A working dog can change a life, but only when the match is right. From the floor of the Abilities Expo in Dallas, we sit down with Kristin Hartness, a veteran service dog user and leader at Canines for Disabled Kids, to unpack how carefully trained dogs restore independence, safety, and joy for both adults and children. Kristin shares how user voices have reshaped the service dog industry—expanding task training, raising standards, and centering real-world needs over assumptions.
We get practical about what actually makes a great partnership: task lists designed around daily life, temperament and drive that fit your routines, and the reality of washout rates that influence whether a dog should be purpose-bred or rescued. Kristin explains why programs typically train first and match later, how alerts can be barks or button presses depending on environment, and why lifestyle details—travel, public access, cuddly vs high-drive—matter as much as skill. Her stories illuminate the stakes, from a stylus retrieval that keeps a quadriplegic professional communicating, to seizure-alert dogs that give kids safe access to the playground without sidelining them from friends.
We also talk about the emotional core of this work: losing a partner dog, taking time to grieve, and still choosing to honor their legacy by continuing to live fully with the next partner. It’s a grounded, humane look at assistive technology that happens to have four legs and a heartbeat. If you’re considering a service dog or advising someone who is, you’ll find clear guidance on training pathways, matching criteria, and how to advocate for the support you need.
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