In-Home Support Dogs
Meaningful support at home, without the cost or public-access requirements of a fully trained service dog.
Some dogs are not the right fit for full public-access service work, but they can still provide valuable support in the home. Medical Mutts’ In-Home Support Dog program is designed for individuals who primarily need help with medical, psychiatric, or daily routine support at home.
WHAT IS AN IN-HOME SUPPORT DOG?
An In-Home Support Dog is a professionally trained dog specifically prepared to provide meaningful support within the home environment.
These dogs are ideal for individuals who primarily need assistance at home rather than in demanding public-access settings. They still receive months of professional training, handling, socialization, and real-world exposure through Medical Mutts before being thoughtfully matched with a client.
They may help with
Panic prevention and interruption
Emotional Regulation
Grounding Behaviors
Medication or routine reminders
Alert to medical events (seizures, hypoglycemia, POTS, etc)
Retrieving essential items
Interrupting repetitive or self-harming behaviors
Getting help
WHO THIS PROGRAM IS FOR
This program is a good fit if you:
Primarily need support at home
Work from home or spend most of your time at home
Do not need a dog to accompany you in public
Want a trained support dog at a lower cost than a fully trained service dog
Important
THESE ARE NOT PUBLIC ACCESS SERVICE DOGS
Trained for In-home support
In-home support dogs are trained for support inside the home and daily routine setting
Not for public access
They are NOT trained, certified, or placed for full public access. This means they should not be taken into a non-pet-friendly public spaces as service dogs
Protecting what matters
This distinction helps protect the dog, the client and the integrity of service dog work.
In-Home Support dogs are not represented as ADA public-access service dogs and should not be taken into non-pet-friendly public spaces such as stores, restaurants, hospitals, airports or other restricted environements.
Ethical placement
Appropriate matching
Welfare focused training
Clear expectations
COST & SCHOLARSHIPS
Every client receives a scholarship. No one pays the full cost of these dogs.
Financial support is built in
Because Medical Mutts is a non-profit, every placement includes a scholarship to make support more accessible.
Scholarships for every client
All clients automatically receive a scholarship, no separate application required
Powered by community support
Donations and sponsorships help cover the true cost of training, care and lifelong support for these dogs.
Typical Client Contribution
$4,500 - $6,500
After Scholarship
The true cost is significantly higher
Each in-home support dog receives professional training, socialization, evaluations, and ongoing support. Thanks to generous donors and sponsors, clients pay only a portion of that cost.
HOW THE PROCESS WORKS
A thoughtful process to ensure the best possible match for you and your future in-home support dog.
Submit an application
Tell us about your needs, home environment, and what type of support you are looking for.
Consultation & Evaluation — $120
Our team will learn more about your needs, environment, lifestyle, and support goals to determine whether this program may be a good fit.
Matching
If approved, we will consider whether one of our dogs in training might be a good match for your home and support needs.
Transition & Support
We help you understand the dog's training, needs, routine, and how to maintain the support behaviors at home.
This process takes time, typically 2-24 months.
We move carefully so we can make the right match for both you and the dog.
WHY MEDICAL MUTTS?
Medical Mutts has placed more than 150 service dogs and helped more than 200 dog owners train their own service dogs.
Because we work with rescue dogs, we have extensive experience with many breeds, temperaments, and training needs. Not every dog is meant for public access work. But many could still make a meaningful difference in the right home.
MEANINGFUL SUPPORT AT HOME
An In-Home Support Dog may provide meaningful support, structure, and companionship within your daily home environment.