Service Dogs
Rooted in Partnership.
A service dog is a dog individually trained to perform specific tasks that directly mitigate a person’s disability. Unlike an emotional support animal, service dogs are task-trained working animals with specific legal protections and responsibilities.
Our service dog program offers suitability evaluations, individualized training, and handler coaching to support you and your dog throughout the training process. What makes our approach unique is that we take training one step at a time, using a private-lesson model that allows you to build skills progressively without the cost of committing to an expensive, all-at-once program. We meet your team where you are and develop a training plan based on your dog’s abilities, your goals, and your individual needs.
Our Process
-
Start by completing our contact form to tell us a little about yourself, your dog, and your goals. We’ll review your information and follow up with next steps. From there, we’ll begin with a 30-minute virtual consultation to answer your questions, learn more about your dog and your needs, discuss what service dog training involves, and provide recommendations for getting started.
Fees: FREE!
-
Next, we conduct a half-hour evaluation to learn more about your dog and how they respond to new environments, unfamiliar situations, and mild stressors. This helps us assess your dog’s temperament, resilience, and readiness for service dog training and determine whether service work is an appropriate next step.
Fees: $35
-
If your dog is determined to be a suitable candidate, we’ll begin building the skills they need to become a reliable working partner. Training is individualized to you and your dog and may include virtual coaching, in-person training, and trainer-led sessions.
Our coaching sessions focus on teaching you how to train and reinforce the skills and tasks your dog needs for their work. Trainer-led sessions provide additional hands-on support, allowing our trainer to work one-on-one with your dog to strengthen and refine service dog tasks.
Service dog training is a gradual process and typically takes 1–2 years, though timelines vary based on the individual dog, handler, and skills being developed.
Fees: $45 Admin Fee / $100 per session / $60 per follow-up
-
Service dog training doesn’t end at graduation. Ivy Vine Canine offers ongoing support to help you maintain your dog’s skills, address new training needs, and support your team throughout your dog’s working career. Follow-up evaluations may also be required to maintain authorized use of Ivy Vine Canine gear or other materials.
Fees: $60 per session
Requirements
Have a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Must be at least 18 years old.
Have the ability to participate in training over an extended period of time. Service dog training is not a quick process and may take a year, two years, or longer depending on your team’s needs and progress.
Be willing to practice regularly between training sessions. Your involvement is an essential part of helping your dog develop reliable skills.
Understand that not every dog will ultimately become a service dog. Some dogs may be better suited to providing support at home or accompanying you only in pet-friendly spaces. We will help you make informed decisions throughout the process based on your dog’s individual abilities and well-being.
Be willing to wait for an evaluation before representing your dog as a service dog. We ask that you wait to use service dog identification or bring your dog into non-pet-friendly public spaces until we have evaluated their suitability and established the foundational skills needed for service work.
Have support from a licensed healthcare provider for your use of a service dog. We encourage open communication between you, your healthcare provider, and your training team throughout the process.
For Handlers
Have no history of aggression toward people, dogs, or other animals.
Demonstrate a temperament suited to service work, including being comfortable in a variety of environments and able to recover from everyday distractions.
Be responsive to training and enjoy working with their handler. Some breeds, such as Labradors and Golden Retrievers, are more commonly selected for service work because of characteristics that tend to support success, but breed alone does not determine suitability.
Have no history of significant behavioral concerns that would interfere with their ability to safely and reliably work, such as severe fear, reactivity, or separation-related distress.
Be under approximately four years of age when beginning the program.
Be physically healthy and capable of performing the demands of service work. We recommend discussing your dog’s health and suitability for service work with your veterinarian before beginning training.
