Rachel Friedman has spent over two decades helping people with medical, psychiatric, and mobility challenges build transformative partnerships with service dogs. As the founder of A Better Pet, she combines her background in social work with her unique gift for animal behavior to match each client with their ideal “make and model” — a dog trained not just to assist, but to connect.
In this episode of Energy in Action, Rachel joins Marcy Young to walk through her process, philosophy, and deep personal connection to her work. She shares what makes a dog suitable for service, how training evolves over time, and why a strong bond is the foundation of every successful placement. Rachel also opens up about her own unexpected health scare, and how her service dog helped her regain independence after a stroke.
Whether you’ve been curious about service dogs or are considering one for yourself or a loved one, this episode is full of thoughtful insight, hard-earned wisdom, and heart.
Resources and Ways to Connect
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