Service Dog Training

Training service dogs is where The Dependable Canine got started and is something we continue to love to do, whether it’s working clients locally and afar, teaching online college courses, or mentoring new, up and coming trainers. With over a decade of experience, working with well over 100 individual teams in this timespan, we are confident in our ability to provide you and your service dog the support you deserve.

Types of Service Tasks Available

There are many staples of what distinguishes a Service Dog, amongst which are classic general obedience cues such as a reliable sit, down, recall, impulse control, loose leash walking, a social and well meaning disposition and good health. Service Tasks are what transform a well trained dog into a Service Dog. These tasks are aimed to help mitigate the symptoms of a disability. The Dependable Canine offers the following support with these tasks.

• Psychiatric Assistance
• Deep Pressure Therapy
• Item Retrieval
• Mobility Assistance
• Wheelchair Assistance
• Hearing Alert
• Counterbalance
• Facilitated Service Dogs (Service Dogs for Children)
• Therapy Dogs (see below)
• More available based on initial consultation

On average, privately trained service dogs range from $25,000-$40,000, some even pushing beyond $50,000. We find that to be unobtainable for most individuals without major life changes. Our small program allows us to offer competitive prices with top level results, see our pricing below.

The Dependable Canine’s Service Dog Training Program

We break our process down into Steps, with each Step working towards the ultimate goal of making you and your dog an official The Dependable Canine Service Dog Team!

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Step One – Initial Consultation

Fill out our customized Service Dog Consultation Form found at the bottom of this page, and we will review your information and schedule a completely free call that typically lasts 20-45 minutes, going over any questions you may have and how best we can help moving forward.

Step Two – Meet & Greet + Evaluation

Step Two allows us to meet you and your dog in person, beginning in your home to go establish rapport with each other and establish training expectations. We will do a light temperament test, ensuring your dog is comfortable with handling, can work with a new handler quickly, shows no major fear or aggression, or any other types of behaviors that are reasons for ineligibility of becoming a Service Dog. If they pass this initial greeting, we will go to a local dog friendly venue to gauge how you and the dog interact and work together in public. There, we’ll be gauging your dog’s overall sociability, confidence, engagement, ability to walk on leash, ability to do simple cues, and show no major signs of fear or aggression. We’ll also gauge how you (or the primary handler) handle your dog in public, and overall public access questions you may have.

Once all aspects of the evaluation are passed, we will discuss Steps 3 and 4.

Step Three – The “Lock In” Payment

We at The Dependable Canine take our Service Dog teams very seriously. We aim to offer the highest quality possible and will work our hardest to achieve it, and we will expect the same from our teams. This initial deposit ensures our services for life and is a sign of your commitment to the training ahead, as well as purchase necessary training supplies. We will enter a formal training agreement and schedule our first lesson.

Step 4 – Obedience & Task Work – 2-5 months needed on average

Step Four brings us to the official start of our Service Dog Training journey. We will aim to have 2-3 lessons per week (averaging an hour or two) to build consistency in your training and build results faster. These lessons will begin with a review of your dog’s general obedience training both inside and outside your home. Additionally, we will begin foundational task training, depending on the tasks needed. There is a Step 4 Benchmark that requires passing before Step 5 begins.

Step 5 – Public Access & Certification – 2-3 months needed in average

Step Five is our final Step and is where we combine the obedience and task work we’ve established in Step 4 with Public Access Training. For 2-3 lessons per week (averaging 45 minutes to 2 hours) we will work in a variety of Public Access locations, which can be tailored to locations you frequent in your everyday life. The final Public Access test will be held in a busy environment to ensure you and your Service Dog are able to succeed as a team in any circumstance.

Ready to begin? Fill out our Service Dog Application below to get started!

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Payment Breakdown

Step 2 – $100

Step 3 – Minimum Deposit of $2000

Steps 4 & 5 – A Monthly Payment (at a discussed rate) until total is paid off

Overall Cost of Service Dog Training is $12,000

*Travel Charges & other fees may apply, training estimates have many variables to consider

Steps 2 & 3 go towards the overall cost.

Graduate teams are offered 4 free in person “retouch” lessons per year. Graduate teams can reach out to us for support at any time. and have unlimited access to virtual lessons.

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Service Dog Jumpstart – A Long Term Board & Train Option – $3000 per month

Do you have or plan on getting a puppy or younger dog that you intend to use for service work, but don’t know where to start? Or are you too far from our location, but still interested in our services? The Dependable Canine offers a long term board and train service for a prospective Service Dog. We understand that sometimes these circumstances arise and are here to help.

This program is designed for dogs ages 4-12 months, where they are raised by The Dependable Canine, with each day shaping them closer to becoming a Service Dog for you. This package includes general obedience training, public access outings, loose leash walking, proper socialization and environmental stability, and foundational task work. We would also have lessons together to ensure your bond stays strong as that will help with the transition back home. At the end of their stay, we do a 3 day team training program where we integrate them back into your home, and talk about the next Steps!

The length of stay and training goals would be determined on our initial consultation.

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Therapy Dog Training

Having worked with multiple Therapy Dog Teams throughout our experience, we know the vital role these incredible canines play and the impact they can have on their community. Whether it’s enriching the lives of young children in a hospital setting, visiting our elderly population in nursing homes to provide companionship, offering nonjudgmental aid to children in a courtroom setting, and much more, there are a plethora of ways that dogs can be an invaluable aid to certain communities.

We are pleased to offer Therapy Dog Training. We follow the same flow of our 5 Step Service Dog Program, with the following customizations:

• Steps 1 & 2 Are Kept The Same Price ($100 Evaluation)
• Step 3 is a minimum deposit of $500 to ensure our services for Therapy Dog Training. This deposit locks in our services for life, and provides all the same benefits after becoming certified that our Service Dog clients receive.
• Steps 4 & 5 are a monthly payment at a discussed rate. We train at the same pace, with two 1-2 hour lessons per week. The “tasks” training portion of this program will focus on the cues and behaviors they will need for their specific Therapy Dog role. Step 5 is where we work 1-2 times a week working with your community to ensure you are being successful as a Team. The final test will be done in these environments, and ensure you and your dog are set up for a lifetime of success in helping others.
• Generally, depending on the temperament and the obedience foundation a dog has, Therapy Dog Training goes at a faster pace than Service Dog Training, with an estimated 1-4 months in Step 4 and 1-3 months in Step 5.
• Total Cost for Therapy Dog Training is $4000

If interested, please fill out the Service Dog Application below. For non-applicable required questions on the form, simply put “therapy” in those spaces.

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Service Dog Application