OWNER-ASSISTED
SERVICE DOG TRAINING

At Everybody's Doggy, we champion the right of individuals with disabilities to train their own service dogs, with the benefit of professional guidance and support. We recognize that for many, this personalized method is not only more accessible but also the most affordable route to having a service dog. We are committed to supporting you every step of the way, whether you decide to train an adult dog or raise a puppy with our assistance.

Understanding that every journey is unique, our certified service dog trainers tailor each training plan to the individual needs of the owner-trainer. This personalized approach takes into account several key factors:

Customized Support

  • The Dog

    Every dog has its own personality and learning pace. We work with the natural abilities and temperament of each dog to ensure effective training.

  • The Human

    Your experiences, lifestyle, and specific needs are central to shaping the training process. We adapt our methods to suit your individual circumstances

  • Type of Disability

    The nature of your disability greatly influences the training approach. We focus on specific tasks and support functions that are most beneficial to your daily life.

  • Past Training Experience

    Whether you’re a seasoned dog guardian or new to dog training, we adjust our guidance to match your level of experience, ensuring a rewarding and successful journey.

Types Of Service Dogs We Help Train

We specialize in training service dogs for individuals aged 6 and older, focusing on three unique categories. Unfortunately, at this time, we do not offer training for diabetic alert dogs, dogs that detect allergens, or guide dogs for individuals who are blind or have low vision. Below are simply examples of common tasks we train. 

  • Autistic and Neurodivergent Individuals

    Sensory Support:

    • Training the dog to recognize and respond to signs of sensory overload in the individual.

    • Teaching the dog to provide deep pressure therapy to help with the individual's sensory processing.

    Social Interaction Assistance:

    • Training the dog to act as a social buffer in public settings for the individual.

    • Teaching the dog to initiate interaction to help with the individual's social anxiety or withdrawal.

    Behavior Interruption:

    • Training the dog to interrupt repetitive or harmful behaviors exhibited by the individual.

    • Teaching the dog to redirect the individual’s focus when they show signs of distress.

    Emotional Support:

    • Training the dog to recognize and respond to emotional cues from the individual.

    • Teaching the dog calming behaviors to help soothe the individual during moments of distress.

    Safety Monitoring:

    • Training the dog to stay close to the individual in public places to ensure safety.

    • Teaching the dog to alert a caregiver or press an emergency button if the individual is in distress.

    Navigation Assistance:

    • Training the dog to guide the individual through crowded or overwhelming environments.

    • Teaching the dog to locate exits or safe spaces in public areas.

    Independence Skills:

    • Training the dog to assist with tasks that increase the individual’s independence, such as retrieving items or opening doors.

    • Teaching the dog to stay with the individual and provide assistance as needed when a caregiver is not present.

  • Individuals With Psychiatric Disabilities

    Anxiety and Panic Alert:

    • Training the dog to recognize signs of anxiety or panic attacks in the individual.

    • Teaching the dog to perform calming tasks or to alert the individual to take preventative measures.

    Interruption of Harmful Behaviors:

    • Training the dog to interrupt self-harming behaviors or compulsive actions.

    • Teaching the dog to engage the individual in a different activity or provide a distraction.

    Grounding in Reality:

    • Training the dog to help ground the individual during dissociative episodes or flashbacks.

    • Teaching the dog to use physical touch or a specific action to bring the individual back to the present.

    Emotional Support and Comfort:

    • Training the dog to recognize emotional distress and offer comfort through presence and touch.

    • Teaching the dog to stay close and provide companionship, reducing feelings of loneliness or isolation.

    Space Creation in Public:

    • Training the dog to create a physical barrier between the individual and others in public spaces.

    • Teaching the dog to guide the individual through crowds or stressful environments.

    Sleep Disturbance Assistance:

    • Training the dog to wake the individual from nightmares or restless sleep.

    • Teaching the dog to provide comfort to help the individual return to sleep.

    Building Confidence and Independence:

    • Training the dog to support the individual in activities that build self-confidence and independence.

    • Teaching the dog to accompany the individual to new places or in undertaking new activities.

  • Individuals With Chronic Illness


    Assistance with Daily Tasks:

    • Training the dog to assist with daily activities that the individual may find challenging, such as opening doors, turning on lights, or picking up dropped items.

    • Teaching the dog to carry small items or fetch specific objects.

    Alert for Medical Emergencies:

    • Training the dog to recognize and alert for signs of a medical emergency related to the individual’s chronic illness.

    • Teaching the dog to activate an emergency response system or alert another person.

    Pain Management Support:

    • Training the dog to recognize signs of pain or discomfort in the individual.

    • Teaching the dog to provide comfort through gentle pressure or presence during painful episodes.

    Energy Conservation Assistance:

    • Training the dog to help the individual conserve energy by performing tasks that are physically demanding.

    • Teaching the dog to encourage rest or breaks when the individual shows signs of fatigue.

    Emotional Support and Companionship:

    • Training the dog to provide emotional support through companionship, helping to alleviate feelings of isolation or depression that can accompany chronic illness.

    • Teaching the dog to engage in comforting behaviors when the individual is feeling isolated or depressed.

 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • In the United States, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service dog is defined as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person's disability. This definition distinguishes service dogs from emotional support animals and therapy dogs, which are not covered under the ADA. Service dogs are granted specific legal rights, such as the ability to accompany their handler in public places where pets are not typically allowed. It's important to note that the ADA does not restrict service dogs to any specific breed or size, and they do not require any specific certification or identification. The key factor is that they are trained to perform tasks that mitigate their handler's disability.

  • In the United States, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), there is no legally required certification or registration for service dogs. The ADA does not mandate that service dogs undergo any specific training program, nor does it require them to be certified or registered with any organization.

    While some organizations do offer certification programs, these are not required by law and do not grant any legal status to the service dog. Instead, the ADA's definition of a service dog is based on the tasks the dog has been trained to perform in relation to the handler's disability.

    Any certificates, IDs, or vests that service dogs might have are often used for identification purposes but do not carry legal weight under the ADA.

  • A service dog, therapy dog, and emotional support animal (ESA) each have distinct roles and legal statuses. A service dog is individually trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability, directly related to the person’s disability. These dogs have legal rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to accompany their handler in public places. They undergo extensive training specific to their handler's needs.

    A therapy dog is trained to provide comfort and affection in various settings like hospitals and schools. They are not designated to assist a specific individual and do not have the same legal rights as service dogs. Therapy dogs are typically certified through specific organizations and are invited to specific locations to provide therapeutic benefits to others.

    An emotional support animal provides comfort to an individual, but they are not trained for specific tasks related to a disability. ESAs do not have the same broad public access rights as service dogs.

Legal

  • Owner-assisted service dogs are specially trained dogs that assist their owners in a variety of tasks. These dogs are trained by the owners themselves, with or without professional guidance.

  • The time required to train a service dog can vary greatly depending on the dog and the specific tasks they need to learn. Generally, it can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years.

  • Service dogs can certainly be trained to assist only at home. This is a great option for dogs who are not suitable for public work.

Service Dog Training

  • Any breed can become a service dog, but not every individual dog is suited for service work. The most important qualities in a service dog are temperament, trainability, and physical ability to perform necessary tasks.

  • To determine if your dog is appropriate for service dog training, begin by considering the following factors:

    Temperament: A suitable service dog should have a calm, even temperament. They should not be overly aggressive or timid. The dog should be friendly and approachable, yet able to remain focused and not become easily distracted.

    Health and Physical Ability: The dog should be in good health and physically capable of performing the required tasks. This includes being free from any conditions that could impair their ability to work or shorten their working life. Regular check-ups with a veterinarian are essential to ensure the dog maintains good health.

    Trainability and Intelligence: The dog should be intelligent and easily trainable. This means they should be able to learn and perform tasks reliably and be able to adapt to different environments and situations.

    Socialization: A potential service dog should be well-socialized. They should be comfortable and calm around various people, animals, and in different environments. Exposure to different situations from a young age helps in their training.

    Behavior: The dog should not exhibit undesirable behaviors such as excessive barking, jumping on people, or showing signs of anxiety or fear in public places.

    Work Drive: The dog should have a good work ethic. This means they are eager to please and enjoy working or performing tasks.

    Compatibility with Handler: The dog should be compatible with their handler in terms of size, temperament, and the ability to perform required tasks. This includes the dog’s ability to physically assist their handler and respond well to their handler’s commands and training style.

    Commitment to Training: You should consider your ability to commit to the training process. Training a service dog is a significant time commitment and requires consistency and patience.

    Everybody's Doggy can help you determine if your dog is a good candidate for service dog training.

Dog Characteristics

Inquiry

After completing the form, you will be asked to provide our team with the necessary information about your current needs and interests. Completing this is the first step in your journey.