© Tammie Rogers 2022
Page Title
Requirements of a Potential Service Dog
(Note, some requirements only apply to dogs coming for Custom Training)
The dog must be
•
10 to 24 months old. Older dogs are acceptable however,
o
please consider that bad habits are harder to resolve if the dog has been practicing them for a longer time
o
a dog’s career as a functioning Service Dog must be weighed against his natural lifespan.
•
Up to date on rabies, distemper/parvo, bordetella vaccines. Hard copy or e-copy records are required.
•
Strongly prefer males over 14 months old to be neutered.
•
We strong prefer that bitches are spayed prior to arriving for Custom Training to avoid an estrus cycle during the training period. An
intact bitch that has not yet had an estrus cycle may not come for Custom Training. Bitches in season may not attend a T.E.A.C.H. class.
•
Tested negative for and on monthly heartworm preventative (provided by owner during the training duration).
•
On a monthly flea/tick preventative provided by the owner for the training duration.
•
Cleared of hip dysplasia (by a licensed veterinarian who deems the hips normal). This is a strong reccomendation, not a requirement.
•
We strongly recommend that your dog has been tested clear of any other high probability heritable conditions for the breed and the
dog’s intended use.
o
For example, a German Shepherd Dog that will be required to provide mobility support should also have an elbow x-ray because
elbow dysplasia is a fairly high risk in the breed, and the dog will need a structurally sound body.
•
Accostommed to living indoors with humans.
•
Has been exposed to a variety of real-world experiences and different social settings (negotiating a flight of stairs, riding in a vehicle, etc)
•
Housebroken. Crate trained.
•
Recently groomed (if it is a breed which requires professional grooming). If the dog requires professional grooming during its training
duration, the owner is required to pay for the service and our travel time and mileage to take the dog to a groomer.
•
Free of chronic illness like poor GI track / digestion issue, ear infections, skin infections, diabetes, allergies, etc.
•
Free of severe motion sickness during car travel.
•
The dog must not have any significant social issues such as
o
fear, panic, strong flight behavior
o
aggressive behaviors
▪
intolerance of other dogs
▪
high prey drive
▪
strong desire to chase or kill small animals
▪
resource guarding
▪
snaps at your hand when you touch certain areas on its body, or when attempting to brush or cut nails
o
excessive shyness
o
excessive / incessant barking
o
‘protective’ behavior
If you want your dog to remain on his own food, please provide a sufficient amount for his ten (or longer) week stay.
We feed Diamond Natural Lamb and Rice, if you do not bring your own food.
As
professional
dog
trainers
who
have
years
of
experience
rehabilitating
anti-social
and
aggressive
dogs,
we
are
capable
of
addressing
typical
anti-social
behaviors
that
many
pet
dogs
present,
even
those
that
are
destined
for
Service
Dog
work.
However,
if
a
dog
that
arrives
for
Service
Dog
T.E.A.C.H.
or
Custom
Training
presents
serious
anti-social
behavior,
there
will
be
no
refund
of
the
deposit.
Custom
Training:
the
40%
training
fee
due
at
drop-off
will
be
returned.
The
owner
will
be
expected
to
come
for
the
dog
at
the
owner’s
travel
expense.
If
the
owners
does
not
return
for
the
dog
within
five
days,
a
fee
of
$80/day
boarding
will
be
applied
for
each
day
after
the
five
day
grace
period.
If
the
dog
was
flown
in
for
training,
all
expenses
will
be
the
responsibility
of
the
owner,
including
the
Trainer’s
cost
to
transport
the
dog
to
the
airport
and
secure
any
additional veterinary documentation for the airlines.