Students at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities spent a brisk Monday evening training Jolene, a service dog in preparation, as part of the campus FETCH program.

The initiative — which the university says has involved 164 dogs over nearly a decade and accommodates roughly 20 students each year — pairs undergraduates with dogs destined for assistance roles and integrates hands-on training into campus housing and coursework. In fact, the FETCH program stands out among other service dog training programs in the U.S. because it embeds this training directly into a college living-learning community.

On Monday evening, participants guided dogs through basic socialization exercises inside a residence hall, walking the animals in a circle around the room and encouraging them to ignore distractions as part of an early-stage training routine, university materials show. In the U.S., a service dog must be individually trained to perform specific tasks related to a person’s disability, although the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require professional training or certification.

Among the students working with Jolene were Olly Hoagland and Harlow McPherson, an 18-year-old first-year animal science major. “It gives you something else to focus on outside of your classes. Dogs are a great social bridge, and they’re fun to come home to after a long day,” McPherson said, describing how the program connects daily campus life with canine care. Studies indicate that only about 30–50% of dogs in training are ultimately placed as working service dogs, highlighting the importance of comprehensive training and socialization.

FETCH is hosted by the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and operates in partnership with the nonprofit Can Do Canines, which provides training and places assistance dogs. The university’s feature on the program notes that students live together in a designated residential community while assisting with early training and socialization for future service animals; external partners supply many of the dogs and training frameworks.

Instructors and staff frame the experience as a structured practice environment. “We think of this like practicing for sports or a dance recital,” said Lindsay Le Kinney, a puppy program instructor at Can Do Canines, using a comparison to emphasize rehearsal and gradual skill building. This structured setting allows students to apply their knowledge in real-world situations, making the training process both an educational and practical endeavor.

Kristie Feist, assistant director of housing and residential life at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, said the program draws students specifically for the hands-on learning. “I’ve had students tell me, ‘I came to the University of Minnesota for this program,'” she said, highlighting the appeal to those interested in animal behavior and service professions. The FETCH community enhances this experience by providing continuous oversight and interaction, allowing for immediate feedback during training.

Feist added a wider point about the program’s potential impact: “If even half of those dogs go on to live with clients, that’s a lot of people’s lives that were enriched.” The university describes FETCH as a Living Learning Community that combines residence life, coursework, and volunteer duties to prepare dogs for placement with people who rely on assistance animals.

Students in the program take responsibility for daily care and exposure to campus environments while balancing classes. The Monday session included hands-on drills and supervised interactions designed to accustom dogs to the noises, movement and social settings common on a busy campus. As students rotate duties and collaborate with staff and nonprofit partners, they track progress and behavior during the training period, ensuring that the dogs meet the necessary standards for future service work.

Basil Brierton was another student participant identified in the university feature; program materials and partner organizations say the FETCH model benefits both student development and canine early socialization: students gain responsibility and time-management experience while dogs receive repeated, real-world exposure that supports later training phases. This dual benefit is one of the hallmarks of the FETCH initiative.

The university feature and the Can Do Canines partnership page offer further detail on the FETCH living-learning community and its aims; the university’s account frames the program as both educational for students and practical for assisting organizations seeking well-socialized, candidate assistance dogs.

Training sessions like the one on Monday evening continue across the academic term as students and staff prepare animals for the next stages of formal training and, ultimately, placement.

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Original reporting: view the original article.