Labradoodle puppy trains to become Concordia University's newest certified comfort dog

SAUKVILLE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Concordia University Wisconsin is expanding one of its on-campus comfort programs with the help of a new employee.

Grace, a five-month-old labradoodle, is training to be the university's newest certified comfort dog.

Concordia's comfort dogs work hand-in-hand with students enrolled in the Compassion Care Certificate program. The year-long program prepares future educators and mental health professionals with compassionate, trauma-informed care.

"Our dogs are a bridge to allow us to provide compassionate care giving skills," Nicole Muth, Concordia University Wisconsin's Chair of Elementary Education Department, said.

Students work with the dogs to develop on-campus and off-campus projects, including completing studies on how the certified comfort dogs can make a difference in treatments.

"Petting Zoey could help an athlete coming in for rehab persist a little bit longer in their rehab exercises because their pain tolerance was a little bit higher after petting Zoey," Muth said one student's study found.

Students who finish the program will walk away as certified handlers, with the ability to utilize trained dogs in classrooms or therapy settings.

"As a teacher one day, my dream is to have a comfort dog in my classroom," Joy Craig, a sophomore studying elementary education, said.

Craig, a student in the Compassion Care Certificate program, attended Grace's training on Thursday.

"I've learned to just be gentle and that if you just speak like you're in control and gently, they'll listen to you more than you just yelling at them," Craig said.

Concordia partners with Dawgs in Motion, a multi-faceted canine spa and activity center in Saukville, for training.

"To see Grace develop has just been awesome. She has been great," owner Sue Richison said.

Amanda Zavadil, the lead trainer at Dawgs in Motion, started working with Grace before she was even born.

"She's not even a year old yet and it’s just amazing, everything that she has learned. She knows so many different commands, " Zavadil said.

Zavadil worked with Grace on impulse control training and touch training.

She also teaches the students to become good handlers.

"I've had students that have come in before that you know aren't very confident in themselves and then being able to work one-on-one with the dog and see the dog's achievements and knowing they've been part of that really helps to boost them up as well, Zavadil said.

Concordia currently has two working comfort dogs, Zoey and Sage. They primarily work on-campus in the counseling center and off-campus in schools and behavioral health centers.

Zoey is semi-retiring. Her responsibilities will be limited to the on-campus counseling center.

Grace will take over as the primary certified comfort dog after her training is completed.