Alienation, readiness for violence, isolation, instability - these are often the keywords used to describe the situation of troubled adolescents. For "therapy-weary" youth in particular, a dog can be an important gateway to reconnecting with others and, consequently, with themselves. Self-perception, communication, consideration, and responsibility suddenly come to the forefront almost unnoticed and in a playful manner, without the individuals feeling "therapized." Angelika Putsch shares her extensive experience with the concept of "Competence Training with Dogs (kmh)" that she developed, providing information on the benefits, prerequisites, and possibilities, as well as the limitations of using dogs as co-educators in youth services.