Service Dog Training

This program is intended to train service animals in accordance with the stipulations set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). According to the ADA the definition of a service animal is as follows, “Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities…The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability.” 

The training to qualify your dog as a service animal is extensive and should start as early as 8 weeks of age. The candidate is expected to have no displays of aggression towards people or other animals, be under the handlers control with no unruly behavior while in public settings, have an extensive training in obedience and be able to perform at least two tasks that help mitigate the effects of the handler’s disability. 

If you have any questions in regard to what a service animal is or what all of the requirements or standards are feel free to reach out to your trainer or use the following links as a reference. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADA 

https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-faqs/ 

ADA 2010 Revised Requirements: Service Animals 

https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-2010-requirements/