Service Dog Overview
This page is designed to help you on your journey with your service dog.
A New Journey
Having a service dog is a unique experience that brings both challenges and rewards. It involves a significant commitment of time and responsibility, as these dogs require consistent training and care. However, the companionship and assistance they provide can be life-changing. Service dogs can perform a variety of tasks to help individuals with disabilities, enhancing their independence and quality of life. They can also attract attention in public, which can lead to educational opportunities about service animals. Despite the challenges, the bond between a service dog and its handler is often described as a powerful partnership of mutual trust and respect.
The Process
These are the three main phases your team will experience
Candidate Training
Our journey starts with a disciplined, systematic approach, where we thoroughly test for any vulnerabilities we suspect or encounter. Your dog will undergo a minimum of five weeks of in-home training, followed by public outings and group sessions. These sessions are tailored to your dog’s individual temperament and address any potential weak points. This assessment period allows us to determine if your dog is ready to advance to the next stage of training.
Public Access
Public access training is crucial for service dogs because it ensures they can effectively perform their vital tasks in various public spaces while accompanying their handlers. They need to navigate diverse environments—busy streets, crowded stores, restaurants, and more—with poise and focus. By mastering public access, service dogs learn to remain calm, avoid disruptions, and provide seamless assistance. Their reliability in public settings not only empowers their handlers but also ensures compliance with legal requirements.
Service Tasking
Service dog task are specific actions or behaviors that a trained service dog performs to assist an individual with a disability. These tasks are tailored to the handler’s unique needs and can vary widely. Service dogs are trained to carry out tasks that mitigate the effects of their handler’s disability, enhance independence, and improve overall quality of life.
Tasks go beyond general obedience and are directly related to the handler’s specific disability or health condition. Service dogs undergo rigorous training to reliably perform these tasks
Public Access Test
When ready, we will evaluate you and your dog in a public space to ensure you are working as a confident team in any environment.
Living with a Service Dog
Living with a service dog within your family is a unique experience that requires a delicate balance. While service dogs play a vital role in assisting individuals with disabilities, they also become part of the family fabric. Here are some essential guidelines to navigate family interaction with your service dog. This document will provide some tips on how a service dog can be an integral and respected member of the family when everyone understands their unique role and interacts with care and consideration.
Traveling with a Service Dog
Whether you’re embarking on a cross-country adventure or simply running errands around town, having your loyal companion by your side makes the journey a little different than what you are used to. In this document, we’ll go over some things to considering when taking a long trip. Let’s ensure your travels are not only accessible but also enjoyable for both you and your service dog.