Service Dog Institute

It begins with a consultation—either in person or virtually—where we learn about your medical needs, lifestyle, living environment, and daily routines. This helps us recommend whether you'd benefit from a hearing, medical alert, mobility, or psychiatric service dog, or a multi-purpose cross-trained dog.

Once we confirm suitability, we'll outline the recommended training program, timeline, costs, and any owner involvement (such as regular practice at home).

Possibly. We begin with a comprehensive temperament and health assessment to evaluate your dog's suitability. Many beloved pets do not have the stable nerves, low reactivity, or drive necessary for consistent service work.

If your dog shows strong potential, we'll develop a customized plan focusing on public access preparation and disability-specific tasks.

Yes, to an extent.

Absolutely. We support owner-led training through structured milestone checklists, one-on-one coaching sessions, and periodic formal evaluations to document your dog's progress.

This is especially helpful for legal and travel situations where documentation of training history is often requested.

We're committed to the long-term success of each team. Our graduates receive:

• Lifetime phone or virtual support for troubleshooting behavior or refreshing tasks.
• Annual or biannual re-check sessions, if desired, to ensure skills stay sharp.
• Guidance on maintaining insurance or travel documentation as regulations evolve.

Yes. While no single national "license" exists for service dogs in most countries, our certification process aligns with ADA (in the U.S.) and equivalent accessibility laws elsewhere, backed by documented task performance and public access behavior.

We also provide letters of training attestation and guidance on completing airline-specific or housing paperwork.

A fully trained service dog typically represents over 1,200–2,000 hours of individualized work by skilled professionals. This includes:

• Daily training sessions for obedience, public access, and task work
• Controlled exposure trips (to malls, transit systems, airports)
• Veterinary oversight and health certifications
• Continued handler matching and transition training

That investment ensures your dog is not just well-behaved, but truly capable of mitigating your specific disability on a day-to-day basis.

It depends on the type of tasks required and the availability of dogs in training that match your needs.

Typical timelines:

• 6–12 months: For dogs needing primarily alert or retrieval work.
• 12–18+ months: For complex multi-tasking roles, such as combining medical alerts with psychiatric interventions and mobility support.

We also maintain a waitlist for candidates who wish to be matched with a pre-trained dog as soon as one becomes available.

We provide remote coaching and milestone validation worldwide for owner-led programs. For professionally trained dogs, we coordinate transport or travel for handler integration—ensuring the transition from trainer to client happens smoothly, regardless of location.

We explore this deeply during your intake consultation. We look at:

• The frequency and predictability of your disability-related episodes
• Whether a dog's assistance would meaningfully mitigate your condition
• Your willingness to manage daily care, including exercise and grooming
• Whether your environment supports a working dog (housing, schedule, finances)

We're here to help you make the decision thoughtfully and ensure it's a good long-term fit.