Domino Service Dogs (DSD) is a Lakewood-based 501(c)(3) disability-led nonprofit dedicated to breaking down the financial and systemic barriers to service dog ownership. We empower individuals with physical or psychiatric disabilities to train their own life-saving service dogs using humane, positive reinforcement methods.
Eliminating Multi-Year Waitlists: Our 2-year curriculum allows handlers to begin training right away, often working with a suitable dog candidate they already own.
Restoring Autonomy & Dignity: We train the handler as much as the dog, empowering individuals to advocate for their rights under the ADA and gain confidence in public settings,
Ending Isolation: Our Lakewood training facility serves as a community hub where handlers connect with peers, build lasting support networks, and experience the "Domino Effect" of community independence.
Our teams learn tailored task training specifically designed for their individual needs:
Mobility Assistance: Item retrieval, wheelchair pulling assistance, door operation, and stability support.
Psychiatric & Medical Alert: Deep Pressure Therapy (DPT), medical distress alerts, and boundary creation in crowds.
Organization: Domino Service Dogs
Founder & Origin: Founded in 2012 by Barbara Henry in honor of her daughter, Caitlin Tyra Brady.
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) Disability-Led Nonprofit.
Impact: Over 200 service dog teams empowered across Colorado.
Colorado Gives Profile: https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/dominoservicedogs
100+ Certified Graduates: Successfully graduated over 100 service dog teams through our comprehensive multi-year curriculum.
35+ Active Teams in Training: Currently guiding dozens of active handler-dog teams through weekly classes, task training, and public access preparation.
$25,000–$35,000 Grant Support Secured Per Dog: DSD actively secures $25,000 to $35,000 in grant funding per dog to bridge the financial gap and offset the true cost of multi-year professional training.
$7,500 Out-of-Pocket Client Cap: Client tuition is capped at just $7,500 for the entire 2-year program—removing up to $35,000 in personal debt compared to traditional $25,000–$45,000 placement fees.
3,000+ Instructional Hours: Delivered thousands of hours of specialized, positive-reinforcement training instruction and client coaching.
Domino Service Dogs (DSD) is a Lakewood, Colorado–based 501(c)(3) disability-led nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals with physical and psychiatric disabilities to train their own service dogs. Founded in 2012 by Barbara Henry in honor of her late daughter, Caitlin Tyra Brady, DSD removes the financial barriers of traditional service dog agencies by providing a comprehensive, 2-year owner-training curriculum using positive, reward-based methods. DSD serves as both an educational program
Downtown Denver Urban Plaza Navigation (0:28). Domino Service Dogs teams demonstrate urban public access and crowd navigation through a brick pedestrian plaza in Denver. (Video: Courtesy of Domino Service Dogs)
Domino Service Dogs teams demonstrate controlled building entrances and group class manners outside Shepherd of the Hills. (Video: Courtesy of Domino Service Dogs)
Domino Service Dogs teams demonstrate urban public access manners while crossing a pedestrian bridge. (Video: Courtesy of Domino Service Dogs)
This video demonstrates real-world examples of service dogs navigating urban environments and street crossings in sync with their handlers. (00:28)
Vehicle Manners: Team Goldie. Service dog Team Goldie demonstrates controlled loading, impulse control, and calm settling behavior during a vehicle manners training exercise. (Video: Courtesy of Domino Service Dogs)
RTD Access-a-Ride Hydraulic Lift Practice (0:30). Team Karma demonstrates public transit access and lift navigation on an RTD Access-a-Ride vehicle during DSD's Public Transport Day. (Video: Courtesy of Domino Service Dogs)
