About
Our Mission & Values
ASDA service dogs improve one life at a time.
American Service Dog Association (ASDA) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization providing service dogs at no cost to individuals with various physical and mental limitations. ASDA provides life-changing partnerships and ensure continued support to each service dog team to make our placements successful.
There is a tremendous demand for trained service dogs. In addition, there is a lack of public awareness regarding the needs of people living with disabilities, the value of service dogs and service dog etiquette. ASDA addresses these community needs through educational programs and presentations.
Our Approach
Marker training is a simple and effective way to communicate with dogs by pinpointing exactly which behaviors you want to reinforce. This is done using a “marker,” such as a word (“yes”) or a clicker, to indicate when your dog has done something right. Unlike traditional training methods, marker training focuses on building an active, willing learner instead of a reactive one that seeks to avoid punishment. The result is a confident, engaged dog that enjoys working with you.
In marker training, mistakes aren’t punished. Instead, dogs are encouraged to experiment and offer behaviors until they find the one that earns reinforcement. This approach reduces stress signals like whining or yawning and empowers dogs to make choices, helping you understand what motivates their behavior. Empowered dogs tend to be calmer, more creative, and better equipped to handle challenges.
Marker training is more than a technique—it’s a philosophy. It emphasizes reinforcing good behaviors and ignoring unwanted ones (unless they’re dangerous), not just during training sessions but all the time. By setting up environments that encourage success and respecting natural behaviors, you guide your dog to thrive within human rules. Research shows that allowing animals to make choices is one of the most powerful motivators, making this method both effective and humane.
Ultimately, marker training builds a joyful, cooperative relationship between you and your dog, where learning is fun, engaging, and rewarding for both teacher and learner.
Our Founder- Meet Susanne
With over 20 years of experience in advanced dog training—particularly in the area of service dogs—Susanne has established herself as a leading innovator, especially in supporting veterans and first responders dealing with PTSD. “Not only do these dogs profoundly impact the lives of veterans and first responders, but they also bring significant change to their entire families, often proving life-saving. The American Service Dog Association has truly been a realization of my dreams.”
Susanne began her journey in the U.S. as the pet lodging manager at a local boarding and training facility, where she oversaw daily operations, customer service, and staff management. During that time, she became a key contributor to the American Service Dog Association (ASDA). The dogs trained and placed by ASDA primarily served as mobility assistance companions for clients with physical disabilities—performing crucial tasks like retrieving dropped items, opening and closing doors, and turning lights on and off. As ASDA’s training director, Susanne successfully trained and placed numerous service dogs.
She later founded her own dog training business, offering both private and group classes for the public, covering everything from basic obedience to advanced behavior work. During this time, she was invited to serve as an academy instructor at a St. Louis-based trade school for professional dog trainers. There, she developed a curriculum and created an animal behavior course that emphasized the importance of science-based training methods. Her course became a required component for all students and staff, equipping them with essential knowledge to thrive in the dog training industry. Her courses became so popular that she was even invited to teach in Mexico.
Committed to lifelong learning, Susanne holds several animal behavior certifications, including Living and Learning with Animals (by Dr. Susan Friedman), Fear Free 1 and 2, and Fear Free Training. She regularly attends seminars to keep her skills current, believing that professional development is ongoing.
Early in her career, Susanne trained and placed her first service dog for a veteran with PTSD. Later, as Director of Canine Services at one of St. Louis’ largest nonprofits, she recognized the unique needs of first responders and veterans facing PTSD. She understood that training dogs for this purpose requires a specialized approach, distinct from methods used for mobility or physical assistance dogs.
Today, Susanne is dedicated to designing and implementing tailored training programs for service dogs serving veterans and first responders with PTSD. She brings together (1) thorough research, (2) professional expertise, and (3) deeply personal insights—drawing from her late husband, a Marine and founder of ASDA. Her strong interpersonal skills and mastery of dog training techniques, including marker training and positive reinforcement, allow her to craft individualized approaches for each dog-handler team, promoting lasting, successful partnerships.
Susanne’s distinctive placement method and ongoing support model have earned her a respected reputation in the service dog community. As a foundational figure in ASDA, she remains focused on improving the lives of those who have sacrificed so much for others.
Our Dog (and Human) Family
