Service Dog Facts you should know:
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service animal as “a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability."
- Work or tasks are specific actions a dog is trained to do to assist the person with a disability, and they must be “directly related to the person’s disability.
- Prospective service dog handlers/owners must have documentation to prove their disability. An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment.
- Owner-training a service dog typically costs $10,000 or more over 18 to 24 months.
- Most dogs are dismissed after 18 months of training, which is after much of the expenses have been incurred.
- More than half of service dog prospects cannot graduate service training. Is this an acceptable financial risk for your situation?
- More than half of service dog prospects cannot graduate service training. If your dog is not successful, will you keep or rehome your dog?
- Service dogs prospects (service dog in training) is not afforded public access outside of access afforded to pet dogs until they have graduated.
- Service dogs require the same, if not more, commitment to daily obligations of feeding, grooming, play, exercise and bathroom breaks, as a pet dog.
- Food, toys, and grooming cost are approximately $600-$700 per year.
- Costs associated with required veterinary care, including routine annual visits and unexpected health issues average $600 per year. This may vary year to year.
- Service dogs are required to be spayed or neutered by 11 mos. The cost for a spay or neuter can range from approximately $100-$500.
- While service dogs are exempt from state and local breed bans, service dog prospects are not and must abide by any state and local breed restrictions until they have graduated the service dog program.
- To be legally considered a service dog, an animal must be trained to assist a person in ways that are specific to the person’s disability.
- For a service dog to accompany her handler in public, the dog must: be housebroken. be vaccinated in accordance with state and local laws. pose no threat or disturbance to the public. remain on-leash unless a task requires her to be off-leash. when off-leash, remain under her handler’s control.
Apply for Service Dog Training
If your are interested in scheduling an initial interview for potential Owner-Trained Service Dog Training, please click below to complete and submit an application.