Introduction:
Service dogs are extraordinary companions that provide vital support to people with disabilities. At Give Us Paws, we are dedicated to training service dogs using positive reinforcement methods backed by behavioral science. Our mission is to ensure that these remarkable animals are reliable and dependable for their handlers.
Committed to Excellence
Our training program is meticulously designed to span 8 months to a year. We understand that each client handler has unique abilities, and we tailor our program to ensure success, even if it takes longer to form a functional service dog team. Complete participation from our client handlers is vital, as they diligently complete their assignments, keep training logs updated, and attend scheduled sessions with our trainers.
Our trainers are skilled in efficient and effective training techniques, utilizing positive reinforcement to cultivate the behaviors needed by individuals with disabilities. To maintain their expertise, we provide ongoing education for our trainers, focusing on timing, reinforcement techniques, and setting appropriate criteria to empower clients to train their own service dogs.
Achieving Success
Upon completing our program, a handler/service dog team will undergo the Public Access Test developed by Assistance Dogs International (ADI). This test ensures that the team has full control over at least three tasks that mitigate the handler’s disability. Moreover, our clients gain invaluable training skills, while the service dogs establish foundation behaviors that can be further developed as needed.
We are committed to offering continued support to our client handlers throughout the lifetime of their service dog. This includes follow-up certification, individual consultations, and tailored training sessions to address new tasks or any training problems that may arise. Additionally, we organize group events to provide further training opportunities.
Tailored Task Training
We understand that every handler has unique needs, so we customize our task training accordingly. Some of the tasks available include alerting to impending PTSD episodes, providing comfort during periods of anxiety or depression, waking handlers from nightmares, and retrieving dropped items or medications. Our service dogs are also trained to open doors, pull laundry baskets, and assist with personal care tasks like taking off shoes and socks.
Investing in a Bright Future
The cost to train a service dog in our program ranges from $3,000.00 to $4,500.00. However, we aim to provide free training services for our disabled veterans. For civilians, we offer subsidies based on financial eligibility and family income. To determine if you qualify for subsidized services, please review our eligibility and pricing guidelines. At Give Us Paws, we proudly adhere to the standards set by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) and strive for excellence in our training standards.
Differentiating Service Dogs
It is crucial to differentiate service dogs from therapy dogs, emotional support dogs, or companion animals. Service dogs and their handlers are granted special access rights that do not apply to other animals. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines service animals as dogs that are individually trained to perform specific tasks for people with disabilities. Organizations that serve the public are required to allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas accessible to the public.
Therapy dogs, on the other hand, provide solace, affection, and stress relief to patients and residents in various settings such as hospitals, assisted living facilities, and shelters. While therapy dogs play a vital role in short-term interactions, they do not have the same long-term partnership with their handlers as service dogs do. Handlers of therapy dogs do not have the same public accommodation and access rights as handlers of service dogs.
Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) offer therapeutic support to disabled or elderly owners through companionship, positive regard, and affection. These animals do not undergo task training like service dogs do. If a doctor determines that a patient with a disabling mental illness would benefit from having an emotional support animal, they may provide the necessary documentation for housing or travel accommodations. However, handlers of ESAs do not have the same public accommodation and access rights as handlers of service dogs.
For more information about service dogs and their incredible impact, Assistance Dogs International is an excellent resource.
Remember, at Give Us Paws, we are dedicated to providing exceptional service dogs that bring comfort, independence, and a brighter future to individuals with disabilities. Find out more about our program by visiting 1mquotes.