Explore the process and time it takes to become a service dog and the people they work with in Iowa PBS’s upcoming documentary, Dogs of Service. The hour-long program will premiere Tuesday, March 4 at 6:30 p.m. on the statewide network. It will rebroadcast Sunday, March 9 at 8:30 p.m. Dogs of Service will also be available to stream on iowapbs.org and the PBS app.
This documentary shares the stories of how animals help their handlers, and follows the two-year process to train dogs from being 8-week old puppies to fully vested and evaluated service dogs. Service dogs are incredibly useful medical tools elevating the quality of life for people with disabilities. The time, care and resources that go into training a true service dog is immense.
Interested Iowans who can’t wait for the broadcasts can enjoy an advance premiere screening of Dogs of Service on February 22 at 2 p.m. at Iowa PBS. Doors will open at 1:30 p.m. and open captions for the film will be provided. After the screening, attendees will have the opportunity to visit with the partner organizations featured in the film and light refreshments will be served. For more information and to register to join online, visit iowapbs.org/events.
“To me, service dogs are a unique and somewhat mysterious tool. On one hand, they are dogs—commonly seen as pets and beloved by many—but when trained as service animals, they are legally considered medical equipment.” said Iowa PBS Producer and Director Patrick Boberg. “We’re pulled between an innate adoration but also the expectation to give them their space and let them do their job. I wanted to create a documentary to shed light on the journey of service dogs—how they are trained, the vital roles they play and the lives they transform—especially for those who may not fully understand their importance.”
This documentary will premiere as part of Festival 2025, taking place Friday, February 28 to Sunday, March 16. Learn more at iowapbs.org/festival.
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