Duo Dog Coleman
The Children’s Place is proud to host Duo Dog Coleman, an English Labrador Retriever, as our facility dog to provide a comforting presence to our children and families.
As a full-time member of The Children’s Place team, Coleman is available to visit Day Treatment classrooms, join therapy sessions and more.
The presence of a furry friend like Coleman can help normalize the therapeutic setting, making it feel more like home. Coleman can also help model social and emotional skills for kids or even teach empathy, patience and responsibility. This bond between the child and the dog can serve as a bridge to trusting adults like therapists, teachers, or caregivers.
Duo Dogs
Duo Dog Coleman was professionally trained for two years by Duo Dogs, Inc., a national ADI accredited nonprofit based in St. Louis that trains and connects assistance, facility and therapy dogs with people to cultivate positive change in individuals, families and communities.
Coleman was placed at The Children’s Place at age two after two years of professional training.
About Coleman
Coleman loves ice cubes, cuddles, long naps, his stuffed lamb toy, and, most of all, kids!
Support for Coleman
Coleman’s training and care for his first two years of life was generously covered by Duo Dogs. Duo places all assistance and facility dogs at no cost to their clients.
The Children’s Place is grateful for Brad, Maren and Ford Johnson, who have generously donated to help cover Coleman’s ongoing expenses while at The Children’s Place along with supporting our trained staff handlers. The Johnsons invested in the idea of a facility dog two years before Coleman even joined our team, casting a vision for the impact that a dog like Coleman could have for the children we serve.
Pictured above: Duo Dog Coleman poses with his trained staff handlers Blair, Clinical Director of Day Treatment Services,
Candis, Director of Counseling and Family Support Services,
and Molly, Speech-Language Pathologist.
Frequently Asked Questions
As a facility dog, Coleman is available as an additional support for children who are at The Children’s Place for therapy sessions, assessments or our Day Treatment program. Coleman can visit Day Treatment classes, greet clients in the lobby, be included in therapy sessions and more for children who are interested in interacting with our facility dog.
No, Coleman is always with one of his dedicated handlers while on site at The Children’s Place. He is on leash and wearing his Duo Facility Dog cape while working, and one of his handlers always has the leash in hand. There are designated places in our building that Coleman never visits to ensure a safe place for those with allergies.
Interacting with Coleman is completely optional for clients, and they must complete our facility dog consent form before meeting him. Our handlers have designated spaces for Coleman in their offices and around our building, and there are specific locations where Coleman is not allowed to create safe havens for those who are allergic to dogs.
Yes! Please ask his handler before you approach, but we welcome interaction! Coleman loves people (especially kids!) and will come up to you after permission is given. Coleman’s handlers will always be holding his leash when he is on duty and interacting with people at The Children’s Place.
Coleman will only interact with children whose caregivers have completed the facility dog consent form. Once that form is completed, we will invite children to choose whether they would like to interact with Coleman. As a professionally trained facility dog, Coleman is a safe and inviting dog for your child to grow more comfortable around dogs—but only if your child chooses to interact with him.
Coleman was born on August 31, 2023, and joined The Children’s Place team in September 2025.
Some dogs have floppy lips called “flews” that hang down, kind of like soft curtains on their mouths. Because of this, their spit (saliva) can easily drip out. Also, dogs like Coleman were originally bred to work in water—like helping people fish or rescue things from lakes and rivers. Their loose lips helped water drain out of their mouths so they didn’t hold it in like a sponge. So, when you see Coleman or another dog drooling, it’s not being messy—it’s just built that way!
No, Coleman is on a strict diet and enrichment schedule, and only his handlers are allowed to give him treats while training.
No, Coleman lives with his primary handler Blair Ballard, our Clinical Director of Day Treatment Services. He travels with her during the week to The Children’s Place and leaves at the end of the day to return home.
Coleman is expected to work until he is approximately 10 years old, barring any unforeseen circumstances or health conditions that could arise.