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[anonymous]

Would anyone know how I could get my dog trained to be a therapy / assistance dog.

I would like to know where I could get this done at, how long it takes , and the cost

 

[anonymous]

Would anyone know how I could get my dog trained to be a therapy / assistance dog.

I would like to know where I could get this done at, how long it takes , and the cost

 

[anonymous]

Would anyone know how I could get my dog trained to be a therapy / assistance dog.

I would like to know where I could get this done at, how long it takes , and the cost

 

[lightNlife]

Assistance animals are typically trained from the time they are young pups rather than training a person's existing pet. I know a gentleman and his wife who train Seeing Eye dogs. I was amazed at all the training, and even more amazed by the fact that even after all the classes, some dogs just can't pass the exams to qualify them as assistance animals. (I think they had a hard time filling in the little bubbles on the score sheet since they can't hold a #2 pencil <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> ) Seriously though, the graduation rate in the assistance dog training industry is only 20-30%. You'd be hard pressed to find a place that will train a dog that has been rescued, or one that isn't from the company's own breeding program.

Here is a link to a list of agencies in the US that do assistance animal training. <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.inch.com/~dogs/service.html
">http://www.inch.com/~dogs/service.html
</a>
Golden retrievers and labs (or a mix of the two) are most often the breeds that are trained to be assistance/support dogs. In CA the fee to obtain an assistance dog is around $2500, and the waiting list is anywhere from 6-12 months.

 

[lightNlife]

Assistance animals are typically trained from the time they are young pups rather than training a person's existing pet. I know a gentleman and his wife who train Seeing Eye dogs. I was amazed at all the training, and even more amazed by the fact that even after all the classes, some dogs just can't pass the exams to qualify them as assistance animals. (I think they had a hard time filling in the little bubbles on the score sheet since they can't hold a #2 pencil <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> ) Seriously though, the graduation rate in the assistance dog training industry is only 20-30%. You'd be hard pressed to find a place that will train a dog that has been rescued, or one that isn't from the company's own breeding program.

Here is a link to a list of agencies in the US that do assistance animal training. <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.inch.com/~dogs/service.html
">http://www.inch.com/~dogs/service.html
</a>
Golden retrievers and labs (or a mix of the two) are most often the breeds that are trained to be assistance/support dogs. In CA the fee to obtain an assistance dog is around $2500, and the waiting list is anywhere from 6-12 months.

 

[lightNlife]

Assistance animals are typically trained from the time they are young pups rather than training a person's existing pet. I know a gentleman and his wife who train Seeing Eye dogs. I was amazed at all the training, and even more amazed by the fact that even after all the classes, some dogs just can't pass the exams to qualify them as assistance animals. (I think they had a hard time filling in the little bubbles on the score sheet since they can't hold a #2 pencil <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> ) Seriously though, the graduation rate in the assistance dog training industry is only 20-30%. You'd be hard pressed to find a place that will train a dog that has been rescued, or one that isn't from the company's own breeding program.

Here is a link to a list of agencies in the US that do assistance animal training. <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.inch.com/~dogs/service.html
">http://www.inch.com/~dogs/service.html
</a>
Golden retrievers and labs (or a mix of the two) are most often the breeds that are trained to be assistance/support dogs. In CA the fee to obtain an assistance dog is around $2500, and the waiting list is anywhere from 6-12 months.

 

[thefrogprincess]

While that is true about them being trained from puppies, sometimes you can find a place that will try to train an older dog who shows enough apptitude. There is a women's prison in Washington somewhere that does it. I couldn't tell you where though.

 

[thefrogprincess]

While that is true about them being trained from puppies, sometimes you can find a place that will try to train an older dog who shows enough apptitude. There is a women's prison in Washington somewhere that does it. I couldn't tell you where though.

 

[thefrogprincess]

While that is true about them being trained from puppies, sometimes you can find a place that will try to train an older dog who shows enough apptitude. There is a women's prison in Washington somewhere that does it. I couldn't tell you where though.

 

[coltsfan715]

There is a woman locally that trains service dogs - golden retreivers to be exact. When we spoke with her about how long it took she said she felt to get the dog properly trained to be a service dog it would take almost a year - I think that is what I recall her saying. That is also starting when the dog is a puppy - as she breeds her own retreivers. I don't know about training an older dog.

Lindsey

 

[coltsfan715]

There is a woman locally that trains service dogs - golden retreivers to be exact. When we spoke with her about how long it took she said she felt to get the dog properly trained to be a service dog it would take almost a year - I think that is what I recall her saying. That is also starting when the dog is a puppy - as she breeds her own retreivers. I don't know about training an older dog.

Lindsey

 

[coltsfan715]

There is a woman locally that trains service dogs - golden retreivers to be exact. When we spoke with her about how long it took she said she felt to get the dog properly trained to be a service dog it would take almost a year - I think that is what I recall her saying. That is also starting when the dog is a puppy - as she breeds her own retreivers. I don't know about training an older dog.

Lindsey

 

[anonymous]

While most people think of seeing eye dogs when you say service dogs, there are really service dogs that a re trained to help with any number of folks. What do you want your dog trained to do? Some folks have trained their dogs to help with anxiety (see <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.psychdog.org/tasks.html">http://www.psychdog.org/tasks.html</a> ) and some to carry the portable oxygen tanks. Folks in wheelchairs have trained their dogs to pick stuff up and help with other things.

There are ownter-trainer programs where you train your dog. The two of you work once a week with a trainer and then you do the training during the week. There are other programs where your dog goes off to school for a couple of months. Obviously the charge for these is different.

Your dog does not have to be professionally certified by anyone or any organization to be a service dog. If you say your dog is a service dog then your dog is. Obviously, this is not something to abuse by saying that any pet is a service dog. It's pretty apparent to outsiders when a dog is in working mode (whatever the work is) or is just hanging around like my pup. Too many people really depend on their service dogs for anyone to want to do anything that would make it hard for them to have their dogs with them.

Google for "service dog" and "training" anbd your "state" and you'll see lots of programs. If you can tell us the state and the assistance you want your dog to provide, I might be able to turn up a list of programs. I have an acquaintance who trains dogs to work with folks in wheelchairs.
-LisaV

 

[anonymous]

While most people think of seeing eye dogs when you say service dogs, there are really service dogs that a re trained to help with any number of folks. What do you want your dog trained to do? Some folks have trained their dogs to help with anxiety (see <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.psychdog.org/tasks.html">http://www.psychdog.org/tasks.html</a> ) and some to carry the portable oxygen tanks. Folks in wheelchairs have trained their dogs to pick stuff up and help with other things.

There are ownter-trainer programs where you train your dog. The two of you work once a week with a trainer and then you do the training during the week. There are other programs where your dog goes off to school for a couple of months. Obviously the charge for these is different.

Your dog does not have to be professionally certified by anyone or any organization to be a service dog. If you say your dog is a service dog then your dog is. Obviously, this is not something to abuse by saying that any pet is a service dog. It's pretty apparent to outsiders when a dog is in working mode (whatever the work is) or is just hanging around like my pup. Too many people really depend on their service dogs for anyone to want to do anything that would make it hard for them to have their dogs with them.

Google for "service dog" and "training" anbd your "state" and you'll see lots of programs. If you can tell us the state and the assistance you want your dog to provide, I might be able to turn up a list of programs. I have an acquaintance who trains dogs to work with folks in wheelchairs.
-LisaV

 

[anonymous]

While most people think of seeing eye dogs when you say service dogs, there are really service dogs that a re trained to help with any number of folks. What do you want your dog trained to do? Some folks have trained their dogs to help with anxiety (see <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.psychdog.org/tasks.html">http://www.psychdog.org/tasks.html</a> ) and some to carry the portable oxygen tanks. Folks in wheelchairs have trained their dogs to pick stuff up and help with other things.

There are ownter-trainer programs where you train your dog. The two of you work once a week with a trainer and then you do the training during the week. There are other programs where your dog goes off to school for a couple of months. Obviously the charge for these is different.

Your dog does not have to be professionally certified by anyone or any organization to be a service dog. If you say your dog is a service dog then your dog is. Obviously, this is not something to abuse by saying that any pet is a service dog. It's pretty apparent to outsiders when a dog is in working mode (whatever the work is) or is just hanging around like my pup. Too many people really depend on their service dogs for anyone to want to do anything that would make it hard for them to have their dogs with them.

Google for "service dog" and "training" anbd your "state" and you'll see lots of programs. If you can tell us the state and the assistance you want your dog to provide, I might be able to turn up a list of programs. I have an acquaintance who trains dogs to work with folks in wheelchairs.
-LisaV

 

[anonymous]

I live just outside of nashville tennessee. I have a 1yr old chocolate lab. He is very well behaved and pretty much does what I say. I mean I can say you hungry and he goes and sits by the dog food. He can be outside and I can say meet me by the back door and he goes. I would prefer myself doing the training. I would like him trained just incase. But alot of places need the certificate and such.

 

[anonymous]

I live just outside of nashville tennessee. I have a 1yr old chocolate lab. He is very well behaved and pretty much does what I say. I mean I can say you hungry and he goes and sits by the dog food. He can be outside and I can say meet me by the back door and he goes. I would prefer myself doing the training. I would like him trained just incase. But alot of places need the certificate and such.

 

[anonymous]

I live just outside of nashville tennessee. I have a 1yr old chocolate lab. He is very well behaved and pretty much does what I say. I mean I can say you hungry and he goes and sits by the dog food. He can be outside and I can say meet me by the back door and he goes. I would prefer myself doing the training. I would like him trained just incase. But alot of places need the certificate and such.

 

[anonymous]

A therapy dog MUST be registered with one of the therapy dog organizations, and must also pass the American Kennel Clubs Canine Good Citizen test.

 

[anonymous]

A therapy dog MUST be registered with one of the therapy dog organizations, and must also pass the American Kennel Clubs Canine Good Citizen test.