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Owner Trained

Service Dogs

See if you could benefit from a highly-skilled service dog trained with our help.

To get started, please review our minimum eligibility requirements.

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MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  1. You have a dog ready to begin public access training OR are applying to the Dog Finder Program

  2. Have been under the regular care of at least 1 physician for a minimum of 1 year for your condition(s).

  3. Taking all appropriate measures to monitor and mitigate your condition(s), yet still be experiencing difficulty.

  4. Be 18 years or older OR have the support of a legal guardian.  

  5. Be physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of handling a medium/large breed dog.

  6. Able to be financially responsible for your dog's care and equipment.

  7. Live in a smoke-free environment.

  8. Able to give a your dog ample aerobic exercise daily.

  9. Have read the following pages on our website to learn more about us: 

To get started, please review our minimum eligibility requirements.

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MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  1. Have been under the regular care of at least 1 physician for a minimum of 1 year for your condition(s).

  2. Taking all appropriate measures to monitor and mitigate your condition(s), yet still be experiencing difficulty.

  3. Be 18 years or older OR have the support of a legal guardian.  

  4. Be physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of handling a medium/large breed dog.

  5. Able to be financially responsible for the service dog after placement from SSDI.

  6. Live in a smoke-free environment

  7. Able to give a dog a minimum of 60 minutes of aerobic exercise daily.

  8. Have read the following pages on our website to learn more about us: 

Learn more about our Owner Trained Service Dogs

 

QUICK FACTS

  1. Owner Trained dogs are owned by the client.

  2. Owner Trained dogs live with their owners unless completing a board and train plan.

  3. Owner Trained handlers must adhere to SSDI standards.

  4. Owner Trained handlers are financially and physically responsible for their dog (e.g. food, grooming, equipment, veterinary care, insurance, and other maintenance costs that meet SSDI standards are estimated to be ~$350/month). 

  5. Owner Trained handlers pay for training services. The recommended time commitment for formal training is twice a week to start each phase and then once to twice a week to progress through the training program.  Average time to graduate for new teams starting is 14 months of training. Average time to graduate for already working owner trained teams looking to partner with a training program is 6 months of training. 

 

DESCRIPTION

An Owner Trained service dog means that SSDI teaches a client how to train their own dog the skills needed to be an SSDI service dog team.

 

In this option, the client owns their dog. SSDI’s standards are applied equally to all Owner Trained and Academy Trained teams. These standards include, but not limited to: welfare, training, and follow-up records. 

 

The dog and client work with SSDI trainers to complete our Service Dog Training Program. The client receives instruction from SSDI trainers and applies the lessons to train their dog. In this program the dog lives with the client. Clients must complete our Handler Training Program and Service Dog Training Program. All teams must pass SSDI's Public Access Test to graduate our program and re-take this exam annually until the dog's retirement.

 

Owner training is recommended for our clients who: own a dog already that they believe is suitable for the work, want to start with a puppy, and or want to be a part of the whole training of the dog process not just handler/team training.

 

SSDI does offer a board and train option for Owner Trained service dog teams based upon trainer availability. Board and Train plans are utilized when a client can justify reasonable cause for this option. 

Don't Have a Dog Yet? Learn more about our Dog Finder Program

 

QUICK FACTS​

  1. Dog Finder Program teams are a part of our Owner Trained Service Dog Program.

  2. Dog Finder Program dogs are owned by the client.

  3. Cost is $500 for the program (includes workbook, feedback, and 2 hours of preparatory training)

 

DESCRIPTION

This program is designed for clients who need a suitable prospect for our Owner Training Program. 

 

SSDI provides clients with education and consultation to create a unique dog profile based upon their lifestyle, needs, and preferences. SSDI can help identify specific prospect dogs that fit within this profile and evaluate them with the client. SSDI offers clients with 2 hours of instruction within this program to help prepare their prospects for SSDI's Dog Evaluation for the Owner Trained Service Dog Program.

Please take a look at our application process. 

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APPLICATION PROCESS

  1. Read and complete our Minimum Eligibility Requirements

  2. Request Owner Trained Dog Information (below)

  3. Submit an Application

  4. Receive an Application Assessment from us

  5. Receive a Determination Letter

  6. Have your dog Evaluated by us OR complete our Dog Finder Program

  7. Begin Training!

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