Liberty Dogs
A flagship initiative of the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation, Liberty Dogs™ is a national Service Dog training and placement program for U.S. military Veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD). Based in Reno, Nevada, and scheduled to open in the Summer of 2026, Liberty Dogs offers hope and dignity for Veterans seeking support for their healing and recovery.
On campus, Veterans will spend two weeks living and training with their Liberty Service Dog™, leaving prepared to lead more independent and fulfilling lives. All services are offered at no cost to program participants.
Liberty Service Dogs will be trained to conduct a wide variety of tasks through extensive training and development. Our staff places special emphasis on finding the ideal Veteran-Service Dog team. This ambitious initiative aims to serve as a national leader in Veteran support and canine partnerships.
Maggie, a Liberty Dogs puppy-in-training, is currently living, training, and socializing with a volunteer puppy raiser. When you join the team of puppy raisers, you’ll do more than care for a dog; you'll create a lifeline for a hero.
Our Campus
Currently under construction in Reno, Nevada, the all-inclusive, state-of-the art Liberty Dogs campus includes specialized training facilities, comfortable dog housing, administrative and multipurpose buildings, and onsite accommodations for Veterans participating in the two-week training program.
The campus also includes a dedicated veterinary clinic to ensure the health and wellness of the dogs, and specialized breeding and whelping facilities to support the program’s growth. This comprehensive approach will allow Liberty Dogs to manage all critical aspects of the program, ensuring the highest standards of care.
Opening our doors to Veterans in Summer 2026! Watch weekly updates of our construction progress here.
Veteran Applicants
Liberty Dogs is currently busy training puppies for our first cohort of Veteran participants, so we are not yet considering applications to participate in the program. If you would like to be notified when the application process opens, please share your contact information on our inquiry form on this page.
To be eligible, applicants should be U.S. Veterans with a VA-diagnosed service-connected post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) condition. The screening process involves background checks, coordination with mental health providers, and an in-person skills assessment.
