Law Enforcement Talk: True Crime and Trauma Stories · John "Jay" Wiley, Bleav

Rescue Dogs Trained To Be PTSD Service Animals For Vets

October 29, 2025·39 min·3 clips

Brett Simon reveals how PTSD service dogs perform pressure therapy to calm veterans during anxiety attacks.

This episode features host John J. Wiley, a retired police sergeant, interviewing guest Brett Simon, a former law enforcement canine handler and military contractor. Simon now trains PTSD service dogs for veterans through Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Florida. He discusses his 15-year police career, including nine years as a dual-purpose patrol and narcotics canine handler in Ohio. Simon clarifies that police dogs are trained for suspect apprehension, not attack, and recounts an incident where a dog ignored stopped officers to tackle a fleeing suspect. He expresses concern about popular movies increasing demand for high-energy breeds like Belgian Malinois, leading to potential neglect and shelter overcrowding. Simon was diagnosed with PTSD after a critical incident in law enforcement and again after returning from contracting work in Iraq. He explains that PTSD service dogs perform specific trained tasks, like applying pressure therapy during anxiety attacks or providing space control in public. These dogs are trained to disrupt harmful behaviors and alert handlers to someone approaching from behind, using a tail wag instead of barking. The training leverages dogs' natural ability to read human body language and pheromones associated with fear or hypervigilance. Simon co-founded Canines for Warriors, which grew to become the nation's largest provider of service dogs for veterans with nearly 800 graduates. Big Dog Ranch Rescue sources all its service dog candidates from its general rescue population, focusing on dogs under three years old and over 55 pounds for mobility tasks. The organization avoids breeds like Rottweilers or Dobermans for this work to encourage public interaction for veterans, countering the isolation common with PTSD. The average cost to train and place a service dog ranges from $25,000 to $40,000. The tone is conversational and interview-based, blending personal anecdotes with educational explanations. Listeners interested in law enforcement experiences, canine training, or veteran support initiatives will find this episode compelling. Those seeking a fast-paced true crime narrative might find the focus on service dog training less engaging.

As heard by us

Direct talk about PTSD service dogs, with enough practical detail to keep it grounded.

The episode stays at its best when it keeps its focus on the work itself: how PTSD service dogs are trained, what they do, and why the job matters beyond the label.

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Why you'd press play

Want a straight answer on what PTSD service dogs actually do?

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