Training of Dogs

Our dogs are trained using positive methods (“operant conditioning”) and are kept in the trainer’s home until placement.

Once the dog’s new partner is chosen, training then is adapted to emphasize specific skills needed.

Preparing a dog for placement begins as early as 7 weeks of age and culminates with placement at approximately 2 years of age.

Placement of Dogs

• The process of preparing the dog and new partner to work as a team involves 5 months of "transition" training.
  
• Because of the time-consuming nature of this type of individualized training, only persons living in San Diego County are considered as applicants.
  
• Consideration in placement with children will be based on a variety of factors such as the maturity level of the child, specific needs for support, and level of parental support.
• The individualized transition training requires one to two evening sessions per week for skills training in the recipient’s home and one weekend day throughout the transition period for public access practice.
• A major portion of the transition training will be dedicated to teaching the recipient how to custom train for tasks specific to his/her needs.
• Before placement, the new partner must demonstrate appropriate handling skills and ability to provide for the physical care, grooming, and maintenance of the dog.
• The dog will only be placed with a person committed to working as a TEAM in partnership with the dog. The dog will be a working partner, not a pet.
• Placement decisions are made specifically to match personalities, skills, needs, and lifestyles of both dog and human partner.

Cost

The applicant for a service dog will be required to pay a $50 non-refundable Application Fee.

Once a potential match has been identified, the applicant will be expected to contribute towards a portion of the cost of preparing the service dog during the two years it is in the training program. The placement fee is $2,000. PT will provide help and guidance on how to raise funds and will help the applicant apply for grants or other available funding. No person will be denied the opportunity to be considered as an applicant because of limited financial ability.

PT is an approved Assistance Dog Provider for the Assistance Dog United Campaign. This organization is a health and human welfare organization which provides financial assistance to individuals who have the need for an assistance dog but have difficulty in raising the necessary funds and to people and programs whose purpose is to provide assistance dogs to people with disabilities. Individuals can apply to this group for assistance with the Placement Fee. For more information about this group, check out their website: Assistance Dog United Campaign.

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Application Process

• The applicant must live in San Diego County and be willing to commit to the 5 months transition training. The applicant must assure PT that his/her residence will remain in San Diego County for at least one full year, beginning with the first day of transition training.
• An online pre-application must be completed and will be kept in PT files for reference in matching with an appropriate dog. A formal application will not be required until a potential match has been identified.
• A site visit will be scheduled in the applicant’s home for further evaluation and assessment.
• A non-refundable $50 Application Fee must be paid at the time that a formal application is submitted.
• Once a potential match has been identified, the applicant will work with PT to establish the Placement Fee and a payment schedule. This fee will be fully refundable, should the match not work out.
  
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The Matching Process

We wish we could provide a dog to each person who contacts us, but we are careful not to make promises we can’t keep as the match between dog and disabled handler is an important part of the formula for a successful team. For example, someone who is outgoing and very active needs a dog who won’t stress over those busy days. The more introverted dog will do better with someone who has more routine in his or her life. Skills, partner needs, and even the size of the dog enter into the formula.

So, when people ask us about our “wait list”, it’s hard to give an answer as it is impossible to place dogs based on the date a person first contacts us. This is why we urge people to apply to more than one program. We are a very small program and can’t guarantee we will find the right match for each applicant.

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