Service Program

Service dogs are trained to serve those who need assistance with various mobility tasks. Our dogs can be trained to open doors, retrieve small and distant objects, carry bags, rise to counters, and pull those in wheelchairs. In addition to skills, the dog provides constant companionship and emotional support to the person it is placed with.

The Service Dog Program is broken down into four phases:
puppy raising, canine college, and team training.

We train Labrador and Golden Retrievers to use as assistance dogs. The dogs are brought into the program between 9 and 12 weeks-of-age. Each puppy is screened to ensure they possess the appropriate physical and behavioral qualities to be a service dog. Medical history and a three generation minimum pedigree certification are required on all puppies entering the program. On a weekly basis the puppies are brought to the SDI facility for training.

Once in the program, the puppy is placed in a volunteer puppy raising home or in the PAWS Prison Program.

Once the puppy reaches 18 months-of-age, it is returned to Support Dogs, Inc. and begins Canine College. It is during this time that the strengths of the puppy are assessed and its professional training begins. The dogs spend approximately six to nine months in Canine College. It is at this time the dog's career is chosen based on its skills and workdrive.

1. Street-certified dogs accompany their person in all situations. They are certified for public access under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Street-certified dogs are either referrred to as para dogs or quad dogs.
   
   
   • Para dogs have the strength and physical structure to pull a wheelchair up steep embankments and over short distances in addition to other tasks.
     
     
   • Quad dogs have the ability to perform a variety of tasks for their clients according to client need. They accompany people who are in electric wheelchairs or scooters.
   
   
2. Home-certified dogs are trained the same as street-certified dogs, but work only in the home. They are not certified for public access. Dogs are only placed within a 50 mile radius of St. Louis.
   
   
3. Home Companions are dogs trained primarily for companionship, but do have minimal retrieval skills.

Once the dog is ready to be placed, the potential recipient comes to St. Louis for a month-long training session. It is during this time that the person is taught how to use the dog, and the dog is taught how to work with its new person. There are many in-house and public training sessions conducted to ensure that the new team works well together. Once training is complete, the dog and owner go home to begin their new life together as a service team.

Support Dogs, Inc. provides follow-up to ensure the new service team is working well together. If problems do arise, we make arrangements for "refresher" training sessions to ensure that the service team has a productive an enriched life. Support Dogs, Inc. does not charge for the dogs we place. All we ask for is a $50 application fee.

If you are interested in a Service Dog, click here.

To view the SDI Guidelines for Applying for a Service Dog, click here.


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