frequently asked questions

Can you certify my dog as a service dog?

There is no nationally recognized or legally required certification or registration that qualify dogs as service animals. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, TRAINING is the only thing that makes a dog a service dog. Through training and education, I will help you and your dog meet and exceed the legal, functional and ethical requirements for you and your dog to be an ADA compliant team. I do provide graduation certificates to those who complete my program and pass the Public Access Test.

How long does it take to complete service dog training?

There are many variables that affect how long this process takes, though most teams can expect to spend 1-2 years before their dog is a functional and legally qualified service dog.

how much will it cost, long term?

Short answer? $4,000-15,000 over 1-2 years if you are doing the training yourself; $11,800-36,000 if you are purchasing a trained service dog. Long answer: Total costs will vary widely between individual circumstances, experience levels, tasks needed, and canine temperaments. Some people need lots of one-on-one time, while others are self-motivated and learn well on their own with the resources and seminars I give at a low cost. I do my best to work within whatever budget you have while still offering the support you need. Click here for an overview of individual training costs, or contact us for a more detailed break down of costs in your individual case.

can any dog be a service dog?

Almost any breed may contain individuals who are suited for the job, but there aren’t many dogs who have the correct temperament and drive to enjoy and excel at service dog work. If you already have a dog, the first step we take will be to evaluate that dog and see if they “have what it takes”. If you do not have a dog, or the dog you have is not suitable, I will work to help you find an appropriate candidate for your disability, personality and lifestyle. Golden and Labrador Retrievers are the two breeds that are most consistently successful as service dogs, though they’re not necessarily the right fit for everyone.

What is your success rate?

For program-trained dogs we graduate about 50% of puppies that enter our program. We hope to improve these numbers in the future with better breeding and more diverse placement options.

It is extremely difficult to estimate success rates in our owner-trained program, because what qualifies as a “success” and “failure” are not so easily identified as in a program.

For success, there are things that are acceptable with an owner-trainer that would be a wash if the dog were program-trained; a dog who cannot use elevators or who has to be treated for allergies can be accommodated for by an owner trainer, but would not be graduated by our program-trained standards.
”Failure” isn’t so easily identified either; some people drop out of training simply because their disability makes it impossible to continue, even if their dog is doing well in training. Others start out with the wrong dog, or burn out, or simply come to realize that a service dog is not the right tool for them.
If I am forced to estimate I would say that 75% of committed individuals who start with the right dog, the right support system and the right professional guidance are successful in owner-training, even if there are some small accommodations they need to make for the dog to be functional as a service dog.

What if I only need help at home, not in public?

Training tasks is, surprisingly, one of the simplest parts of service dog training. If you have a dog who is not suitable for public access, they can almost always be taught to perform tasks that help you at home. We call this a “home helpmate” and this is, in many cases, a much more affordable and simple option for people who don’t need help in public.

How do i get started?

The first step of working with my program will always be a consultation. This gives us a chance to go over expectations and goals, evaluate your dog or discuss where to source a prospect, and create an individual training plan. Click here to schedule a consultation.

Do you breed or sell trained service dogs?

Yes, though our space is very limited! We are currently raising 5-7 puppies at a time. We will be training them as long as necessary until the perfect match comes along — then those puppies (and more after) will be placed as either a partially trained service dog (12-24 months) or a finished dog (2+ years and fully trained), and priced accordingly. If the right match comes along before their training is finished, the recipient has the option to bring the dog home early or continue to pay for the rest of their training.
We also produce service-dog focused Labrador Retriever litters