Training Standards

All dogs are individually trained.  The professional trainer works with one dog or with one dog/partner at a time.  Each dog receives ~ 260 hours of individual instruction.  The service dog must respond to commands/cues from their Partner in all public and home places.

No universally recognized training standard exists - and none are mandated by The DoJ.  Given this lack of standardization, we decided to adopt the guidelines set forth by one of the most respected service dog group - Assistance Dogs International (ADI).  Our intention is to exceed guidelines established by ADI (minimum training is set at 120 hours - our protocol calls for 260).

In order to be classified as a service animal, dogs must successfully master the following tasks by completion of the training program:

• working calmly on leash
• no unruly behavior in public settings
• no aggressive or inappropriate behavior
• no sniffing or intruding into another’s space while on duty
• ignoring food on the floor or dropped in the dog’s vicinity
• no soliciting food or petting from other people while on duty
• tolerating strange sights, sounds, odors, etc. in public settings
• no biting, snapping, snarling, growling or lunging and barking