Young people show up for the dog.
They stay for what happens next.
GPS K9 brings trained dogs and real lessons into schools, youth programs, and community organizations across Connecticut. Participants practice communication, patience, responsibility and teamwork by working with a dog who is right there in the room.
We have run programs in Manchester, New Haven, Bridgeport and Litchfield. More than 100 young people so far, and adults too.
We use dog training as a mirror
for human behavior.
Participants find out how they are coming across,
from a dog who cannot pretend otherwise.
Participants learn how their energy, their emotions and the way they communicate affect a dog. Then they start noticing the same patterns everywhere else in their lives.
A dog responds to what you are actually doing, not to what you meant. That is the whole method. You cannot talk your way around it, and it never feels like being lectured.
Whether we are working with youth leadership groups, recovery programs, re-entry organizations or community partners, the workshops build confidence, calm and connection.
what to Expect
Gamification that gets people moving and interacting
Leadership & Team work challenges
Hands-on dog handling
Community-Building Activities
Giveaways and prizes to keep the energy up
Who we work with
we Build programs with:
Youth services bureaus
public schools
independent and Montessori schools
summer youth employment programs
re-entry organizations
recovery programs.
We continue to expand our partnerships. We are actively building toward increased collaboration with behavioral health programs.
Start with an Hour.
Or build a full term.
One-day workshops.
A single, focused session built around one clear lesson or specific goal your group is already working on. This is how most partners begin.
4, 6, 8, and 10-week programs.
Weekly sessions with the same group, giving participants time to practice, observe what is changing, and steadily improve.
Guidance
Participants receive hands-on instruction, coaching, and personalized feedback, practicing with a real dog rather than filling out a worksheet.
Purpose
Every activity thoughtfully connects something about the dog to a practical insight the participant can use in their own life.
Service
Every program includes a meaningful community service project. Participants actively contribute to their own communities as an integral part of the curriculum.
WE COME TO YOU. PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED AROUND YOUR GROUP, YOUR SPACE, AND YOUR SCHEDULE.
pACKED WITH pURPOSE
Dog Lessons. Life Skills. Real Growth.
Packed With Purpose uses dogs, demonstrations, careful observation, guided discussion, and interactive group activities to explore communication, confidence, emotional awareness, responsibility, teamwork, boundaries, dog safety, and problem-solving. Working with a dog makes these concepts concrete and immediately relatable. A young person can see, right away, what happens when they change how they speak, how they stand, or how they set limits. The dog responds honestly every time, giving clear, real-time feedback that strengthens learning.
Programs for Adults
Recovery & Re-entry programs
The work remains the same at its core, even as the way it is conducted can differ. Adults bring their entire history into the room with them. The dog does not care about any of that, and that indifference is part of why the process is effective. What people practice here is patience, learning to read a situation, staying steady when things do not go their way, and trying again with quiet persistence.
Ronn is a trained recovery coach as well as a dog trainer, and that dual background makes a real difference in these rooms.
K9 COmmunity Walk-Throughs
Sometimes a group doesn’t need a program.
they need a good hour.
A canine community walk-through is a facilitated session with a dog present: positive interaction, guided conversation, some education about dogs, and time that feels different from the rest of the week. We use these for staff wellness days, drop-in groups, and organizations who want to see how their people respond before committing to more.
Workforce Readiness WOrkshops
The things an Employer asks for
are the things a dog asks for
Show up. Be clear. Stay steady when it is not going your way. Follow through. Read the room and adjust.
Our workforce readiness workshops use dog handling to practice exactly that. Participants work on communication, patience, accountability, teamwork and professional behavior, and they get feedback from an animal with no interest in being polite about it. You find out fast whether you are actually communicating clearly.
Bring GPS K9 to your organization
Tell us a little about your group and we will get back to you within 2 business days.
Clients
