What is a Service Dog?
A Service dog is individually trained to preform specific tasks for those with limited abilities.
What does Public Access mean?
The ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act - requires businesses to allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals onto business premises in whatever areas customers are generally allowed.
Remember… No dog has access rights, only people have access rights.
Dogs trained for Emotional Support or Comfort are not allowed public access under the guidelines of the ADA.
What types of dogs can become Service Dogs?
Many breeds of dogs could become Service Dogs with proper training. However, reputable Service Dog Training Organizations use breeds with specific health and temperament. Breeds that excel in Service dog work are Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers and the mix of the two.
NO, reputable Service Dog Training Organization will use dogs breed for fighting, protection or guardian.
Why shouldn’t dogs breed for fighting, protection or guardian be used in Service Dog work?
Dogs sense their owner’s disability and their vulnerability. Dogs bred for protection/guardian can learn on their own to protect at inappropriate times. This puts both the companion of the dog and the public at risk.
Dogs bred for fighting have been known to be unpredictable in behavioral changes throughout their lives. A dog that is bred to be dog aggressive is not suitable to be a Service Dog, as this puts both the companion of the dog and the public at risk.
Service Dogs are NOT pets. With the tremendous amount of time and cost it takes to train a Service Dog every effort should be taken to ensure proper temperament stability and health for the longest duration possible.
Can I train my own Service Dog?
Under ADA guidelines those with limited abilities in need of a Service Dog can train a dog on their own. However, this is not advised as many, many dogs do not have the ability to become Service Dogs.
Service Dogs are NOT pets and those who wish to train their “pet” often are or become emotionally attached to the dog before training is complete. There are numerous reasons why a dog can fail Service Dog training. Public Access is very strenuous for some dogs and all the variables in the environment that a dog has to learn to accept can be cause for failure.
Reputable Service Dog organizations know what to look for in a dogs temperament to provide the best possible outcome.
Things to consider before trying to train your pet into a Service Dog:
Find a reputable trainer to help you with training.
Be prepared and have a plan for if your dog does not have what it takes to be a Service Dog. (will you be able to re-home your dog)
Realize that having an improperly trained dog is Fraudulent and in many states a felony crime.
What happens to dogs that fail Service Dog training?
We don’t like to use the word fail, but it is a fact that many dogs can not become Service Dogs for various reasons. Dogs that can not become Service Dogs go on to live happy lives as family pets or some can become Emotional Support or Companion Dogs.
Annie was donated to become a Mobility Service Dog she however was too “soft” to perform some of the specific tasks needed to complete her training. She was to be adopted as a pet but became bonded with Micheal and has shown her skills as a Medical Alert Dog. She senses his blood sugar levels, Micheal has chronic hypoglycemia and when not controlled his sugar levels become dangerous to his health. With the help of Annie, Micheal can control his blood levels and live a more independent lifestyle.
What types of Service Dogs does Active K9 train?
We at Active K9 specialize in Mobility Service Dogs. We highly train dogs to perform various skills, such as: turn on lights, retrieve specific items on command, assist with balance, etc. We pride ourselves in our integrity to train public access skills for the safety of both the dogs companion and the public.
Active K9 also trains dogs for PTSD/Emotional Support and Companion/Comfort Dogs.
In 2015 we are adding Medical Alert Service Dog training as well as beginning further research on Dementia Service Dogs.
What does a Service Dog cost?
Cost for a properly trained Service Dog varies from dog to dog, skill to skill. The average cost runs from $10,000 to $20,000 per dog.
Hundreds of hours go into training a Service Dog properly. Medical care, housing, feeding and failure rate all play a role in the cost.
Rarely does the Service Dog recipient pay this cost. Donations make it possible and we encourage every recipient to get involved and help to raise funds to help cover the Service Dog cost.
How long does it take to train a Service Dog?
This too, varies depending on Service Dog type. PTSD/Emotional Support and Companion/Comfort dogs take the least amount of training and can range from 6-12 months.
Mobility Service Dogs and Medical Alert dogs on average take from 8-24 months.
Guide Dogs take the greatest amount of time and can take as long as 36 months.
With ALL Service Dogs, training is never complete and continues for the service of the dog.
A Service dog is individually trained to preform specific tasks for those with limited abilities.
What does Public Access mean?
The ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act - requires businesses to allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals onto business premises in whatever areas customers are generally allowed.
Remember… No dog has access rights, only people have access rights.
Dogs trained for Emotional Support or Comfort are not allowed public access under the guidelines of the ADA.
What types of dogs can become Service Dogs?
Many breeds of dogs could become Service Dogs with proper training. However, reputable Service Dog Training Organizations use breeds with specific health and temperament. Breeds that excel in Service dog work are Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers and the mix of the two.
NO, reputable Service Dog Training Organization will use dogs breed for fighting, protection or guardian.
Why shouldn’t dogs breed for fighting, protection or guardian be used in Service Dog work?
Dogs sense their owner’s disability and their vulnerability. Dogs bred for protection/guardian can learn on their own to protect at inappropriate times. This puts both the companion of the dog and the public at risk.
Dogs bred for fighting have been known to be unpredictable in behavioral changes throughout their lives. A dog that is bred to be dog aggressive is not suitable to be a Service Dog, as this puts both the companion of the dog and the public at risk.
Service Dogs are NOT pets. With the tremendous amount of time and cost it takes to train a Service Dog every effort should be taken to ensure proper temperament stability and health for the longest duration possible.
Can I train my own Service Dog?
Under ADA guidelines those with limited abilities in need of a Service Dog can train a dog on their own. However, this is not advised as many, many dogs do not have the ability to become Service Dogs.
Service Dogs are NOT pets and those who wish to train their “pet” often are or become emotionally attached to the dog before training is complete. There are numerous reasons why a dog can fail Service Dog training. Public Access is very strenuous for some dogs and all the variables in the environment that a dog has to learn to accept can be cause for failure.
Reputable Service Dog organizations know what to look for in a dogs temperament to provide the best possible outcome.
Things to consider before trying to train your pet into a Service Dog:
Find a reputable trainer to help you with training.
Be prepared and have a plan for if your dog does not have what it takes to be a Service Dog. (will you be able to re-home your dog)
Realize that having an improperly trained dog is Fraudulent and in many states a felony crime.
What happens to dogs that fail Service Dog training?
We don’t like to use the word fail, but it is a fact that many dogs can not become Service Dogs for various reasons. Dogs that can not become Service Dogs go on to live happy lives as family pets or some can become Emotional Support or Companion Dogs.
Annie was donated to become a Mobility Service Dog she however was too “soft” to perform some of the specific tasks needed to complete her training. She was to be adopted as a pet but became bonded with Micheal and has shown her skills as a Medical Alert Dog. She senses his blood sugar levels, Micheal has chronic hypoglycemia and when not controlled his sugar levels become dangerous to his health. With the help of Annie, Micheal can control his blood levels and live a more independent lifestyle.
What types of Service Dogs does Active K9 train?
We at Active K9 specialize in Mobility Service Dogs. We highly train dogs to perform various skills, such as: turn on lights, retrieve specific items on command, assist with balance, etc. We pride ourselves in our integrity to train public access skills for the safety of both the dogs companion and the public.
Active K9 also trains dogs for PTSD/Emotional Support and Companion/Comfort Dogs.
In 2015 we are adding Medical Alert Service Dog training as well as beginning further research on Dementia Service Dogs.
What does a Service Dog cost?
Cost for a properly trained Service Dog varies from dog to dog, skill to skill. The average cost runs from $10,000 to $20,000 per dog.
Hundreds of hours go into training a Service Dog properly. Medical care, housing, feeding and failure rate all play a role in the cost.
Rarely does the Service Dog recipient pay this cost. Donations make it possible and we encourage every recipient to get involved and help to raise funds to help cover the Service Dog cost.
How long does it take to train a Service Dog?
This too, varies depending on Service Dog type. PTSD/Emotional Support and Companion/Comfort dogs take the least amount of training and can range from 6-12 months.
Mobility Service Dogs and Medical Alert dogs on average take from 8-24 months.
Guide Dogs take the greatest amount of time and can take as long as 36 months.
With ALL Service Dogs, training is never complete and continues for the service of the dog.