Service dog programs

Service dog training the way the ADA actually defines it: real tasks, verifiable training, no paper certificates.

We run service-dog training as a focused 4-week board-and-train — the first two weeks evaluate whether the dog is a genuine service-dog candidate, the second two weeks are the task work, tailored to a specific disability and a specific task list. Every graduating dog meets the same public-access and task-reliability standard.

See how the program works

What we train: public access plus one mitigating task

Under the ADA, a service dog is qualified by a trained task that mitigates a specific disability. We build a solid public-access foundation and train one such task tailored to the handler. We are honest about our scope: we do not train life-and-death medical-alert work — seizure or blood-sugar alert, for example — because that requires specialized programs beyond what we offer, and we will not over-promise it. Below are examples of the kinds of mitigating tasks we do train.

Mobility assistance

Tasks that mitigate the limitations of a mobility disability — bracing, counterbalance, retrieving dropped items, opening and closing doors, helping with dressing and undressing, body-positioning support.

Examples: Retrieve a phone. Brace and counterbalance when standing from a chair. Open and close cabinet and refrigerator doors. Pull a sock off a foot. Position the body to block strangers from approaching.

Psychiatric service dogs

Tasks that mitigate the symptoms of a psychiatric disability — interrupt repetitive behaviors, ground the handler during a flashback or panic event, perform room-clear and perimeter tasks for the handler's safety, block strangers in a public space.

Examples: Interrupt self-harm behaviors. Wake the handler from a nightmare. Lead the handler out of a crowded space. Stand between handler and a stranger. Apply tactile pressure on the lap or chest during an anxiety event.

Autism support

Trained behaviors that support a handler on the autism spectrum — interrupt sensory overload, tether to anchor a child, redirect during dysregulation, calm-presence tasks at known stress points.

Examples: Tether to a young handler to prevent elopement. Position next to the handler during a meltdown. Initiate calm physical contact when a stress cue appears. Block the handler from walking into traffic.

How the service-dog program works

Service-dog training runs as a focused 4-week board-and-train. We confirm the dog is a genuine candidate in the first two weeks before building the task work in the second two. We walk you through the details and an honest assessment on the consult call.

4-week service-dog board-and-train

4 weeks · $8,000

Your dog lives and trains at our facility for four weeks. The first two weeks are an evaluation — we confirm the dog is a genuine service-dog candidate before going further, and we tell you honestly if it isn't. The second two weeks are the service-dog task work, tailored to the disability we're training to mitigate, plus the public-access foundation.

Best for: Handlers who have a candidate dog — or want one from our breeding program — and need focused, professional task training with an honest evaluation up front.

The standards we hold every team to

The service-dog community has reputational damage from programs that certify dogs that shouldn't be working. We don't. These are the non-negotiable standards every team has to meet before we sign off on certification.

Neutral behavior in public — no reactivity to other dogs, people, traffic, or environmental novelty after the team-training phase.
Task reliability under distraction — the trained tasks have to work in a grocery store, an airport, and at the doctor's office, not just in our facility.
Solid public-access foundation — settle for the duration of a meal, recover quickly from a startle, ride in a vehicle calmly, ignore food on the floor.
Handler skill — the handler can read the dog, manage cues, recognize signs of stress, and intervene appropriately. A team is only as durable as its human half.
A clear wash-out path — if a dog doesn't meet the standard, we say so early and help the handler decide next steps. We don't certify a dog that shouldn't be working.

Questions we get on every service-dog consult

How do you decide if a dog is a service-dog candidate?+

Temperament first — neutral around strangers and other dogs, recoverable from startle, high but controllable drive, and sound health. That's exactly what the first two weeks of the program are for: a structured evaluation before we commit to the task work. If a dog isn't a genuine candidate, we tell you early — that's the system working.

Will my dog become "registered"?+

There is no official US service-dog registry. Any service that sells you a "service dog certificate" or a registry listing is selling you nothing. Under the ADA, a service dog is qualified by its training — task work that mitigates a specific disability — not by paperwork. We train to a verifiable standard and document the team's training history; that is what matters legally.

How long does it take?+

The service-dog program is a 4-week board-and-train: two weeks of evaluation followed by two weeks of service-dog task work, then a structured go-home handoff and follow-up refresher sessions. Honest timelines, no shortcuts.

How much does it cost?+

The service-dog board-and-train is $8,000 for the four-week program. Separate from that, plan for the dog itself if you do not already have a suitable candidate, plus vet care, equipment, and food. We give you the full picture on the consult call and tell you if what you need is outside our scope.

What if my dog doesn't make it?+

Some dogs don't. We have a structured wash-out process: a dog that can't safely do task work in public is not certified. We tell you early, and we help you decide whether the dog becomes a beloved pet or gets re-placed with appropriate disclosure. Honesty here protects you, your safety, and the integrity of the service-dog community.

Can a psychiatric service dog do the same things as an emotional-support animal?+

No — these are legally different. An emotional-support animal provides comfort by its presence and has no required training. A psychiatric service dog is trained to perform specific tasks that mitigate symptoms of a psychiatric disability, and is covered under the ADA for public access. We train psychiatric service dogs to the same standard as any other service dog: the tasks are real, the training is verifiable, and the public-access foundation is solid.

Start with a real conversation

Tell us about the disability we're training to mitigate, the tasks you need, and the dog you have (or don't have yet). We'll walk you through what the four-week program looks like for your dog and what an honest assessment and cost look like.