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Program Overview:
Our Service Dog Training Program is designed to develop confident, dependable service dogs through a structured, individualized training process. Whether you're enrolling your current dog or being matched with one of our purpose-raised puppies, every team follows a proven progression focused on reliability, public access readiness, and real-world task performance.
Each dog's training plan is tailored to their temperament, learning style, and the specific needs of their future handler, ensuring steady progress while maintaining the highest standards of behavior, confidence, and working ability.
Comprehensive Temperament Evaluation
Every dog begins with an in-depth temperament evaluation to determine suitability for service work. This assessment helps us identify each dog's strengths while ensuring they possess the stability and potential required for advanced training.
Our evaluation considers:
• Confidence and emotional stability
• Focus, engagement, and trainability
• Adaptability to new environments
• Overall temperament and working potential
Only dogs that demonstrate the qualities necessary for service work continue into the program, helping build safe, dependable, and successful service dog teams.
A Structured Training Journey
Training begins by building a strong foundation of communication, engagement, and obedience between dog and handler. As each level is mastered, dogs gradually develop the skills needed to confidently navigate increasingly challenging environments.
Training focuses on:
• Reliable obedience in everyday situations
• Impulse control and sustained focus
• Environmental confidence and neutrality
• Public manners and distraction proofing
• Real-world reliability in a variety of settings
Every skill is introduced methodically to create calm, thoughtful, and dependable working dogs.
Six Progressive Training Levels
Our curriculum is divided into six clearly defined levels, allowing clients to track measurable progress from foundation skills through graduation.
Level 1 • Socialization & Foundations
Level 2 • Basic Obedience & Manners
Level 3 • Advanced Obedience & Confidence Building
Level 4 • Public Access Skills
Level 5 • Task Training
Level 6 • Graduation & Certification
Each level builds upon the last, creating confident dogs prepared for the responsibilities of public access and disability mitigation.
Flexible Payment Options
Clients may choose to pay as they progress through each training level or enroll in the full program with a single payment. Flexible payment plans are available, making professional service dog training more accessible without compromising the quality of instruction.
Progressive Skill Development
As dogs advance through the program, training evolves to meet the demands of everyday working life.
Training includes:
• Advanced obedience under increasing distractions
• Extended duration and reliability exercises
• Public access training in real-world environments
• Customized task training based on each handler's disability and individual needs
Whether teaching mobility assistance, medical response, psychiatric tasks, or other specialized work, every behavior is trained with consistency, precision, and long-term reliability in mind.
Graduation Standards
Graduation is reserved for dogs that consistently demonstrate the temperament, manners, and reliability expected of a working service dog.
To graduate, every team must successfully:
• Earn the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC), CGCA, and CGCU titles
• Pass our comprehensive Public Access Test
• Pass our Handler Skills Evaluation
These milestones ensure every graduate is prepared to confidently work in public while safely assisting their handler.
Supporting the Whole Dog
Exceptional service dogs require far more than obedience alone. Throughout training, we prioritize each dog's physical well-being, emotional resilience, confidence, and problem-solving ability.
By developing the whole dog, we create partners that are capable of thriving in demanding public environments while maintaining stability, composure, and enthusiasm for their work.
The Result
Graduates leave our program as reliable, confident service dogs equipped with the skills needed to support greater independence and improve everyday life.
Clients receive:
• A highly trained, dependable service dog
• Ongoing professional guidance and support
• A clear, structured path from foundational obedience to advanced task work
Our goal is simple: to build dependable service dog teams that can navigate the real world with confidence, safety, and trust.
Types of Service Dogs:
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 categories of disabilities, ie mobility and medical.
Psychiatric Service Dogs
Assists individuals living with mental health conditions. These dogs are trained to help regulate stress and emotions, interrupt escalating behaviors, respond to episodes, and provide stability during difficult moments.
Mobility Service Dogs
Assists individuals that struggle with movement and daily independence. These dogs are trained to provide stability for handlers movement, provide mobility aid assistance, and assist with 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, retrieving medication and other needs.
Please note we DO NOT train seeing eye dogs nor hearing alert dogs. Please reach out to other local programs regarding those services.
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.
Training Levels & Financials:
Please scroll through all training levels using the highlighted arrow. If on mobile, please click image and swipe.
Deposit & Initial Costs
Bringing your own dog: $20 temperament evaluation, $1,500 deposit
Purchasing a puppy from us: $2,000 deposit
Level Placement
Every dog is evaluated before entering the program to determine the appropriate starting level.
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Dogs begin 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 begin at the next level.
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You only pay for the levels your dog completes.
Example:
If your dog already performs at a Level 2 standard, they may begin at Level 3, and you would not pay for Levels 1 or 2.
Financial Plans
The $2,000 puppy deposit or $20 temperament evaluation with a $1,500 training deposit is paid before training begins. After enrollment, training is paid one level at a time.
For each level:
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You may pay the full amount before the level begins, or
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Split that level's tuition into monthly payments throughout that level.
Payment for each level begins only after the previous level has been successfully completed. Clients are billed only for the level their dog is actively enrolled in, allowing training to progress at the individual dog's pace.
Sourcing your Service Dog:
Whether you're starting with one of our purpose-selected puppies or enrolling a dog you already own, every client follows the same structured training program and graduates to the same high standards. The difference is simply where the journey begins.
Program-Provided Puppies
Start with a puppy carefully selected and professionally raised for service work from the very beginning.
Our puppies are sourced from ethical, health-tested breeders who prioritize temperament, sound structure, and genetic health. Every litter is carefully evaluated to identify puppies with the greatest potential for service work.
We commonly place:
• Labrador Retrievers
• Golden Retrievers
• Poodles (Toy, Miniature & Standard)
• German Shepherds
Breed and gender preferences are welcomed whenever possible, but every placement is ultimately based on temperament, lifestyle compatibility, and long-term success rather than appearance alone.
Professional Early Development
After matching, puppies remain in our home to complete their early foundation training before joining their future family.
During this time, every puppy receives:
• Daily socialization and confidence-building
• Foundation obedience and household manners
• Exposure to new environments and experiences
• Age-appropriate health care and vaccinations
• Spay/neuter or placement on an approved contract
This structured start provides consistency during the most important stages of development and creates a smoother transition into working life.
Level 1 Before Going Home
Program puppies remain with us through completion of Level 1: Foundations & Basic Obedience.
Once Level 1 is complete:
• Puppies transition home with their handler
• Training continues through Levels 2–6
• Handlers participate in ongoing lessons and coaching
Every dog progresses through the same curriculum and is held to the same graduation standards regardless of where they began.
Ongoing Support
From puppy selection through graduation, our team provides professional guidance every step of the way. We monitor each dog's progress, adjust training as needed, and support handlers throughout the entire process to develop dependable, confident service dog teams.
Train Your Own Dog
Already have a dog you believe has service dog potential? Our evaluation process determines whether your dog has the temperament, health, and working ability needed to succeed.
Temperament Evaluation
Every dog completes a comprehensive assessment before entering the program. This evaluation helps determine both suitability for service work and the most appropriate starting level.
We evaluate:
• Confidence and emotional stability
• Focus and engagement
• Adaptability in new environments
• Overall working potential
Dogs must also be current on vaccinations and spayed or neutered unless restricted by a breeder agreement.
Placement Based on Ability
No two dogs begin at the same level.
Following the evaluation, your dog is placed into the appropriate training level based on existing skills and experience. Dogs are never required to repeat training they have already mastered, and clients only pay for the levels their dog needs.
This allows experienced dogs to progress efficiently while maintaining the same high program standards.
We believe successful service dogs are chosen by temperament, not breed.
Dogs of any breed, size, or mix are welcome to be evaluated. Acceptance is based on each dog's confidence, stability, trainability, and overall suitability for service work rather than appearance or pedigree.
Professional Guidance From Start to Finish
Throughout training, you'll receive ongoing coaching, individualized training plans, and regular progress evaluations. Our goal is to develop a calm, reliable service dog capable of confidently working in everyday public environments while providing meaningful assistance to their handler.
Whether you begin with one of our purpose-raised puppies or your own dog, every graduate leaves our program having met the same rigorous standards for behavior, public access, and task performance.
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 18 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!
Join our waitlist to be matched with a carefully selected service 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. Find the perfect working partner today!
Apply to have your dog assessed for service 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.
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