Service Dog Training
Owner-Training Service Dog Program: Empowering People With Disabilities to Train Their Own Service Dog!
Welcome to our Service Dog Program, dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities to train their own service dogs. Our program is designed to meet the specific needs of each individual, offering assistance, support, and a newfound sense of independence. We understand the life-changing impact that service dogs can have, and we're committed to helping you navigate the journey of obtaining and training a service dog.
We accept funding through Wisconsin's IRIS medicaid waiver.
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Why Choose Our Service Dog Lessons?
Affordability: Our service dog program offers affordability without compromising quality, making specialized training accessible to more individuals. We offer several pricing models, allowing you to choose the package that best aligns with your budget and training goals. With most service dog training programs costing $10,000 or more, we offer packages starting as low as $400 and individual lessons starting as low as $50.
Individualized Training: We recognize that every individual has unique needs and requirements. Our program provides highly individualized training to match the specific tasks and assistance needed to enhance your daily life.
Extensive Training and Expertise: Our team of experienced trainers specializes in service dog training, with a deep understanding of the skills, behaviors, and tasks necessary to create exceptional service dog partnerships. We stay up-to-date with the latest training techniques and industry standards to ensure the highest level of training for our service dogs.
Assistance Dog Selection and Evaluation: We help you carefully select and evaluate dogs to ensure they possess the temperament, intelligence, and working ability required to fulfill their roles effectively.
Comprehensive Training Program: Our service dog training program covers a wide range of skills and tasks tailored to your needs. From mobility assistance to alerting, and retrieving items to deep pressure therapy and sensory support, our dogs are trained to perform tasks that enhance your independence and quality of life.
Public Access Training: We prioritize public access training, ensuring that our service dogs are well-behaved and confident in various public settings. This includes exposure to crowded areas, public transportation, restaurants, and other environments where service dogs are permitted.
ADA Compliance: Our program adheres to the guidelines set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure that our service dogs and their handlers have legal rights of access and protection.
Ongoing Support: Our commitment to you doesn't end after your service dog is fully trained. We provide continued support and guidance throughout the journey, including follow-up training sessions, handling techniques, and access to resources whenever needed.
Tasks we specialize in:
Lauren's favorite: Support for neurodivergent individuals, including tasks related to autism, ADHD, or sensory processing disorders. Lauren has an autism service dog and loves working with fellow neurodivergent handlers.
Mobility assistance tasks such as item retrievals
Medical response tasks, such as alerting to seizures
Assistance with psychiatric conditions, including anxiety and PTSD
Transform Your Life with a Service Dog:
If you're seeking a service dog to enhance your independence and improve your daily life, we're here to guide you. Contact us to begin the process of evaluation and assessment. Our team will work closely with you to understand your specific needs and assist you in finding the perfect service dog match.
If you need training services but cannot afford them, check out our scholarship fund by clicking here.
Things to Know About Training Your Own Service Dog
Service dog training is a comprehensive and time-intensive process that typically takes around two years to complete. It involves regular weekly or bi-weekly training sessions to ensure consistent progress and reinforcement of desired behaviors. Our dedicated team works closely with the service dog and their handler, focusing on obedience, task training, public access skills, and socialization. This intensive training period is crucial to develop a strong bond and ensure the service dog is well-prepared to assist their handler effectively in various situations.
Disclaimer: Not every dog can become a service dog. Our selection process is rigorous and based on various factors, including temperament, health, and specialized training requirements. While we strive to assist as many individuals as possible, we cannot guarantee eligibility for our service dog program. Our dedicated trainers work diligently to assess and train each dog, but individual characteristics, health issues, and other factors may affect their suitability for the role over time. We appreciate your understanding and assure you that we will always act in the best interest of the dogs and their potential as service animals.
Enrollment
In order to enroll in our program, please schedule a dog evaluation or consultation. At your appointment, our trainer will discuss with you the next steps.
Virtual services are available only to those living further than 45 minutes from Milwaukee,WI, or at trainer's discretion.
Dog Evaluation
All dogs must complete an evaluation prior to becoming enrolled in service dog lessons.
In Person 30-minute Evaluation- $50.00
Virtual 30-minute Evaluation - $35.00
Virtual Consultation
No dog yet? No problem! Virtual consultations include an overview of our program and assistance with dog selection. Temperament testing of puppies can be purchased for an additional fee.
Virtual 30-minute Consultation- $35
If you cannot find a time on our calendar that fits into your schedule, please reach out to us at IPpettraining@gmail.com.
Pricing
In person lessons will take place in the home or in the community and virtual lessons will take place via google meet.
We accept funding through Wisconsin's IRIS medicaid waiver.
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Dog Handling Training
Individual or Family Dog Handling Sessions
Dog handling training is required prior to starting private lessons. In-person clients will utilitze our trainer's dogs for these sessions rather than their own. We ask that all parties who will be involved in the training process attend these sessions. We will cover the basics of luring, markers, rewards, leash handling skills, and dog body language. Most clients complete this phase of the training program within 1-3 sessions.
30 Minute In-Person Dog Handling Session - $35.00
30 Minute Virtual Dog Handling Session- $35.00
Individual Lessons
Individual Service Dog Lessons
In Person 30-40-minute lesson (time varies based on age and training level)- $60.00
Virtual 30-40-minute lesson (time varies based on age and training level)- $50.00
Individual Day Training Days
Day training is available to clients who can drop their dog off in Milwaukee, WI. Day training consists of 5 hours with our trainer (dog only) and a 30-minute debrief session at the end of the day where our trainer will review with the handler what was worked on and how to practice at home.
During the 5 hours, your dog will have several training sessions along with break time that includes enrichment puzzles, games, and time to decompress and sniff.
5.5 hour day training day - $100.00
Lesson Packages
Lesson 10 Packs
In Person Lesson 10 Pack - $500.00 $100 savings!
Virtual Lesson 10 Pack - $400.00 $100 savings!
Day Training 10 Pack
Day Training Lesson 10 Pack - $850.00 $150 savings!
Pay-In-Full Discounted Packages
Pay-In-Full packages include 2 years of bi-weekly (every other week) or weekly lessons, AKC STAR Puppy, CGC, and Urban CGC evaluations, and a service dog in-training vest.
Virtual packages include virtual home manners puppy, virtual home manners adult, and trick dog novice evaluations in place of the STAR Puppy, CGC, and Urban CGC evaluations.
Bi-Weekly (every other week)
Bi-Weekly In Person Program - $2,600.00 $520+ savings!
Bi-weekly Virtual Program - $2,100.00 $500+ savings!
Weekly
Weekly In Person Program - $5,200.00 $1,040+ savings!
Weekly Virtual Program - $4,200.00 $1,000+ savings!
Day Training Add-On
Weekly or bi-weekly (every other week) day training lessons can be added to either the weekly or bi-weekly package or purchased on its own upon trainer approval.
Weekly Day Training Add-On- $7,900.00 $2,500+ savings!
Bi-Weekly (every other week) Day Training Add-On - $4,200.00 $1,000+ savings!
Additional in person or virtual lessons can be purchased by bi-weekly or weekly students during the 2-year enrollment period for just $15. Additional day training sessions can be added for just $75.
Disclaimer: If a dog is deemed unsuitable to become a service dog during our program, the value of any unused package portion can be applied toward other pet training services. We cannot accommodate refunds.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the difference between a service dog, therapy dog, and emotional support dog?
Service Dog:
Purpose: Service dogs are specially trained to perform tasks and work directly with individuals who have disabilities. These disabilities can be physical, sensory, psychiatric, or intellectual in nature.
Tasks: Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks that mitigate the effects of their owner's disability. Examples include guiding individuals who are blind, alerting to seizures, providing balance support, and responding to psychiatric crises.
Legal Rights: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the United States, service dogs have specific legal rights, such as access to public places, transportation, and housing. Their handlers are protected by laws that prohibit discrimination based on disability.
Training: Service dogs must be trained to assist their handlers and behave appropriately in public. This is an intensive process as outlined above and takes on average 2+ years.
Therapy Dog:
Purpose: Therapy dogs are trained to provide comfort, affection, and emotional support to people in various settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and disaster areas.
Settings: Therapy dogs typically work in therapeutic or clinical settings, offering companionship and stress relief to individuals in need. They do not have the same legal rights as service dogs and must be invited into facilities.
Training: Therapy dogs undergo specific training to ensure they have the temperament and behavior to interact safely and positively with people in various environments.
Emotional Support Animal (ESA):
Purpose: ESAs provide emotional support and companionship to individuals dealing with mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD. Their presence helps alleviate symptoms and provides comfort.
Legal Rights: ESAs are protected under laws like the Fair Housing Act and the Air Carrier Access Act, which allow individuals with ESAs to have accommodations in housing and during air travel, even in situations where pets may not be allowed. These animals do not have the right to enter public establishments
Prescription: To qualify for an ESA, individuals typically need a recommendation or prescription from a mental health professional, indicating that the presence of the animal is beneficial to their mental health.
Training: There is no required training for ESAs
It's important to note that while service dogs and ESAs have specific legal rights and requirements, therapy dogs do not have these same legal protections and are used in therapeutic settings as part of a treatment plan. Each type of assistance animal serves a unique purpose, and their roles and legal rights should be respected accordingly.
Can you make my dog a service dog?
If you are someone with a disability who has a dog that is under 2 years of age and passes our temperament evaluation I am able to work with you to train your dog as a service dog. While we strive to assist as many individuals as possible, we cannot guarantee eligibility for our service dog program. Our dedicated trainers work diligently to assess and train each dog, but individual characteristics, health issues, and other factors may affect their suitability for the role over time. We appreciate your understanding and assure you that we will always act in the best interest of the dogs and their potential as service animals.