Warrior Canine Connection

Ken Biberaj visits Warrior Canine Connection in Boyds, Maryland for an inspiring and deeply personal conversation with founder and Executive Director Rick Yount on purpose, healing, and the power of canine connection.

Filmed inside a historic, retrofitted WWII-era barn turned training center, this episode captures Rick’s remarkable journey—from working in foster care to launching one of the most impactful veteran support programs in the country. Warrior Canine Connection enlists service members to train future service dogs, turning recovery into a mission and giving veterans a new sense of purpose, trust, and connection.

With humor, humility, and hard-won insight, Rick shares how one golden retriever puppy led to a national model of healing—and why the simple act of training a dog can help a veteran reconnect with their family, regulate their emotions, and reclaim a sense of self.

This conversation dives into everything from the science behind animal-assisted therapy to the legislative effort it took to bring this work into the VA—and the emotional breakthroughs that happen when veterans are given a reason to serve again.

Key Takeaways from the Conversation:

The Power of Purpose
Warrior Canine Connection flips the script—treating veterans not as patients, but as partners in healing. Training a dog becomes a tool for emotional recovery, behavioral regulation, and renewed self-worth.

The Trojan Dog Model
Rick’s “Trojan Dog” approach to PTSD support is simple but profound: give service members a job that matters, and healing follows. It’s not therapy—they’re not there to be fixed. They’re there to serve.

Rewiring Relationships at Home
From patience to praise, the process of training a service dog teaches the very same parenting and relationship skills many veterans lost during deployment—and gives them tools to reintegrate into family life.

From the VA to Capitol Hill
Rick recounts how Warrior Canine Connection caught the attention of Congress and sparked legislation to bring the program model into VA hospitals—highlighting the challenge of scaling what’s proven to work.

Why Dogs? Why Now?
With demand for service dogs far outpacing supply, this episode shines a light on what’s possible when mission meets empathy—and how one puppy can touch the lives of dozens of veterans.

Why This Conversation Matters:

At a time when many veterans feel overlooked or underserved, Warrior Canine Connection offers a powerful reminder: healing doesn’t always come from a prescription. Sometimes it starts with a leash, a purpose, and a partner with paws.

“This isn’t about therapy. It’s about purpose, connection, and putting veterans to work in a way that heals.”

Whether you’re a veteran, a mental health advocate, or someone who believes in service through action, this episode is a moving exploration of how community, compassion, and canines can change lives.