Is a Service Dog Right for You?
do you have an ada defined disability?
The ADA defines a person with a disability as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Ex. Paralysis or other mobility impairment, blind, hearing impaired, PTSD, or traumatic brain injury.
Are you capable of caring for a dog?
Even though a Service Dog is here to assist you, you still must be capable of caring for the dog's physical and mental needs: feeding, mental & physical activity, and to be able to financially afford ongoing care (food, supplies, medical bills, etc).
Our Process
We work with each client to develop the best possible service dog partnership based on the client’s individual needs, lifestyle, goals, and circumstances. When appropriate, we may begin with a client’s current dog, or we may assist the client in identifying and evaluating a suitable service dog prospect.
Once a suitable dog is identified, the client and Endless Pawsibilities work together throughout the dog’s development. Training is provided through a combination of professional board-and-train services and hands-on owner training, allowing the dog to receive focused professional training while the client develops the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to become an effective service dog handler.
Rather than simply placing a finished dog with a client, our goal is to build a successful working partnership through a shared process of raising, training, evaluating, and preparing the dog for its future role. This collaborative approach allows training to be tailored to the individual dog and client while providing the client with meaningful involvement throughout the process.
Pricing
Customized options
Raising & training a Service Dog can be a very costly endeavor. EPSD's goal is to make Service Dogs accessible for those in need by supplementing out of pocket cost with fundraising, volunteer time, and scholarships. During your interview, we will discuss financial feasibility, fundraising options, and determine a reasonable cost for your Service Dog. We never want the cost of a Service Dog to be a burden! We are happy to help you with this!
Our service dog program is individualized to each client and dog, so costs vary. An initial engagement fee is required to begin the process and covers our time and services as we get to know you, evaluate your needs, and determine the best path forward. This fee is separate from the program’s training funding requirement, which is determined on a case-by-case basis. Once that requirement is met, we begin hands-on dog training, which may include a combination of professional board-and-train and owner training. Clients may meet their financial commitment through a combination of personal funds, fundraising, volunteering, and scholarship assistance when available.
Site Content
Thinking of getting a puppy on your own? Think again!
Service Dog Breeds: “TRIED-AND-TRUE” or “IF/THEN”?
by Martha Hoffman
When considering the breed of your next Service Dog, there are some “TRIED- AND-TRUE” breeds, and some “IF/THEN” breeds. Your skill as a trainer may allow you to choose just about any dog, but the amount of work you have to do, and the time it takes to train the SD fully can depend a lot on the breed and its basic temperament. If you are looking at mixed breed dogs, their predominant breed can give you some clues.
The “TRIED-AND-TRUE” breeds:
Many experienced SD trainers will recommend well-bred Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and Poodles, or carefully purpose-bred SD-function Doodle-type mixes between Labs, Goldens, English Cockers, English Working Cockers, and Poodles. I think it has been proven that our chances of success are far better with these. The key is “well-bred”. Greater success is possible from breeders who specifically select for Service Dog temperament. The primary features of this temperament are:
1) low fearfulness
2) low aggression
3) empathetic social interactivity.
Very few breeds combine these essential traits.
But some of us want our childhood dream-dog breed. I dreamed of Dingos as a kid. If you look online, you’ll find photos of the only successful “Dingo Hearing Dog” in the world. You can start to believe that if one Karelian Bear Dog or Anatolian Shepherd Dog can be someone’s successful Service Dog, why not get one and train it?
So, why do all the experts advise you NOT to try out your favorite?
The answer lies in “IF/THEN”. The more “IFs” there are, then the greater your chances of success. Evaluate your chances before you make a decision.
The “IF/THEN” Breeds:
A dog of the breeds not traditionally used as SDs might be successful IF all these “IF”s are present:
IF well bred for health and a SD type temperament: (low fear, low aggression, medium empathetic social interactivity) THEN success is possible.
IF raised properly by the breeder until 8-12 weeks, THEN success is possible.
IF tested/selected by a professional, THEN success is possible.
IF raised by someone with (breed) knowledge or professional trainer help, THEN success is possible.
IF training and socializing are carefully progressed according to the pups’ temperament, THEN success is possible.
IF the owner avoids trauma from negative experiences such as dogs terrifying the pup, THEN success is possible.
IF no breed-specific health issues arise, THEN success is possible.
IF the SD is still successful when it is two or three years old, THEN success is possible. This is the Heartbreak Age, the age at which many non-traditional breeds start to show territorial aggression to strangers, dog-aggression, aggression to the owner, or intensified fearfulness.
OR:
IF you are incredibly lucky and fate smiles on you, and you completely accidentally get a wonderful suitable one of your dream breed,
THEN:
You have a great and wonderful IF/THEN” Breed SD. Treasure this unique dog dearly, because you might never find another of that breed that could make it as your SD!
