Service Dog Training Facilities

Service dogs are specially trained to perform tasks that their handlers cannot do. These dogs serve in a number of specialties, including aiding blind and deaf persons or assisting the physically disabled in everyday tasks. Research before selecting a trainer or program; choosing a quality program means that the dogs, trainers and teaching methods are among the best in the business.

  1. Canine Companions for Independence

    • Canine Companions for Independence, founded in 1975, is the largest nonprofit organization for providing service dogs. The company trains dogs for four areas of assistance but does not work with sight dogs or those that detect medical problems. Animals are trained to work with children or adults. Clients are not charged for the dogs, though payment is required for the 2-week handler education program. Canine Companions for Independence specializes in training dogs to complete daily tasks for people with disabilities, to alert hearing-impaired handlers of noise and to aid in development of physical, cognitive and other challenges associated with a disability. Dogs are also trained for facility work, providing companionship in hospitals and educational institutions. The main branch of Canine Companions for Independence is located in Santa Rosa, California, but has five regional facilities across the United States.

    Guide Dogs of America

    • Guide Dogs of America specializes in training dogs for vision-impaired clients throughout the United States and in Canada. The company breeds and trains its own dogs and has done so since its founding in 1948. The organization features three primary programs, including a breeding program, puppy training with experienced foster families and a handler-training program for dog recipients. Guide Dogs of America also participates in advocacy for vision-impaired individuals and organizations. The company provides follow-up services for animals, free of charge. Candidates are considered based on need; both blind and otherwise visually impaired individuals are considered. All applicants must go through an in-depth evaluation and admissions process for consideration. All instructors employed by Guide Dogs of America are state-licensed and are required to complete a 3-year apprenticeship with an accredited school.

    Can Do Canines

    • Incorporated in 1987, Can Do Canines was originally called the Hearing Dog Program of Minnesota. The organization provides doge to people with any of a number of disabilities, including hearing and vision impairments and physical and medical problems. These specially trained dogs, nearly 50 percent of which are obtained from shelters, are taught to work with both children and adults. Unique to this program, the dogs, at the foster stage, are taught by inmates of the Minnesota Department of Corrections before being turned over to handlers. There is no charge to recipients except for an application fee, which was $50 at the time of publication.

    Assistance Dogs International

    • Assistance Dogs International has chapters across the United States and in Canada and Latin America. The organization works with nonprofits across these countries to improve training, education and other aspects of the industry, to match disabled individuals with assistance dogs. The group's main purposes are to facilitate improved communication and standards and, perhaps more importantly, streamline the matching and adoption process. The company trains animals as guide dogs to assist the visually impaired, hearing dogs for the deaf, and service dogs for those who are physically disabled. Dogs are placed in training through a number of means; some are volunteers by their owners, others are specially bred and some are found in shelters.