Your Path to a Fully Trained Service Dog: The Journey Begins Here

The Process of Getting Your Fully Trained Service Dog

• Step 1: Learn and Decide

Before embarking on the journey to get a service dog, it's crucial to gather all the information you need to see if it's the right choice for you. Service dogs are amazing companions, but they require dedication and commitment. They are not a good option for everyone.

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• Step 2: Fill Out Our Application

Once you're ready, start by filling out our application. This helps us understand your needs and preferences, allowing us to match you with the perfect service dog candidate.

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• Step 3: The Interview

We'll reach out to schedule an interview, which typically takes about an hour and costs $120. It's a great idea to involve other family members if possible. During this interview, we'll delve deeper into your requirements and get to know you better. You will also have a chance to talk to a professional, get all your questions answered, and make sure this is a viable solution for your situation.

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• Step 4: The contract

After the interview, we'll send you a contract and you'll be asked for a down payment. It's important to understand that training a service dog is an extensive and costly process. We ask our clients to contribute to 60% of the costs, while we cover the rest through our fundraising efforts. We also offer a 20% discount to veterans and first responders. 

Here's why the service dogs cost so much:

• We search far and wide, sometimes across state lines, to find dogs with the right temperament. 

• Even after careful assessment, only 30% of rescue dogs become service dogs, and the rest find loving homes, but all receive medical care and training.

• Months of training, staff time, food, veterinary care, and more go into preparing each service dog such as adoption fees, spay and neuter, vet care, heartworm and flea and tick preventatives, microchipping, crate, bedding, leash and collars, toys, treats, training aids, bowls and feeders, vests, patches, ID badge, teaching material, food, treats, transportation equipment, dog screening and evaluation, training, specialized task training, community outing training, academy training, etc.

• The cost includes the coaching you'll receive, the 10-day training program at our facility, and ongoing support after you take your service dog home.

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Please note that although we would love to provide service dogs at a more affordable rate, our current fundraising efforts limit our ability to cover a larger portion of the cost, but we're constantly working to improve this.​ We also encourage you to reach out to your local Vocational Rehabilitation office. In some states, they will cover 100% of the costs of our services.

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If cost and time are a concern, we offer budget-friendly options for you to train your own dog (see below).

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• Step 5: The Wait

Our current waiting time is approximately 12 to 18 months. This waiting period allows you to fundraise for your service dog and prepare through our online learning platform. 

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• Step 6: Come to our facility and learn how to work with your service dog

Once your dog is ready, you'll be invited to our team training program. This 10-day training session at our facility will teach you how to manage your new companion.

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• Step 7: Go home with your service dog and get ongoing support

The first 6-12 months of getting your service dog are a learning curve. Your dog needs to adapt to their new environment and you are still building new habits. You will have direct and ongoing access to our team to support you through this journey. You'll stay in touch with us and participate in scheduled check-ins and training sessions. We are committed to helping you succeed with your dog.​

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We're dedicated to providing you with a working service dog, which means we carefully match you with the best candidate based on your application and interview. While we can't foresee every variable, sometimes we may need to replace the dog if things don't work out. Rest assured, the fee covers our services, not the intrinsic value of the dog, and includes any possible replacement.