A service dog taking part in training with Meliora Service Dogs (Ross Lavigne/ CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Redcliff veteran helping others regain livelihood through Service Dog Training

Feb 28, 2022 | 5:40 PM

REDCLIFF, AB–At the Redcliff Legion, these dogs walking in a circle are in school, training for life as a service dog in order to help the very people holding their leash. At the helm of the instruction is Jamie Billings, a professional service dog trainer who moved to the Redcliff from Ontario.

“We always tell people that it could take up to two years to take a dog from starting age to a fully certified service dog. Up to two years. I’ve seen it done in 14 months it’s the commitment that the handler has with the dog,” Billings said.

Billings knows that commitment well. But his journey to becoming a service dog trainer was a bit unexpected.

“Soon after I retired from the Canadian Armed forces I was diagnosed with PTSD. I was given medicine, the whole works. Someone came up to me and said, ‘ have you ever tried a dog?”

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Billings got his first service dog 19 years ago, and remarkably went off his PTSD medication by learning to ground himself and refocus with his dog by his side.

He moved to Redcliff two years ago and now works for the non-profit organization Meliora which focuses on providing service dogs to veterans, first responders and their families. Only two years in, the local chapter already has 23 service dogs in training that they working with.

“The first thing we try and teach the dog is socialization. So the dog has to be very good around people, and other animals,” he said.

The dogs then learn focus training and basic discipline. Once that is mastered the dogs and their handlers are taken to places like the Medicine Hat Mall to continue their training.

“We do washroom drills. So if you are in the mall and you have to take your dog to the washroom. The dog has drills. Hand dryers. Dogs don’t like hand dryers so we introduce them to hand dryers. When the dog is in the stall with you, you have to make sure the dog and yourself is safe,” he said.

One of his students is BJ Brooks, a veteran who spent over 20 years in the British Military.

After his service, his mental health took a big hit and things like large crowds became a trigger. But since training their dog Cruze back in November two years ago. Brooks has already seen an improvement.

“With Cruze We still go out and do the same things, and when my wife stops to talk to friends, and you natter for so long I start to get a little frustrated and need to move and Cruze picks up with that a lot quicker than I used to. So looking from the outside in he starts acting up. Some people might think he is an unruly dog but he is doing his job by alerting me. I need to move, I need to refocus myself. I excuse myself from my wife, and we will go around the mall, I find a quiet spot, I’ll go and ground,” he said.

For Billings, it’s seeing that progression in his students, that makes it all worth it.

“That’s my reward. That’s it. If I can help an individual. I am satisfied with what I am doing.”