Founder, Director of Programs

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Giving Retriever Irvine is a gentle, sensitive and intuitive Golden Retriever with extensive experience working in therapeutic environments. He was raised and trained at the Assistance Dog Institute where he was purpose-bred for Service Dog work.  He began his training with Early Puppy Education at just 3 weeks of age and has since learned over 90 different skills to assist in mitigating a person’s disability. 

He has worked with Disabled Children, At-Risk Teens and most recently the Wounded Warriors in the Service Dog Training Program at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.  His specialty skills include opening doors, turning on/off lights, retrieving dropped items and mentoring young Assistance Dog puppies.

Irvine is a co-founder of Giving Retriever, LLC and his role in the clinical setting is to facilitate the Therapeutic Application of Assistance Dog Training by teaching individuals the skills necessary to train Assistance Dogs.

When he is not at work, he enjoys chasing a tennis ball, hiking, swimming and sharing snacks with our children.

Update:

Irvine retired from the Giving Retriever Program in 2017.  He is happily enjoying his retirement with hikes in the woods and long naps in the sunshine.  

SGT Irvine 2005-2021

Giving Retriever Hope is a visiting therapy dog with a very kind and gentle soul.  She is a dog who lives to be loved!  In therapy, she makes a special and unique connection with everyone she meets.

Hope joined our therapeutic team as a dog with special needs.  As a great example of diversity and disability, Hope walks with just 3 legs.  She inspires the children she meets when she demonstrates the ways in which she has adapted to function successfully.  Like other dogs, she walks, runs, plays, swims and enjoys time basking in the sunshine outdoors.

We are grateful to have her as part of our talented team!

Update:

Giving Retriever Hope was successfully matched and placed with Dan and Marcia, a retired couple whose lives were profoundly changed when Dan suffered a life-changing spinal cord injury.   

Giving Retriever Eleanor joined our therapeutic team in July 2016.  Gentle and filled with love, we just adore her personality and sense of humor!  She started her training shortly after birth with early puppy stimulation and controlled exposure to novel sights and sounds in preparation for her Assistance Dog work.  Socialization was the most crucial aspect to her early puppy enrichment.  Before she reached 7 weeks old, she was exposed to various people including children who helped her to form a secure foundation of trust with humans. 

Eleanor’s work as a Giving Retriever includes Clinical, Classroom and Community-Integrated Therapy.  Her aptitude for service work and her desire to connect with people makes her ideal for this type of work.

 Update:
Giving Retriever Eleanor was successfully matched and placed with Carolyn.  She spends her time happily hiking in the mountains of New Hampshire.  Although she is no longer with our team in New York, she  still hopes to be active assisting with Therapy Dog programs in her local community. 

Giving Retriever Hutchinson aka "Hutch" (named after the students at the Anne Hutchinson School) is just about the sweetest, kindest, most sincere pup you can imagine. His desire to be in companionship with people (especially children) makes him perfect for his role in Canine-Integrated Therapy. 

 Update:

Giving Retriever Hutch is currently available for Canine-Integrated Therapy programming in Westchester County, NY. He lives with and is co-owned by Amanda Plant and her family.

Giving Retriever Rose was born on December 24th, 2014 and started her training as a Giving Retriever shortly thereafter.  She’s a beautiful, driven and intelligent Golden Retriever who loves to use her nose to find treasures, especially those buried in the snow!  Her training has included obedience, agility and Assistance Dog work.  As a Giving Retriever, Rose participated in both Clinical and Community Integrated Therapy sessions where she excelled with tasks such as opening doors and retrieving dropped items.  With her naturally strong propensity to use scent to navigate the world, she is a dog who we hope will develop the ability to detect oncoming seizures in people.     

Update:

Giving Retriever Rose was successfully matched and placed as a Skilled-Dog with Anna, a young woman with Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy who benefits from their therapeutic bond.

Giving Retriever Beibhinn joined our team in July 2015 as a Skilled-Dog-In-Training.  She is a confident, resilient, amiable dog with a strong natural work ethic.  Her training as a Giving Retriever has included the AKC Star Puppy Certification, agility, obedience, and Assistance Dog work.  Beibhinn has participated in Community and Clinical Canine-Integrated Therapy including Giving Retriever’s programs at the ARC of Westchester and Sensory Stepping Stones.  When she is not working, Beibhinn loves to retrieve tennis balls and go for long hikes in the woods.   

Update: 

Giving Retriever Beibhinn was successfully matched and placed as a Skilled-Dog with Henry, a 10-year old boy with Autism.  Her loyal, monogamous and analytical personality resonates with Henry and provides him with a sense of confidence, comfort and companionship that enriches his life.  

Giving Retriever "Sweet" Simon joined our Canine-Integrated Therapy team in early 2018.    His amiable "go with the flow"  attitude makes loving him easy.  He is calm and comforting - everything we look for in Giving Retriever temperaments.  

Update:

 Giving Retriever Simon is currently available for Canine-Integrated Therapy programming in Westchester County, NY. He lives with and is co-owned by Judith Halden, LCSW. 

Giving Retriever Harper joined our team late summer 2018.  She is a sweet soulful girl, with a nice balance of intuitive and intelligent.   Her training includes spending days at a residential treatment facility in Westchester where she helps to foster positive relationships and diffuse conflict between residents.  She is the pup who stole our hearts. 

 Update: 

Giving Retriever Healey was placed in a companion home where she enjoys playing outdoors!

Giving Retriever Healey and Harper are full sisters.  Healey is a dog who loves to have fun!  She is light lighthearted and melts to the floor with contentment when you pet her.  She is a dog who makes you laugh and enjoys the companionship of everybody with no exception.  What a wonderful addition she has been to our team!

Update:

Giving Retriever Healey was placed in a companion home where she is adored by her family.  

Giving Retriever Bleu is a true gem!  He has one of those "one in a million" temperaments that overwhelms us with gratitude.  He is level-headed, steady, reliable, patient, gentle, and above all, kind.  You can always find him by your side awaiting your next adventure.  

 Update:

Giving Retriever Bleu was successfully matched and placed. 

Giving Retriever Wynn

Giving Retriever Loki

Giving Retriever Hansel

Giving Retriever Ever

Giving Retriever Gretel

Giving Retriever training begins when the puppies are born with early neurological stimulation.  Check back soon to meet our newest additions.  

How do we describe a Giving Retriever?  

Amiable, patient, and low-aroused.