Community · Henderson
Henderson dog trainers helped an Air Force veteran turn her labradoodle into a service dog for PTSD
Ahead of Veterans Day, Air Force veteran Danielle Brooks told Las Vegas Weekly how a dog trained with Dog Training Elite Henderson helps her manage PTSD, and what the ADA lets businesses ask.
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What happened
Ahead of Veterans Day, Air Force veteran Danielle Brooks is sharing how a labradoodle named Nola helps her live with PTSD, Las Vegas Weekly reported. Colin and Celeste O'Keefe of Dog Training Elite Henderson helped train Nola as a service dog. Brooks said she wants to clear up common misconceptions about service dogs.
A turning point at the parade
Brooks, a former combat medic, told the Weekly that her anxiety and PTSD surged at the Vegas Golden Knights' 2023 Stanley Cup championship parade. She had a panic attack while standing on a building with friends. "That's when I knew I needed other interventions," she said.
How Nola came along
Later that year, Brooks flew to Louisiana to support her brother after a medical emergency. Her family adopted puppies from the same litter there, and a five-week-old labradoodle named Nola seemed drawn to her. Back in Las Vegas, Nola's calm temperament and her knack for reading emotions led Brooks to look into service dog training programs.
What the dog does for her
Nola often notices signs of distress before Brooks does, according to the Weekly. When Nola senses her heart rate rising, she jumps up for a hug and presses close to ground her. Nola is also learning to "orbit," which means circling Brooks in crowds to keep people from getting too close.
Brooks said Nola has replaced medications for her, though she stressed that is her own experience. "I'm not saying it's the right thing for everybody, but for me, it's made a difference," she told the Weekly.
How the training worked
Service dog versus emotional support animal
Brooks said that at first she did not see a difference between a service dog and an emotional support animal. O'Keefe told the Weekly that an emotional support animal is there to make a person feel better. "A service dog is trained to actually intervene and help with a medical moment, whether it's anxiety or diabetes," he said.
Sessions and daily homework
O'Keefe ran 11 sessions with Nola and Brooks. They started at home and then moved to public "field trips," and he gave Brooks 20 minutes of homework each day. "The person has to put in just as much work as the dog," Brooks said.
O'Keefe is a former construction safety manager who launched his Dog Training Elite franchise in 2022, the Weekly reported. He has trained at least seven service dogs for veterans. He says properly trained dogs can help veterans manage PTSD and reintegrate into society. Now, when Nola's blue leash comes out, she knows she is working, while at home she is free to play.
What businesses may ask about service dogs
On duty, Nola ignores everyone but Brooks, which some people mistake for bad manners. Brooks recalled that staff at a local bar refused service and called police to have her trespassed. Officers asked what tasks Nola performs and then told staff to let her stay, according to the Weekly.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, businesses may ask only two things: whether the dog is required because of a disability and what task it is trained to do. Brooks once spent two years in a wheelchair after multiple joint replacements. "You're not going to ask me to leave if I'm in a wheelchair," she said. More stories about local residents are in our community news section.
What to watch next
- Veterans Day, the occasion Brooks chose for sharing her story about service dogs and PTSD.
- Nola's continued training on the "orbit" skill, which Las Vegas Weekly reported she is still learning.
