Nowadays, having a Service Dog seems to be an "in" thing. And why shouldn't it be? Being a part of a Service Dog Team is an incredibly rewarding opportunity. A Service Dog is a best friend and constant companion who provides increased independence and confidence, peace-of-mind, and support during difficult times.  A Service Dog will always be there for you and, depending on your circumstances, may save your life on a regular basis.  But owning and caring for a Service Dog is a lot of hard work and is not the best option for everyone. Most people that I come in contact with have no idea exactly what they are actually getting into. Just like your Service Dog will always be there for you, you must always be there for him/her. There is a reason we call it a Service Dog Team – it’s a team effort, and you’ll both have to make sacrifices to be successful. Your answers to the following questions should help you determine whether becoming a part of a Service Dog Team is right for you.

The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) governs federal law regarding fully trained Service Dogs. They define a person with a disability as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. If you don’t have a disability that falls under ADA law, you DO NOT have the legal right to take a Service Dog out in public with you. Be careful about "self diagnosing." Just because you want your furry friend to be able to go everywhere with you doesn't mean that you can have a Service Dog. In order to fully protect yourself legally, it is always best to make sure that a medical or mental health professional has actually diagnosed you with a disability. This does not necessarily mean that they can determine whether or not a Service Dog is the right option for you though. Medical and mental health professionals are far from experts when it comes to Service Dogs. Most of them are not actually familiar with many of the laws and standards surrounding Service Dogs at all. Getting a diagnosis is simply the first step on your journey to determining if a Service Dog is right for your situation.

​Not sure if your situation applies?  You can call this confidential ADA Information Line: 800-514-0301 (Voice) or 800-514-0383 (TTY).

​According to Federal ADA law, a dog must be trained to perform work or tasks that directly relate to and assist with or mitigate your disability in order to qualify as a Service Dog.  A dog that solely provides comfort or emotional support through his or her presence does not qualify as a Service Dog and cannot be taken into public access locations.  It is important to identify specific tasks that you feel a dog could do to assist with or mitigate your specific disability. You may find that there is an adaptive technology or tool that would be better suited to your situation to mitigate your disability, such as a wheelchair, walker, alert phone, etc. A dog is also not a replacement for any such tools. A dog should never be your first line of defense when it comes to mitigating your disability. Be responsible and do your research or contact a professional to find out what a dog can realistically be trained to do for you.

​A Service Dog is not a pet and s/he will require more time, more effort and more money than a pet dog. You will want your Service Dog to be healthy and able to work for as long as possible.  As such, you will need to provide a high quality diet, proper exercise and mental stimulation, ample play time to let your Service Dog just be a dog, extensive veterinary care, basic dog supplies and special gear and training equipment. Service Dogs also require extra grooming to keep them presentable to go out and work in public. You will want to make sure that you can budget to easily cover all of these costs on your own. If you do not have the ability to properly care for a regular pet dog, there is no way that you will have the ability to properly care for a Service Dog. Check out my blog post: How Much Does it Cost to Train a Service Dog? for more information.

You will have to train with a Service Dog daily to keep up his/her skills. You will need to create and adhere to a regular training schedule for your Service Dog. You will need to be able to go into public places at least 2-3 times a week to train and maintain your Service Dog’s skills. If you have severe phobias or agoraphobia that will prevent this, you will need to gain treatment until you have reached a point where you can do this before a Service Dog will be realistic for you. You should also be able to keep detailed track of all of the training and work you put into your Service dog via journal, written training log, video log, etc. This will help you keep track of all of your Service Dog's progress and struggles and help you figure out the best ways to be working with your dog. This will also be a great protection to you should anyone ever question the validity of your Service Dog.
It is very important to recognize that if you cannot keep up with regular training, your Service Dog will stop performing the tasks and high standard of behaviors that have been trained.
There are many programs that offer service dogs for free (all of which have waiting periods of 2-7 years). Because of this, many people look into other organizations that charge for their Service Dogs or opt to owner train. There are many grant and fundraising options that can greatly help cover costs. However, if you are training a Service Dog yourself you must be able to financially afford to;

1. Hire a professional who can help you determine if your dog has a suitable temperament for service dog work and/or help you find a dog that does.
2. Hire a professional to help you learn how to safely and appropriately handle a dog out in public and teach you how to safely train tasks to ensure no harm comes to you or your dog.

​Training and owning a Service Dog is A LOT of hard work. It is important to make sure you have a strong support system in place of people who are willing and able to help you with training and care of your Service Dog during times of illness or flare ups of your disability. These can be family, friends, relatives, neighbors, etc. Having a service dog is going to be difficult to impossible if you do not have this support system in place.

​Your Service Dog will go with you everywhere you go – and everyone will notice that you have a dog with you. You’re basically putting a big red flag on your head that says “I have a disability.” Children and adults will attempt to pet, talk to, feed or otherwise distract your Service Dog and almost everyone will want to stop and “chat.”  Some people will give you unkind looks or make unkind remarks. Some will ask questions and want detailed information about your disability. Some people may behave extremely poorly and do incredibly inappropriate things, and a few, uneducated businesses will even attempt to unjustly deny access to you and your Service Dog.  You will have to spend a lot of time calmly and politely educating people, and you’ll have to learn to say, “No” when you don’t have time and/or aren’t in the mood to talk to people or let them pet your Service Dog.  You will have to become familiar with the laws, know your legal rights, and be willing to stand up for those rights with your Service Dog. You will have to become an advocate for Service Dog teams everywhere as you and your dog will represent what should be expected of all Service Dog teams.

It is so important to do as much research as possible before taking the plunge into getting a Service Dog. In many ways, owning a Service Dog will actually make your life harder. If you want to have a Service Dog, you have to be prepared to take all of the bad that comes with the good. If you think that's something you can handle, you have the potential to be rewarded with an amazing companionship unlike any other. 

​For many dog owners, considerations regarding the purchase of a new home are strictly relegated to humans. Whether your dog is small or average sized, they simply will learn to adapt to their surroundings regardless of which style of home you choose.

​The first thing many people notice when they see a potential home for the first time is the yard. Whether it be in the front, back, or both, owners of large dog breeds would be wise to invest in a property with a substantial plot of grass included. Canidae pet food compiled their own list of criteria to consider when choosing a home, and they point out that large dogs need plenty of exercise, particularly if they are a breed equipped with an energetic temperament.
 
Work responsibilities mean that, for many, walking their dog several times per day is not feasible without hiring a dog walker, which is never a bad idea. However, the expense of outside help can be avoided if a home with an adequate plot of land can be found. With a fence and a doggy door, your pooch may be able to get all the exercise it desires while you are on the job. It cannot be overstated just how valuable a yard is not only with respect to your dog’s daily happiness, but your own pocketbook.

​With more millennials buying homes – and the reason for many home purchases being driven by their dogs’ happiness – it is clear that new homeowners want a house that will suit not only their needs, but their dog’s as well. The yard is perhaps most important, but the interior of the home must be considered through a dog’s view as well.
 
Depending on your dog’s age, stairs may be wise to avoid, as they can be taxing. If you do decide to purchase a two-story home, one in which the primary living areas are on the ground floor is best. If your dog is in good health, it may enjoy the stairs as yet another way to expend its boundless energy.
 
If you cut your dog’s nails infrequently, wooden floors may want to be avoided. Light-colored carpeting, or any carpeting at all, may also want to be avoided if your pup tends to track in a mess. A house with tight hallways and spaces may be more liable to damage if your dog tends to be a bit clumsy. Larger crates and beds mean that a sufficient area for the dog to sleep in must be a feature of your house. 

​Once you do settle on your new home and have adequately prepared your friend for the move itself, it’s time to make your furry friend feel comfortable by bringing some of its favorite toys to the new property, taking it on frequent walks to acclimate it to the neighborhood, and introducing it to the neighbors as soon as possible.
 
Soon, the dog will realize that your old home is no more, and learn to love the new property, particularly if you heed this advice when house hunting.

​Dogs tend to be happy as long as their masters are around, but this is not always the case. If you own a large dog and choose a home which qualifies as cramped, then your dog’s demeanor may turn for the worse. Contrarily, finding a home with a large yard that your dog can enjoy while you are at work and at home will enhance its happiness immensely. Attention must also be paid to the home’s interior, specifically stairs, flooring, and any tight corridors. When it comes time to sign on the dotted line, consider the dog. ​

​I’ve been involved in the service dog world for several years now, and one thing that no one seems to talk about much is how to know when it is time to retire your service dog. This is something I’ve been discussing with quite a few people lately and it seems like no one can give me a clear answer. Ultimately it seems like this is a very personal, individual choice that is really just up to each individual handler.
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I started thinking about this a lot recently because I’ve come to the decision to retire my personal service dog, Basil. Since this is something that seems not to be discussed very often in the service dog world, I’ve decided to share my experience. This isn’t a decision I made overnight. In fact this is something I’ve been mulling over for quite a while now. This decision involved a lot of thought, prayer, and meditation, as well as discussing it with several friends and family members.

​The first thing that ultimately led to this decision had to do with myself. As many of you may know, Basil was trained to assist with some digestive diseases I have as well as to be a demo dog for my company.  He has been an amazing help and I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve been so grateful to have him with me. He really has been a life saver. 

In January I hired a health coach. She has helped me create a whole new diet and lifestyle for myself. Before working with her I was getting sick on a nearly daily basis, having nausea attacks that would typically last anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours each time. Since working with her I only get sick a handful of times a month, typically only lasting 10-30 minutes each time. This has been a huge difference for me and things have been so much more manageable now. Because of this, I’ve hit a point that I just don’t feel justified in taking a service dog out with me. I really don’t need him anymore.
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I have encountered handlers who, while they may have needed their service dog in the past, have hit a point where they really don’t need  a service dog anymore, but they continue to take the dog out because their whole identity is wrapped up in having a service dog. They no longer know how to be without one. I promised myself that I would never let that happen to me. I didn’t want to ever be the person who couldn’t stop taking my dog out with me because I didn’t know who I was anymore without the dog. Sure, I’m not looking forward to all the questions about why Basil isn’t with me anymore. It’s not going to be fun to deal with. But I know that it’s something I can do. Regardless of if I have a dog with me or not, I’m still me.

​​​For a while I was concerned my disability would “cycle” and I would get really sick again. After all, it’s done that in the past, cycling every 1-2 months between pretty good and really awful. So I thought maybe I would continue to take Basil out with me just to make sure that he stayed up on all of his training. That way if I happened to get sick again, he would still be in working condition. But 2 months turned into 6 and the cycle never came. This has been the best I’ve ever done in years and no matter how I spin it, I’ve just felt that continuing to take Basil out with me was cheating the system. It’s very possible that one day my illness may cycle and I might end up getting really sick again, but I will cross that road when I come to it. For now, I’m just going to be grateful that my health is doing as well as it is.

The final hammer on the nail that made me decide to go ahead and retire Basil had to do with Basil himself. Over the last couple of months he has lost all of his enthusiasm for work. Instead of jumping up and running to the door when I tell him it’s time to go somewhere, he just sits there and doesn’t move. What’s worse is that often times he will even run away when I pull his vest out. He’s gone from being a dog that was constantly wanting attention and invading people’s space to not wanting anyone but those closest to him to touch him at all. Whenever we were out working he just seemed stressed, anxious, and frustrated, which in turn caused me to be stressed, anxious and frustrated. We went from being a great service dog team to being a discombobulated mess.

I think a big part of this is because he’s a Great Dane and he draws massive amounts of attention and harassment everywhere we go. I can’t take him anywhere without having people making comments wanting to pet him and grab at him, barking at us and making all kinds of obnoxious noises, etc. While it's normal to get this type of treatment when you're out with any service dog, it’s worse with him than any other service dog I’ve worked with. He’s also been attacked 5 times by other “service dogs” while out in public.
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I think another big reason is that he’s realized as well that I really just don’t need him with me anymore. When things shifted from me taking him out and him regularly helping me, to me just dragging him out without actually needing him, I think he just got tired of all the harassment. If I was still as sick as I was before and still actually used him to help me on a regular basis, he might have continued to do fine and “put up with it.” But as it is, he’s just done with it all. Whether you need a service dog with you or not, if your dog is no longer enjoying the work, it’s not fair to your dog to continue to drag him/her out with you.

​So Basil is now making the transition from service dog to pet. Originally I was planning to ease him out of it over the course of a few weeks, starting by leaving him home from his least favorite places (like Costco) and cutting out his favorite places (like restaurants and movie theaters) last. I thought that if I just stopped taking him places he would think he was in trouble. But after a few days leaving without him, he seemed much happier and more relaxed. It’s as if he knew before I did that it was time to retire and he was content to just be done. The retirement process is going to be different for each individual dog and handler, but the important part is listening to your dog and playing it by ear.

​Though retired, Basil will still do a lot of work as my demo dog, as he really enjoys working with other dogs. There are still plenty of pet-friendly places I can go with my clients that I can also take him to work. I will just no longer be working him out in public like a service dog. I am extremely grateful for the time I had with him as my service dog partner. I have been able to learn and grow so much during that time. I know that we still have lots of love and adventures to come in the future!

Prey drive. 
If your dog has a strong one, you know this can be a tough cookie to manage.
Some may ask "what can I do to reduce my dog's prey drive?" 
Unfortunately, prey drive is not something you can you can truly reduce or get rid of. You can't tell an extremely outgoing person to just stop being social. It's simply a part of who they are. That's how prey drive is. It's a primal instinct that goes right down to the very being of your dog. 

Luckily, this doesn't mean that all hope is lost! While prey drive is not something you can really reduce or get rid of completely, you can help your dog to learn how to control himself better in the face of stimuli. The primary way to do this is to build your dog's impulse control. ​

When working on Impulse control some of the best commands to practice are;

1. Waits- this is a temporary command typically used for things like: Wait for food, Wait at the door, Wait to cross the street, Wait before going after a toy, etc.
2. Leave Its- This is a permanent command for when you don't want your dog to touch something at all ever. Things like if you just dropped a bottle of pills all over the floor- Leave it! Or there is a dead thing on the side of the road- Leave it! Or the neighbor cat is walking along the fence- Leave it!
3. Stays- This is a permanent command basically meaning stay there until I come back and release you. This can be used for things like Stay on your bed while I cook or eat dinner, Stay there while I have guests in the house, etc.

With each of these commands you want to be working on building the 3 D's

• Distance- How far away from you and/or how close to the stimuli your dog can be while still controlling himself
• Duration- How long your dog can remain in control of himself
• Distractions- What's going on around your dog while he remains in control of himself.

When working on these areas there are a few things to keep in mind.

1. If your dog is really struggling, it is usually because you are trying to push him too hard and/or too fast on one or more of the 3 D's.
2. If your dog fails more than twice in a row, make what you are doing a little easier. If your dog keeps failing over and over he will get frustrated and stop working with you.
3. You must remember that dogs are horrible generalizers. Dog's brains think very situationally and locationally. So your dog may try to chase after a cat in the yard, you correct him, now he knows not to chase cats in the yard. But he may try it again if there is a bird or a squirrel, if you are at the park or someone else's house, if you are on a walk, if you are not home, or if someone else is watching him. Most dogs, on average take about 12 different location/scenario shifts before they will finally generalize that when you ask them to do something it means always. So you have to make sure that when you are working with your dog you are practicing in a variety of different situations, with a variety of different things, in a variety of different places, and with a variety of different people.

One of my favorite places to start when working on building impulse control is Dr. Karen Overall's Protocol for Relaxation. What I love about this is that it gives you 15 days worth of training protocols to help build your dog's impulse control, and it is super easy to build on! You can go through all 15 days at home, then do it again in the backyard, then in the front yard, then at the park. Go though it all again with your dog in a Sit, then alternating between a Sit and a Down, then doubling the time that is required, then doubling the distance. Try adding some random loud noises to some of what you're doing, try squeaking a toy or bouncing a ball during it, etc. Suddenly this 15 days worth of training protocols can turn into months of building your dog up and helping him learn how to relax and control himself in the face of all sorts of stimuli!

You also need to keep in mind that if you are having to use punishments to try and control your dog's prey dive, you have not built true impulse control in your dog. You are merely managing the symptoms.
Typically, if you are trying to rely on punishments to control behaviors like this, one of two things is likely to happen:

1. If you have a very sensitive dog, your dog may end up developing learned helplessness and shutting down, or worse, become fearful in the face of the stimulus- which can then create a whole slew of it's own problems you will have to deal with.
2. If you have a more confident dog, he may ignore the stimulus for a while, but once he has gone a while without getting punished for it, he will likely just try the behavior again and you will be right back to having to punish him.

This is why building true impulse control in this situation is so important.

Let's imagine that you have an extremely strong, seemingly insatiable sweet tooth, and more than anything else, you LOVE ice cream. One day you go to the fridge for a delicious treat, but when you go to get some out you get yelled at and told you can't have ice cream. This continues to happen and soon you learn that you just can't have ice cream at your house. You go over to a friends house. They have ice cream too! But again, you get yelled at and told you can't have it. This starts happening everywhere you go, so eventually you give up on trying to get any ice cream. This hasn't impacted your strong sweet tooth and it hasn't changed your love of ice cream though.
Several months have gone by. You haven't tried to have any ice cream, and no one has gotten after you about not eating it. You decide that maybe you will give it a try again. You are able to get down several bites, maybe even a whole bowl before anyone comes and yells at you for having ice cream! It took them a while to realize you were having any since it's been so long since you've tried to get it, so they were slow to react. You have now been rewarded, and even though you got in trouble for eating the ice cream, you will likely try to do it again the next time you see an opening. This is because eating the ice cream was a self rewarding behavior.

Now let me give you another example:
You still have that insatiable sweet tooth and a love of ice cream, but you have decided you want to lose weight and get healthier. Suddenly you have a goal and a reason to stop eating ice cream!
First, you come up with a reward system for yourself. For some people, simply losing weight and getting healthy is enough of a reward in and of itself, but for those of us who don't have much impulse control, giving ourselves rewards here and there is what will help us reach our goal. This might be that if you are able to not have any ice cream for "x" amount of time you will reward yourself with a shopping day, a movie night, a date night, dinner at a nice restaurant, etc. It's typically best to have a variety of rewards as well. If you are rewarding yourself with the same thing, every time, you may eventually become bored of it and decide that the ice cream is more worth it. If you have a variety of rewards you can switch between, sticking to your goal becomes much easier.
Coming up with some healthier alternatives can also help you stick to your goal. This could be substituting a homemade fruit smoothie or some sugar free frozen yogurt whenever those ice cream cravings hit.

When it comes to figuring out a good reward system for your dog, remember that treats are not the only thing you can use! And when it comes to a strong, deeply seeded behavior like prey drive, your dog may become bored with treats, and stop listening to you. If you rely too heavily on treats, some dogs may not listen unless they know you have treats on you. 
One thing I've recently started recommending all of my clients do is to come up with a rewards list for their dog. The more rewards you have in your arsenal, the more you will be able to reward your dog for positive behavior in any given situation. This will also help your dog to want to offer those positive behaviors more on his own, without having to be asked for them.
The goal is to come up with at least 3 of your dog's most favorite things in each of the following categories:

• Food Rewards- this can be things like chicken, cheese, hotdogs, chewy treats, crunchy treats, kibble, cheerios, popcorn, etc.
• Play Rewards- this would be things like fetch, tug, running around, soft fuzzy toys, squeaky toys, toys he can chew, chasing after bubbles, etc.
• Social Rewards- this is any kind of interaction with you or other dogs. Petting, praise, belly rubs, doggy massage, getting to go greet another person or dog or go play with tem, etc. Maybe your dog likes to have his ears scratched in a certain way, etc. I know Basil's favorite thing is when I give him permission to jump up and put his paws on my shoulders.
• Environmental Rewards- this would be things like going for walks, going for rides in the car, getting to go play outside, being given permission to jump up on the bed or couch with you, being given permission to jump up and down or bark and make lots of noise, getting to go on a sniffing adventure, etc.

The last thing is to figure out what are some healthy, positive, more controlled activities for your dog to do to get that excess, pent up energy out.
Frisbee sports, Treibball, and Fly Ball can all be super fun activities to help better control and manage prey drive.
​Letting your dog enjoy a fun, controlled session playing with a flirt pole to help get some of that excess energy/prey drive out can be a great option (just make sure to be incorporating a "Drop It" command and "Settle" command into the game).
Teaching your dog the "Look at That" game can be a very useful technique in this situation. 
Teaching your dog the Jazz Up and Settle Down game can be a great way to help your dog learn to have an "On/Off" switch to go from high drive/energy to relaxed. This is basically done by getting your dog super excited and amped up, get them jumping up and down and being super crazy, get them pulling really hard on a tug, etc, then switch gears in an instant and put your dog in a Down/Settle. Speak softly and move slowly. Use doggy massage to help calm your dog down. The goal is for your dog to eventually be able to settle down on cue.
Playing a good game of tug, encouraging your dog to do strong pulls backwards to help release pent up energy, stress, anxiety, etc.

So, while you may never be able to truly get rid of your dog's prey drive, with the right training and management plan, you can help your dog learn how to control it better all on his own!

• This is one that no one ever wants to think about or consider, but is always a very real possibility. Service dog work can be very hard and very stressful. Few dogs are actually cut out for the job. What you are going to do if your dog fails is something all service dog handlers have to consider. There are a lot of different things that can cause your dog to fail as a service dog, but 95% of the time (if not more) it’s going to be because of a Public Access/socialization issue. This can be anything from fear, aggression, reactivity, lack of confidence, health issues, etc. In many cases once a behavioral issue develops it is often going to be faster to start over with a new dog than trying to work your dog through the issue and then resuming service dog training. Taking your dog’s health and well being into account is of the utmost importance as a service dog handler. Even if you really want your dog to succeed as your service dog, sometimes you have to accept that this just isn’t the right job for your dog and that s/he will be happier just living as a pet. Should this happen you then have to decide if/when you are ready to start over with a new dog.

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Many people are shocked when I tell them how long it typically takes to fully train a service dog. Once you have taken into account all the different factors that go into it, you can begin to get an idea of just how much work it really takes, and just how dedicated you have to be to train a dog to become a service dog.

When trying to determine how much it costs to train a service dog, you are likely going to get a lot of different answers from nearly every person you ask. This is because there are a lot of different things that must be factored in to the cost, on top of all of the basic things you would need for a pet dog. Costs for each of these things can also vary greatly depending on where you live and the breed, size, and energy level of the dog being trained.

I’ve tried to break down the costs as best as I can below. Please note that these are estimates of costs just during the training process of your service dog. This is a long-term process that, on average, takes 1 ½ - 2 years or more to complete. These estimates do not include costs of upkeep and maintenance once your dog is fully trained:

Fist off there is the cost of purchasing a dog. This is not as simple as just going to the shelter and picking out a dog. You will likely need the assistance of an experienced trainer who knows what s/he is looking for to do temperament testing and evaluations in order to help you find the right dog or puppy that has the potential to do service dog work. Then there is the adoption fee or cost of the dog. Many people choose to go with an older dog that may already have some training hoping that this will make training easier/go faster or because this is a cheaper option. Unfortunately this option often leaves you with a big red question mark as to the health of the dog. It is not uncommon for rescue dogs to end up having to be failed due to serious genetic health issues that pop up. Socialization of an older dog can also be much harder. Many older dogs end up having to be failed because they did not receive the socialization necessary as a puppy to make it as a service dog. However, going with a breeder that doesn't take great care to cover health testing on the parents, genetic testing on the puppies, provide early neurological stimulation and socialization to their puppies, etc. can also reap the exact same problems. This is why I always recommend going with a responsible breeder who does health and genetic testing on all of their dogs and focuses on breeding for good health and solid temperaments. This is going to be a much higher expense up front, but will generally save you a lot more money in the long run.

​Whatever route you decide to go, between the fees of paying a trainer to help you find the right dog, adoption fees, purchasing costs, etc. you can be looking at anywhere from $200-$5,000

Next up is making sure you keep your dog on a high quality diet. You cannot just buy any cheap food from the grocery store. A service dog needs to be in pique physical condition to be able to work and a good quality diet is a huge part of that. You will also need to provide plenty of training treats and appropriate chews and supplies for dental care. Depending on the size and energy level of your dog, you are easily looking at spending anywhere from $1,000-$4,000 on food.

Veterinary Care is also a must to make sure that your dog remains in the best of health to ensure that s/he can always work for you. This will include not only all the basics (yearly checkups, vaccines, spay/neutering, etc.), but will also include hip and elbow x-rays and health clearances once your dog is at the appropriate age to ensure that they are physically healthy enough to do the work you will need him/her to do for you. You can expect to be paying anywhere from $1,500-$5,000 in total veterinary costs.

Many service dog handlers, for a variety of reasons, choose to have their service dogs professionally groomed. Keeping a dog well groomed is an important part of owning a service dog. If a dog is not well groomed it can lead to pain and discomfort for the dog, which can affect their overall mental well being. An extremely dirty dog can even be legally denied access from businesses. Depending on the size, coat type, and what all you are needing to have done can cause the exact price of grooming to vary greatly. Even if you opt to do grooming yourself, you will still need to take into account the cost for all of the necessary grooming supplies. In total you can easily be looking at anywhere from $100- over $2,000 in grooming costs.

It is extremely ill advised to try to train your own service dog all by yourself. On top of obedience training, you also need to work on proper socialization, public access training, and task training. This is a lot more that most people are actually prepared for.

Many people don't know how to do the proper socialization and exposure work needed for service dog work. When it comes to public access training there are a lot of laws, regulations, and standards that if you are not aware of can get you into trouble. When it comes to task training, there are things that, if not approached properly and correctly, can be dangerous to you and/or your dog. There are a lot of tasks as well that just because you can train them, doesn't mean you should! So enlisting the help of an experienced, LIMA based service dog trainer who can walk you through the ins and outs of everything is a MUST. 

If you already have a lot of dog training experience, you may only need assistance occasionally (at least once a month is recommended). Most people will need help much more frequently (weekly or every other week, and sometimes more). Enrolling in group classes and socialization classes is also a good idea to help keep your skills up and keep your dog socialized to other dogs.

​Over all, depending on the prices of the training program you have chosen, as well as exactly how much assistance you are needing, you should expect anywhere from $3,500-$20,000 for training over the next 2 years.

Service Dogs require a lot of specialty gear and equipment. Since this gear will all be used on a daily basis it is also important to get high quality equipment that will last you a while. This can include a standard leash and collar, specialty leashes and collars, a service dog vest, medication bags, specialty harnesses and bridge handles, dog boots, treat pouches, a settle mat, travel food and water bowls, and more. In the end all this can easily cost anywhere from $300-$3,000.

This is not a requirement but can be a very good option that many service dog handlers chose to get. Having assistance to cover vet bills and any emergency treatments that come up can be a huge help. Emergency procedures can often cost thousands of dollars that most people are not able to pay out of pocket. Pet insurance can be a great protection and preparation for a rainy day. Depending on your dog’s breed and what policy you chose to go with, costs will typically be anywhere from $35-$150 or more per month or around $850-$3,600 during the training period.

The answer is: A lot more than people think! This is why the vast majority of people looking to get a service dog, as well as most reputable service dog companies have to rely largely on donations and fundraising in order to cover all of the costs. There is no such thing as training a service dog on a budget! If you truly feel that a service dog is the best possible way to help you manage your disability you have to be willing to put yourself out there and do whatever it takes to cover the costs!

Check out the links below for some great fundraising ideas!
Fundraising Ideas
Fund raise For a Service Dog: 100 Ideas
Fundraising Ideas for a Service Dog
Service Dog Fund Raising

Making the decision to get a Service Dog and do the training yourself is not a decision you should make lightly. On average it usually takes 1 ½ to 2 years to fully train a Service Dog, however when training the dog yourself you must take into account delays caused by hospital stays, illnesses and other delays that may occur because of medical condition(s).
There are many good reasons to train your own Service Dog – in fact, Molli Dogs Training LLC (Molli Dogs) highly recommends choosing this option if at all possible to ensure the best possible working team. Training your own Service Dog is incredibly rewarding as you watch your hard work turn an unruly puppy or dog into a responsible working dog. It is also a great teaching tool that will help you prepare for the responsibility of caring for and working with a fully trained Service Animal. Molli Dogs will guide you through the process, lay foundations, and answer questions along the way, helping you learn and progress through the training process. When you train your own Service Dog it also creates a deeper, stronger bond between the Service Animal and Recipient at an earlier age, leading to a more successful working team.  But that’s not the best part – dogs that are raised and fully trained by their Recipient have a much higher chance of learning to actually alert to various disabilities. For dogs placed with their Recipients at a later age, already fully trained, there’s only about a 10% chance that an alert will develop. This is a significant difference that should be taken into consideration when making the decision whether or not to train your Service Dog yourself. You can find more information about alerts here: www.servicedogsociety.com/alerting 
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A Service Dog is not a pet and s/he will require more time, more effort, and more money than a pet dog.  You will want your Service Dog to be healthy and able to work for as long as possible. Most handlers end up putting thousands of dollars into their dogs and insurance will rarely, if ever, help cover any of the costs. Most handlers have to do a good amount of fundraising to cover all of the high costs of their Service Dog.  You will need to be able to cover the high costs of training, you will need to be able to provide a high quality diet, extensive veterinary care, basic dog supplies and specialty training gear and equipment.  Many handlers like to get insurance to cover the high cost of training a replacement if something happens to their Service Dog. Making sure you have the ability to cover all of these costs is a huge part of owning and training a Service Dog.
 
Training a Service Dog (Service Dog in Training or SDIT), and even having a fully trained one, requires a LOT of time and hard work so it’s important to make sure that you are physically able to do so. You will need to be able to dedicate at least 30 minutes a day, if not more, to training (This is the bare minimum you will want to upkeep for the entire working life of your service dog or else your fully trained dog will lose all of his/her hard trained skills and behaviors). You also have to ensure that you have the ability to provide the dog with the play time, exercise, and general care all dogs require. In addition to teaching potty training and working through obnoxious “puppy” behaviors with the assistance of Molli Dogs, you will also be doing Obedience Training and Socialization, which is far more advanced for a Service Dog than for a pet dog. You will also be doing Public Access Training which requires you to take the SDIT everywhere you go (with very few exceptions), teaching him or her how to behave in public, so you will want to make sure this is something you can devote the necessary time and energy to.
 
You will have to plan every outing around the dog. Will there be places for the dog to go potty? Will there be places for you to get water for the dog or do you need to bring some? Be aware that people WILL stop you everywhere you go wanting to ask questions or just pet the dog. Having a Service Dog with you is like putting a big red flag on your head that says “I have a disability.” People will stop and stare. Both children and adults will attempt to touch the dog without asking, make funny noises at the dog, or do other things to try to distract the dog. Some people will give you unkind looks or make unkind remarks, some will ask questions and want detailed information about your disability, some people may behave extremely poorly and do incredibly inappropriate things. Some uneducated businesses will even try to deny you access or cause you problems and you will need to be prepared to handle these situations. Molli Dogs will assist you in learning how to appropriately handle such situations and help educate you about the laws you will need to know. A simple trip to the grocery store that used to take only 10 minutes may take 30 with a Service Dog. As a Service Dog handler you will become an educator and advocate for Service Dogs everywhere you go so you will want to make sure you're prepared to do. You will also make sure that you are prepared to train your dog to extremely high standards so that your dog is never the one that causes a business to never want to allow another Service Dog in again.
 
Socializing your dog to everything he or she may encounter out in public is the most important part of training a Service Dog. Socialization issues tend to be the number one reason that causes dogs to fail as being Service Dogs. This is why taking your dog with you everywhere you go in public is so critical. It may seem like a hassle or an inconvenience; however, this is the only way to ensure that your dog is fully capable of assisting you in any given situation. 
 
You must also realize that even the best trained Service Dog is still a dog. No amount of training will prevent a dog from being a dog. They will have times when they struggle. You can’t expect them to do everything perfectly on their own. They are not robots, they are living creatures. You must guide them and give them directions. No dog can ever be guaranteed to do every task or command you train 100% of the time. They will have off days. They will still engage in all the typical “doggy” behaviors. They may fail to alert or respond to something when they are sleeping or sick. They can get over worked and will require ample play time and down time to just “be a dog.” If you want your Service Dog to work for you the way you need him or her to you must show your dog the love, understanding, and respect he or she deserves.
 
As you can see, training and owning a Service Dog is no simple matter and making the decision to do so is something you should take very seriously. Should you choose to do so, Molli Dogs will guide you through the training process, lay foundations, and be your constant ally to assist you through any struggle or situation throughout and after the training process – but it is ultimately up to you to dedicate the time and effort required.
 
Training your own Service Dog will reward you with a constant companion, friend, and lifeline. It will give you an irreplaceable bond you never knew could exist. 

A Service Animal, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), is a dog that has been trained to do specific work or tasks for a person with a disability recognized by the ADA.  The work or tasks trained must directly relate to and help alleviate the disability. These tasks, which are often life saving, aid the individual in living a more normal, independent lifestyle. 
 
Dogs whose sole purpose is for comfort or emotional support ARE NOT Service Animals under ADA Law, although they do have some rights under the Fair Housing Act. Therapy Dogs (working dogs that enter public facilities on invitation to comfort sick and/or elderly individuals, etc.) are also not Service Animals.  Individuals with these animals DO NOT have the same rights of access as individuals with Service Animals.  Individuals with psychiatric disabilities may still have a Service Animal if that animal is trained to perform actual physical tasks, such as recognizing a psychiatric episode and responding to it, performing room checks for individuals with PTSD, deep pressure therapy, etc.

A responsible handler will have their Service Animal clearly marked, usually with a vest or bandanna that states the dog is a Service Animal.  Keep in mind that this is not legally required and you will run into a handful of legitimate Service Animals that are not marked.  These dogs should be well behaved, quiet, and not disturb others.  They should not jump up on counters, chairs, or other surfaces and should not bark or jump up on people unless they are alerting to some type of medical condition.
 
Businesses may ask two questions to determine whether a dog is actually a Service Animal: “Is the dog a Service Animal required for a disability?” and “What work or tasks is the dog trained to do?”  It is not lawful to require identification or proof that the dog is a service animal and/or to ask any questions that might reveal information about the individual’s disability.  

​It is illegal to distract a Service Animal.  Do not talk to the Service Animal or make any sounds or noises directed at the Service Animal.  Do not try to touch or pet the Service Animal and do not allow your children to approach the Service animal without the handler’s permission.  Do not try to feed or give commands to the Service Animal.  Don’t be offended if the handler doesn’t want you to pet their dog; they are trying to go about their life just as you are and they may be busy or may be in a hurry.  In addition- though it may not be obvious, social greetings may prevent some dogs from doing their work and could be potentially dangerous to the handler.

I believe that one of the most important things we can do as dog owners is come to understand more fully how our dogs communicate. People spend so much time trying to teach dogs what to do, but how often do they actually listen to what their dogs have to say? In order for communication to be truly effective if must go both ways. I believe that the more we come to understand and listen to our dogs the better and more meaningful relationship we will have! The first thing that is important to understand about canine communication is that 90-95% of it is done through body language, not vocalizations. 


Today I want to discuss canine stress indicators.

Understanding the signs of a stressed out dog is critical when training and working with any dog. A dog that is too highly stressed is unlikely to be successful able to learn anything. Trying to force an overly stressed dog to work will likely even set training back. I’m sure you’ve heard someone say “the dog just bit out of the blue!” Not True! A dog will always give some sort of signal that he or she is feeling uncomfortable or stressed, however, more often than not, these signals will be silent. Learning to understand how dogs communicate stress is one of the number one ways to prevent dog bites. 

I think one of the biggest problems in the dog training world today is dog trainers developing the attitude that they are the best trainer there is. That they have the best method(s), that they know everything there is to know about dog training and no one is better than them. Not only is this attitude toxic, but it seems to be unfortunately common. A saying I have often heard in the dog training world is “There is only one thing two dog trainers can agree on and that is that the third trainer is wrong”. It’s one thing to disagree, but in the dog training world it often seems that if one trainer disagrees with another’s methods the first trainer will do everything possible to rip the second trainer down in order to build themselves up. This is just sad!!! I try to hold true to the saying that while we may disagree, we should not be disagreeable. I understand that the dog training world can be a competitive one; however, dog trainers should be able to learn and grow from each other, not rip each other down!

In light of this, I would like to say a few things to dog trainers and prospective dog trainers everywhere:

Dog training can be an amazing career and everyone who joins this field does it for one reason: because we love these animals and recognize their potential and the amazing changes they can make in their owner’s lives. This is why we should spend every day trying to better ourselves and better those around us rather than tear each other down. We are all here trying to do something good, and that deserves to be respected.