How Frankie the doodle became a service dog and our client for a lifetime

When we train the service dogs to be reliable assistants, we also help prepare their handlers for real everyday encounters, and often this is not the easy task when we are working with people with anxiety or, PTSD or other psychiatric or psychological conditions.  Our responsibility is not only to make sure their dogs are highly reliable under all kinds of distractions, we also have to make sure our students become a synchronized dog/handler team ready for anything! 

Not every dog is suitable for the task and many are not capable of staying reliable...  We have to be careful and strict when we  access and evaluate each handler's abilities and needs as well as the dogs.

Mariah and Frankie are one of the many teams we worked with last year, and not only Frankie is a very talented pup, but their very strong connection and Mariah's dedication was striking from the first consultation meeting! 

Here is Mariah's Story in her own words:

Before working with Dogsports4u Academy, I was looking for a reliable, professional solution to help train Frankie as a service dog. I wanted him to not only be well-behaved, but confident, focused, and capable of supporting me in real-world environments. Frankie started training around 7–8 months old, and I knew early on that setting a strong foundation was critical—especially for public access, travel, and day-to-day life. I needed guidance from experienced trainers who truly understood service dog standards and could help us grow as a team, not just teach basic obedience

I was very new to the area when I found Dogsports4u and I did A LOT of research. I chose Dogsports4u Academy because of their depth of knowledge and their personalized approach to training service dogs. When I saw that Olga had been to the Olympics with her dog I knew that she must know what she is doing! The first time I met Olga, she was so personable with me and knew exactly what Frankie was going to need after spending an hour with him and helped formulate an individualized training plan that worked with my schedule. Irina worked with Frankie week after week and from the start, it was clear they cared about the success of both Frankie & I. The variety of training options—group classes with other dogs, private one-on-one service dog sessions, fitness classes, and group service dog work—really stood out to me. Training in real environments like Wellen Park, UTC, Home Depot, and traveling all around the county, helped Frankie and I become confident and reliable anywhere we go- most notably the airport and airplane! Frankie has flown so many times since training and he is an amazing flyer. Olga & Irina truly set us up for real-life success, not just training inside a classroom.

The process of working with Dogsports4u Academy was smooth, supportive, and well-organized from start to finish. Communication was always clear and consistent—whether it was scheduling sessions, asking questions, or getting feedback, Olga & Irina were always available and responsive. I never felt rushed or overlooked, and every question I had was answered with patience and care. Training sessions were consistent, structured, and tailored to Frankie’s progress, while still pushing us to reach higher goals. The trainers truly took the time to understand Frankie as an individual dog and me as his handler, adjusting training sessions when needed to ensure long-term success. I still communicate with Olga & Irina, whether it’s asking advice on treats, food, or a brand of ear drops for dogs, they have always been there holistically for Frankie.

The impact Dogsports4u Academy has had on both my life and Frankie’s life has been incredible. Frankie is now a fully trained service dog who confidently flies on airplanes with me, accompanies me into stores and restaurants, and handles new environments with ease. He is an incredible walker on a leash now and a very good listener. Everywhere we go, people comment on how so amazing, calm, and well-trained he is—and I’m constantly asked where he was trained and if the cost was worth it. 10/10 times I say it was!!! I’ve proudly referred countless people to my trainers because I genuinely believe in the program and the results. I would take Frankie back for more group trainings and fitness classes because I enjoyed the exposure he also had to other dogs. Beyond the skills Frankie learned, the training strengthened our bond and built trust between us. Training here has given me confidence, independence, and a service dog I can rely on every single day.

Mariah Ferriero and Frankie

North Port, FL