Help Dogs Stay Home. Help Shelter Dogs Find Home.

Dog Training Assistance Program — Spokane County, Washington

At Homeward Bound by Willowbrook, we believe that every dog deserves the opportunity to succeed in a loving home.

Behavioral challenges can place tremendous stress on families, and professional dog training is not always financially accessible. Shelter and rescue dogs may also benefit from additional training and support as they prepare for adoption.

Our Dog Training Assistance Program is being developed to help address these challenges throughout Spokane County.

Our goal is simple: prevent unnecessary surrenders, support successful adoptions, and keep more dogs in loving homes.

Keeping Families Together

Sometimes families love their dogs deeply but struggle with behaviors they don't know how to manage.

Our planned program will help qualifying Spokane County families access professional training through approved training partners.

Training may address:

• Leash walking and basic obedience

• Jumping and excessive barking

• Household manners and impulse control

• Socialization and confidence building

• Adjustment to changes in the home

• Other behavioral challenges assessed by a qualified trainer

Rather than giving cash directly to pet owners, Homeward Bound coordinates with approved services and pays participating trainers directly.

Program status: Training assistance is currently in development. Services will become available as funding and qualified trainer partnerships are secured.

Preparing Shelter Dogs for Adoption

Some shelter and rescue dogs need additional support to build confidence, develop everyday skills, or adjust to unfamiliar environments.

Homeward Bound plans to collaborate with Spokane County shelters and rescue organizations to provide professional training support for eligible dogs.

Our goals include helping dogs develop skills that support adoption, giving potential adopters practical guidance, and helping newly adopted dogs adjust successfully to their homes.

How Your Donation Helps

Your donation will help establish and support our Dog Training Assistance Program, including professional trainer services, behavior assessments, training supplies, and follow-up support.

We are working toward an initial $25,000 training fund to help launch the program in Spokane County.

Every contribution brings us closer to providing practical assistance for dogs and the people who care for them.

Help fund second chances—one dog, one family, one training session at a time.

Training Can Change a Dog's Future

2.8 million dogs entered U.S. shelters and rescues in 2025.

Behavioral challenges are one of the reasons families make the heartbreaking decision to surrender their pets. In a 2024 study examining 2,836 dog relinquishment records,  more than half cited behavioral issues.

Research also suggests that relatively few dog owners seek professional help for behavioral problems.

At Homeward Bound by Willowbrook, we're working to change that.

Our Dog Training Assistance Program is being developed to provide qualifying Spokane County families and shelter dogs with access to professional training.

Our mission is to help prevent unnecessary surrenders, prepare dogs for successful adoptions, and keep more families together.