The ADA allows individuals with disabilities to train their own service dogs. You do not need a professional trainer. Owner-trained service dogs have the exact same legal rights as program-trained dogs.
Is Owner-Training Right for You?
Pros
- Cost: $5,000-$15,000 vs $15,000-$50,000+ for programs
- No waitlist: Programs can have 1-3+ year waits
- Customized training to your specific needs
- Stronger bond from training together
Cons
- Time: 18-24 months of intensive daily training
- Wash-out risk: 50-70% of dogs don't make it
- Expertise required: Must learn dog training while managing disability
- No guaranteed outcome
Step-by-Step Process
- Research your legal rights
- Select your dog
- Socialize extensively
- Build obedience foundation
- Train disability-specific tasks
- Public access training
- Have a trainer evaluate your team
- Get documentation in order
Register Your Service Dog Today
Create a free digital profile with QR-verified credentials for your service dog.
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