based, reward-based methods led by CPDT-KA certified staff, with lifelong alumni support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Service Dog Training Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

Keywords

• Service dog training
• Disability services
• Owner-trainer program
• Service animal advocacy
• Nonprofit training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lakewood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the mission. One-time gifts, monthly recurring donations, and team sponsorships fully funding a team's $25,000 path to graduation.
2. Team Sponsorship: Corporate or individual sponsors fully fund a specific team's 24-month journey from first training day through graduation and beyond.
3. Event Fundraising: Signature events like Paws & Pasta fundraiser celebrating service dog teams, plus community event participation including beer/seltzer booths at festivals.
4. Government Grants: Major funding awarded by Colorado Disability Opportunity Office (CDLE) to support innovative disability programs serving Coloradans statewide.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Domino Service Dogs is a disability-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a structured 24-month Owner-Trainer Service Dog Program, empowering people with disabilities in Colorado to train their own service dogs using evidence-based, reward-based clicker training techniques. The program combines weekly instructional classes, private sessions tailored to specific medical needs, real-world public access training, legal advocacy education on ADA/FHA/ACAA, and lifelong alumni coaching. The full cost of providing a team is $25,000, which is subsidized through donations, team sponsorships, and the Caitlin Tyra Brady Training Fund scholarship.

Product overview

Domino Service Dogs (DSD) is a disability-led nonprofit offering a comprehensive 24-month owner-trainer service dog program that enables people with disabilities to train their own service dogs using ethical, evidence-based, reward-based techniques. The core offering consists of the Owner-Trainer Program supplemented by the Caitlin Tyra Brady Training Fund for financial assistance, Expert Instruction & Evaluations for professional coaching, Task & Public Access Coaching for real-world training, Legal Advocacy & Education for civil rights protection, and Lifelong Coaching & Support for ongoing alumni mentorship. Additional programs include the Team Sponsorship Program and Volunteer Program, all built around the 'Domino Effect' philosophy of community-driven independence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 200+ owner-trained service dog teams supported since 2013
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chinook FundcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPhilanthropic partner and community organization in Colorado. Barbara Henry is a current member of the Chinook Fund's Spring Cohort. DSD collaborates with Chinook Fund to create a more inclusive Colorado and strengthen disability advocacy.
• Northwest Colorado Center for Independence (NWCCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent living center based in Steamboat Springs. Executive Director Ian Engle serves on DSD's board. NWCCI focuses on rural advocacy ensuring individuals across the Western Slope have resources for self-directed lives.
• Center for People With Disabilities (CPWD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado disability advocacy organization. Executive Director Michael Neal serves on DSD's board. Works to ensure people with disabilities have housing, support systems, and resources for self-determined lives.
• Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (CCDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado disability rights organization. Board member Dawn Russell is a long-time advocate with CCDC and ADAPT. DSD collaborates with CCDC on legislative advocacy and civil rights protection.
• LDGR Accounting ServicesminorOthersAccounting firm founded by Tim Gordon, CPA, who serves as DSD Board Treasurer. Provides fiscal transparency and oversight as a founding owner of the firm.
• Performance Auto / Charity GarageminorGTM or Marketing PartnerColorado automotive business founded by board member Beau Allen. Charity Garage uses the automotive industry to support local nonprofits including DSD through community-driven business models.
• Local Businesses and Community OrganizationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDSD collaborates with local businesses and community organizations to create a more inclusive Colorado and strengthen the support network for service dog teams.
• Dogs at the RoxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganization mentioned in volunteer dress code for events. DSD volunteers may wear Dogs at the Rox shirts at community events.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• K9s For Warriors: Nonprofit providing service dogs to veterans with PTSD, TBI, and military sexual trauma. Comparable service dog training mission, donor-funded model, and focus on a defined disability population segment.
• Freedom Service Dogs: Colorado-based nonprofit providing custom-trained service dogs for veterans, active-duty military, and others with disabilities. Closest geographic peer, with comparable mission, training approach, and Colorado service area.
• Canine Companions for Independence: National nonprofit that trains and places service dogs with individuals with disabilities and veterans, free of charge. Most direct large-scale peer operating in the same service dog training and placement category, with a traditional agency model rather than owner-trainer.
• Paws With A Cause: National nonprofit that trains assistance dogs for people with disabilities and trains handler teams. Comparable service dog training mission, donor-funded structure, and recognized credentials-based methodology.
• NEADS World Class Service Dogs: Nonprofit that trains and places service dogs, trains inmates as puppy raisers, and provides service dogs to veterans and individuals with disabilities. Comparable training mission and nonprofit donation model.
• 4 Paws for Ability: Nonprofit that places service dogs with children, veterans, and others with disabilities, including a strong focus on owner empowerment and specialized task training. Similar mission focus and active use of community fundraising per team.

Emerging players

• International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP): Member-based organization of assistance dog partners that advocates for handler rights and minimum training standards. Comparable to DSD's ADA/legal advocacy component and helps legitimize the owner-trainer model.

Regional players

• Susquehanna Service Dogs: Pennsylvania-based nonprofit that raises, trains, and places service dogs with clients with disabilities. Comparable service dog training mission, but operates on the East Coast and is a regional rather than national non-profit.

Broad incumbents

• Guide Dogs for the Blind: One of the largest and most established service dog nonprofits in the US, primarily focused on guide dog placement. Broader incumbent in the service dog training space with a traditional agency model and significantly larger scale.
• Pet Partners: National nonprofit focused on therapy animal visits and handler training rather than service dog placement. Adjacent in animal-assisted human services and offers handler training/credentialing that overlaps with DSD's community training model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/dsdogs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dominoservicedogs
• Instagraminstagram.com/dominoservicedogs
• TikToktiktok.com/@dominoservicedogs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Domino Service Dogs