Our Service Dog Training Program is built to meet each client’s individual needs, whether you are enrolling a dog you already own or being matched with a puppy from our program. Every dog follows a structured, results-driven training system held to high standards for behavior, reliability, and working ability, while still allowing for each dog’s unique personality, strengths, and pace of learning.
Comprehensive Temperament Evaluation
Before training begins, every dog completes a detailed temperament assessment to determine suitability for service work. This evaluation reviews:
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Confidence and emotional stability
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Focus and trainability
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Adaptability in new environments
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Overall demeanor and working potential
Only dogs who demonstrate the right qualities move forward, helping ensure long-term success and safety throughout the program.
Structured Training Path
Training begins with a strong foundation in obedience, engagement, and clear communication between dog and handler. Early focus areas include:
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Reliable obedience in everyday settings
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Impulse control and sustained focus
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Exposure to new environments and distractions
As dogs progress, training expands into public manners, environmental neutrality, and real-world reliability so they remain calm, responsive, and composed in a variety of settings.
Level-Based Progression
The program is organized into five clear levels, giving clients transparency and measurable milestones throughout training:
Level 1: Foundations & Basic Obedience
Building engagement, marker training, leash manners, recalls, sit/down/stay, and household structure.
Level 2: Intermediate Obedience & Confidence Building
Strengthening reliability under distraction, duration work, impulse control, neutrality around people/dogs, and environmental exposure.
Level 3: Advanced Obedience & Public Access Preparation
Offered in pet-friendly public spaces while improving heel work, settles, focus in busy settings, and calm behavior in real-world environments.
Level 4: Public Access & Task Training
Advanced access work in increasingly challenging locations while beginning or refining custom service tasks based on handler needs.
Level 5: Final Testing & Graduation
Polishing all skills, handler transfer work, full public access testing, and graduation readiness.
Flexible Payment Options
Clients may pay level by level as their dog advances or choose an upfront full-program package. This flexible structure avoids a large initial investment while still providing access to a complete, professional training experience. Payment plans are available for each level.
Progressive Skill Development
As dogs move through the program, expectations and skills increase to prepare them for real working life. Training includes:
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Working through higher distractions and longer durations
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Advanced public access exposure for confidence in real environments
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Customized task training based on handler needs, such as mobility assistance, medical alert/response, or psychiatric support
Every task is taught with a focus on consistency, dependability, and practical use in daily life.
Graduation Standards & Certification
To successfully complete the program, dogs must meet our highest standards by:
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Earning all three Canine Good Citizen titles (CGC, CGCA, CGCU)
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Passing a comprehensive Public Access Test and Handler Test
These benchmarks help confirm each graduate demonstrates the stability, manners, and reliability expected of a working service dog.
Overall Well-Being & Support
We believe excellent service dogs need more than obedience alone. Our program also prioritizes:
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Physical health and conditioning
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Mental enrichment and problem-solving skills
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Emotional balance and resilience
This creates dogs that are not only highly trained, but capable of thriving in demanding day-to-day environments.
Outcome for Clients & Dogs
Graduates of our program provide clients with:
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A dependable, confident, and capable service dog
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Professional support and hands-on guidance
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A clear path from foundation obedience to advanced working tasks
Choosing our program means building a reliable partner prepared to support independence, navigate public life, and perform specialized tasks with confidence.
Program overview
Multipurpose Service Dogs
Assists individuals with multiple disabilities who require support in more than one area. These dogs are trained to provide a service for multiple catagories of disabilities, ie mobility and medical.
Mobility Service Dogs
Assists individuals that struggle with movement and daily independence. These dogs are trained to provide stability and support handlers movement, improve accessibility, and assist with general everyday tasks.
Medical Service Dogs
Assists individuals living with physical disabilities and conditions. These dogs are trained to alert and/or respond to physical changes, conditions, allergens, and other needs.
Psychiatric Service Dogs
Assists individuals living with mental health conditions. These dogs are trained to help regulate stress and emotions, interrupt escalating behaviors, and provide stability during difficult moments.
Service Dog Types
Please note we DO NOT train seeing eye dogs nor hearing alert dogs. Please reach out to other local programs regarding those services.
Service dog tasks
Each service dog is trained in up to 5 free tasks at no additional cost. Training is personalized and purposeful, practical for daily use. Each dog develops a reliable custom working skill set modeled to give their handlers independence again. Every client receives a comprehensive task master list, outlining the available service dog tasks our program offers. Training is customized based on your disability related needs, routine, and long term goals. Additional tasks may be added beyond the included 5 tasks for $100 per additional task. Tasks can be added later as needs evolve. There is no limit on tasks able to be chosen assuming said dog is physically and mentally able to handle the additional work load.
Sourcing your Service Dog
Buying a Program-Provided Puppy
Our program offers clients the opportunity to start with a carefully selected puppy, raised and developed to become a reliable, fully capable service dog.
Puppy Selection & Suitability
Puppies are sourced from ethical, reputable breeders who prioritize health, structure, and service-appropriate temperament. We focus on selecting dogs with the highest potential for service work based on:
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Confidence and stability
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Focus and engagement
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Adaptability and overall demeanor
We typically offer:
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Labrador Retrievers
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Golden Retrievers
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Poodles (all sizes)
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Collies (rough and smooth)
Off-breeds are not commonly available. Clients may request a preferred breed and/or gender, and we do our best to accommodate these preferences when possible.
Puppies are matched to their future handler between 12–16 weeks of age based on personality, temperament, and working potential—not appearance.
Early Development & Health Requirements
After being matched, puppies remain in our care to continue their early development and training. Each puppy:
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Receives the first year of required vaccinations
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Is spayed/neutered or placed on a spay/neuter contract
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Is raised in a structured environment focused on confidence, socialization, and stability
This ensures every puppy develops a strong, healthy foundation before transitioning to their new home.
Level Placement & Program Entry
All program-provided puppies remain in the trainer’s home to complete Level 1 (Foundations & Basic Obedience) before going home.
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Puppies do not immediately live with their handler after matching
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This period allows for consistent structure, early training, and professional development
Once Level 1 is completed:
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Puppies transition to living with their handler
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Dogs continue through Levels 2–4 of the program
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Handlers meet routinely for ongoing training and progression
All dogs follow the same structured program and are held to the same standards for graduation.
Flexible Placement & Accessibility
Our placement process is designed to create the best possible match and long-term success:
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Puppies are matched based on temperament, lifestyle, and working ability
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Breed and gender preferences are considered, but suitability is prioritized
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Early in-house development allows for a smoother transition into handler care
Program Goals & Support
Throughout the process, our team provides:
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Professional guidance during puppy development and placement
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Continued support as the dog progresses through Levels 2–4
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Ongoing monitoring to ensure consistency, confidence, and reliability
Our focus is on developing dogs that are stable, adaptable, and capable of performing in real-world environments.
This program is ideal for clients who want to start with a purpose-selected puppy and receive structured, professional guidance from the earliest stages. Puppies are thoughtfully matched, properly developed, and prepared to grow into confident, dependable service dogs capable of supporting their handler in everyday life.
Training Your Own Dog to Be a Service Dog
Our program welcomes clients who already have a dog and want to develop them into a reliable, fully capable service dog.
Temperament & Suitability Assessment
Before beginning, every dog undergoes a comprehensive temperament evaluation to ensure they are physically and behaviorally suitable for service work. This step assesses:
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Confidence and stability
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Focus and attentiveness
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Adaptability and resilience
Dogs must also meet basic health and care requirements to be eligible for training:
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Up-to-date on all required vaccinations
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Spayed or neutered (unless breeder contract requires otherwise)
Dogs that meet the program’s standards are approved to continue, ensuring they can safely and successfully progress through training.
Level Placement & Program Entry
Following evaluation, dogs are placed into the appropriate training level (Level 1–4) based on their prior training and experience.
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Dogs are not required to repeat previous levels they have already mastered
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Clients are not charged for levels the dog does not need (for example, a dog entering at Level 2 does not take or pay for Level 1)
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This structure allows for efficient progression while maintaining program standards
Dogs of any age may be accepted into the program; however, younger dogs are generally easier to train and tend to progress more quickly.
Flexible Placement & Accessibility
We believe suitability is based on temperament, not appearance or breed.
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All breeds and breed mixes are accepted, both large and small
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Each dog is evaluated as an individual based on behavior and working potential
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Placement ensures training is focused on areas that will maximize the dog’s success
This approach allows a wide range of dogs to participate while maintaining high standards for service work.
Program Goals & Support
While the dog advances through the program, our team provides:
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Guidance and support tailored to the dog’s individual abilities
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Placement and progression based on readiness, not a fixed timeline
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Ongoing monitoring to ensure safety, consistency, and success
Our focus is on developing dogs that are not only trained, but also stable, confident, and capable of handling real-world environments.
This program is ideal for clients who want a structured, professional pathway for their existing dog, starting with a thorough assessment and clear placement within the program. Dogs that meet the program’s standards are positioned to become confident, dependable service partners, capable of performing reliably in public and everyday situations.
Level 1 – Foundations & Basic Obedience
Level 1 is the starting point of the Service Dog Training Program. This stage focuses on establishing communication, structure, and foundational obedience while building a dog that is mentally engaged, stable, and responsive to handler direction. Every behavior introduced here becomes the baseline for all advanced training in later levels.
The goal is to create a dog that understands learning structure, responds consistently to basic cues, and begins developing handler focus as the primary source of guidance.
Core Skills Developed
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Engagement building and sustained attention to handler
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Marker training for precise communication and learning clarity
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Structured leash manners (no pulling, controlled movement, handler awareness)
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Reliable sit, down, stand, and basic position holding
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Recall (come when called) in controlled environments
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Introduction to place command for structured settling
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Basic household structure (boundaries, thresholds, calm behavior expectations)
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Early impulse control foundations (waiting, not rushing, disengaging from distractions)
Training Emphasis
Level 1 is not just obedience, it is the development of learning mechanics. Dogs are taught how to process information, understand reinforcement, and build confidence in responding to handler direction. Handlers are actively coached on timing, consistency, and reinforcement so communication becomes clear and predictable.
Training is kept structured and low-distraction to prevent confusion and ensure strong foundational reliability.
End Goals
By the end of Level 1:
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Strong engagement and willingness to work with handler
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Clear understanding of foundational obedience cues
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Calm, structured behavior in home and training environments
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Early impulse control and emotional regulation foundations
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Preparedness for controlled distraction environments in Level 2
Level 2 – Intermediate Obedience & Confidence Building
Level 2 strengthens reliability by proofing foundational obedience under controlled distraction while increasing duration, expectation clarity, and environmental exposure. This stage is where behaviors begin to stabilize across changing conditions rather than only in structured settings.
The goal is consistency: the dog should perform known behaviors reliably even when the environment introduces competing stimuli.
Core Skills Developed
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Obedience reliability under mild to moderate distraction
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Extended duration for sit, down, stay, and place
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Structured impulse control in real-life scenarios (food, movement, noise)
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Neutrality toward unfamiliar people and dogs (non-reactive behavior)
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Environmental exposure across new surfaces, sounds, and locations
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Leash skills maintained under distraction (no reinforcement dependency on quiet environments)
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Reinforced handler engagement in non-controlled settings
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Off leash skills.
Training Emphasis
This stage focuses on emotional stability and cognitive flexibility. Dogs learn that obedience is not environment-dependent, it applies everywhere, not just in predictable spaces. The expectation is not perfection, but consistency under increasing complexity.
Handlers begin transitioning from mechanical cue-giving to situational awareness, learning how to maintain engagement even when distractions are present.
End Goals
By the end of Level 2:
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Reliable obedience under structured distraction
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Increased emotional confidence in unfamiliar environments
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Strong impulse control and environmental neutrality
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Ability to maintain handler focus in varied settings
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Readiness for structured public access training in Level 3
Level 3 – Public Access Training
Level 3 is dedicated entirely to public access development. This stage teaches the dog how to behave appropriately, calmly, and reliably in real-world environments where unpredictability, noise, movement, and social pressure are constant.
The focus is not task work or advanced obedience, it is environmental neutrality and public behavior reliability.
Core Skills Developed
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Structured heel work in public environments with sustained handler focus
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Calm, extended-duration settles in real-world settings
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Neutrality to food, people, dogs, carts, sounds, and movement
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Ignoring environmental distractions without handler correction escalation
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Controlled entry/exit behavior in public spaces
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Maintaining obedience under variable real-world pressure
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Reinforced engagement despite high-value distractions
Training Environments
Training is conducted in progressively challenging public settings, including:
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Pet-friendly retail stores
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Shopping centers with moderate to high foot traffic
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Outdoor public spaces with movement and noise
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Busy pedestrian environments
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Controlled high-distraction real-world locations
Training Emphasis
Level 3 is about neutrality under pressure. The dog must learn that public environments are working environments where the expectation is calm, composed behavior regardless of external stimulation.
Handlers develop real-world handling confidence, learning how to maintain structure and engagement in environments that cannot be controlled.
End Goals
By the end of Level 3:
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Reliable, calm behavior in public environments
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Strong neutrality toward external distractions
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Consistent handler engagement in real-world settings
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Controlled, structured public access behavior
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Readiness for functional task training in Level 4
Level 4 – Task Training
Level 4 focuses entirely on individualized service task development. This stage transforms obedience and public access skills into functional disability support by teaching the dog how to perform specific tasks reliably, intentionally, and under real-world conditions.
The goal is functional independence, training that directly supports the handler’s medical, psychiatric, or physical needs.
Core Skills Developed
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Task cue recognition and reliable response to handler direction
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Independent task initiation (when applicable)
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Task performance under distraction and in public environments
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Seamless integration of tasks into daily routines
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Smooth transitions between obedience and task execution
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Maintenance of composure while performing complex behaviors
Service Task Development
Each dog is trained in up to 5 core tasks included in the program, selected based on handler disability-related needs.
Examples include:
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Medical alert and response (behavioral or physiological changes)
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Deep pressure therapy for anxiety regulation or grounding
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Item retrieval (medication, dropped objects, assistive items)
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Interruption of repetitive, anxiety-driven, or harmful behaviors
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Guiding to exits, safe spaces, or designated locations
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Task-specific mobility or assistance behaviors where appropriate
Additional tasks may be added for $100 per task and are introduced based on handler need and program suitability.
Training Emphasis
This stage requires precision and reliability. Tasks must not only be learned—they must be dependable under distraction, fatigue, environmental pressure, and real-world unpredictability.
Handlers are trained extensively on cue timing, reinforcement balance, and maintaining task clarity without interfering with the dog’s performance.
End Goals
By the end of Level 4:
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Reliable, consistent task performance under real-world conditions
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Functional integration of tasks into daily life routines
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Strong handler-task communication system
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Ability to perform disability-related tasks independently
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Readiness for final evaluation and graduation
Level 5 – Final Testing & Graduation
Level 5 is the final stage of the Service Dog Training Program. This stage ensures all obedience, public access behavior, and task work are fully proofed and reliable in real-world conditions without trainer support.
The focus is long-term stability, independence, and full functional readiness as a working service dog team.
Core Focus
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Full proofing of obedience across environments and distractions
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Reliable task performance without reinforcement dependency
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Handler independence and confident real-world handling
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Consistent public access behavior in all settings
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Seamless teamwork between dog and handler
Final Requirements
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Comprehensive public access evaluation across multiple environments
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Full obedience reliability under distraction and pressure
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Consistent and correct execution of all trained tasks
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Handler competency, communication, and decision-making evaluation
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Demonstration of safe, appropriate public behavior at all times
End Goals
By the end of Level 5:
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Fully trained and reliable service dog team
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Successful completion of all program requirements and testing
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Confident, independent handler capable of managing the dog in all environments
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Dog capable of performing consistent, functional service work in real life
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Official graduation into independent service work and real-world deployment
Cost Breakdown & Financial Plans
Deposit & Initial Costs
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Bringing your own dog: $20 temperament evaluation, $1,500 deposit
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Purchasing a puppy from us: $2,000 deposit
Training Levels & Pricing
Level 1 – Foundations & Basic Obedience
Estimated 2-4 Month Course
$1,000
Builds the essential skills every future service dog needs.
Level 2 – Intermediate Obedience & Confidence Building
Estimated 2–4 Month Course
$1,500 total
Develops reliability in distracting environments while improving confidence and composure.
Level 3 – Public Access Training
Estimated 4–8 Month Course
$3,500 total
Focused entirely on public behavior and service dog standards in real-world settings.
Level 4 – Task Training
Estimated 4–8 Month Course
$3,500 total
Custom trained tasks tailored to the handler’s disability-related needs.
Includes up to 5 trained service tasks
Additional tasks: $100 each
Level 5 – Final Testing & Graduation
Estimated 1–2 Month Course
$1,000 total
Includes:
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Public access evaluation
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Task reliability testing
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Handler education sessions
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Transition to home life
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Maintenance plan
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Graduation upon successful completion
Level Placement
Every dog is evaluated before entering the program to determine the appropriate starting level.
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Dogs start at the level that matches their current skill set
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If your dog already meets the requirements of a level, they will start at the next level up
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You are only charged for the levels your dog actually completes
Example:
If your dog is already performing at a Level 1 standard, they may begin at Level 2, and you would not pay for Level 1.
Financial Plans
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Option of $2,000 deposit (Buying a puppy from us), or the $20 evaluation fee with a $1,500 deposit (Supplying your own dog for training) is paid upfront.
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After that, training is paid one level at a time.
For each level:
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You can either pay the full amount upfront or
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Split that level’s cost into monthly payments during that phase of training
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Payment for a level begins when your dog starts that level
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You are not able to pay for the next level until your dog has successfully completed the current one and is ready to move forward
Commonly asked questions
Do I need a disability to have a service dog?
Yes. Under the ADA, a service dog must be trained to perform specific tasks that directly assist with a diagnosed disability. This can include physical, psychiatric, or medical conditions.
What is the difference between a service dog, emotional support animal, and therapy dog?
Service dogs are individually trained to perform specific tasks and have full public access rights under the ADA.
Emotional support animals (ESAs) provide comfort but are not task-trained and do not have public access rights.
Therapy dogs are trained to support others (such as in hospitals or schools) and also do not have public access rights.
Can any breed become a service dog?
Yes. We do not restrict any breeds or mixed breeds. Suitability is based on temperament, behavior, and overall stability, not breed.
Can I choose my puppy?
Clients may request breed and gender preferences, however, puppies are matched based on temperament, personality, and working potential to ensure the best long-term success.
How long does the program take?
The full program timeline varies depending on the dog’s starting level, age, and progress. On average, training can take 12–24 months to complete all levels.
What happens if my dog doesn’t pass the evaluation?
If a dog is not suitable for service work, we will discuss alternative options and recommendations. This ensures the safety and success of both the dog and handler. Disqualifications are dogs with bite records, aggression towards any stimuli, a dog with medical or health issues that impact their daily life, ect.
Will I be trained as well?
Yes. Handler education is a critical part of the program. You will learn how to effectively communicate with your dog, maintain training, and navigate public access situations confidently.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes. Clients may pay per level as their dog progresses or pay upfront. Payment plans can be arranged for each level, allowing for flexibility without requiring full payment at once.
Join the program today!
Dog Evaluation Application
Apply to have your dog assessed for therapy work through our comprehensive temperament and suitability evaluation. This process determines if your dog meets the behavioral and physical requirements for the program and allows us to place them at the appropriate training level based on their current skills.
Puppy Program Waitlist
Join our waitlist to be matched with a carefully selected therapy dog puppy. Clients may submit preferences for breed and gender, while final placement is based on temperament, personality, and working potential to ensure the best long-term partnership.