Assistance Dog Training
Project Pawsible is happy to announce we are now able to offer training for Service Dogs, Therapy Dogs, and Emotional Support Dogs.
What’s The Difference?
Emotional Support Dogs: These dogs do not have public access, you can’t take them to non-pet friendly places. No restaurants, shops, etc. These are dogs who provide comfort to a person with a disability with their presence and are only considered an assistance animal under HUD FHA guidelines. Under the FHA, a disabled person cannot be denied housing due to their disability accommodations, including an emotional support animal. Legally, these animals do not require any training. However, Project Pawsible recommends basic obedience.
More information can be found at https://www.hud.gov/helping-americans/assistance-animals
Service Dogs: Service dogs are for a person with a disability, and the dog must have 1 trained task that mitigates an aspect of the person’s disability. If they are task trained, with potty training/appropriate elimination, and are not a disturbance in public, they can assist their handler in public. There are no federal or state certifications for service dogs. Project Pawsible recommends service dogs pass the Canine Good Citizen-Urban test in addition to their tasking.
More information can be found at https://www.ada.gov/topics/service-animals/
Therapy Dogs: Therapy Dogs are often associated with companies who aim to have their dogs go to facilities of high stress where the dog can provide comfort to people. Their handler isn’t necessarily a disabled person. Each company has different standards for their therapy dogs. Project Pawsible recommends passing the CGC with your dog before you reach out to a company to see if you & your dog could become a therapy dog team!
What is the Project Pawsible Assistance Dog Program?
Project Pawsible offers task training and CGC-U preparation and testing for service dog prospects. While we cannot guarantee your dog will make it as a service dog, we will work with you toward the goal of training your prospect to become a service dog. If you don’t have a current prospect, we will assist in finding a prospect with you.
As trainers with disabilities, we understand that service dogs are a highly personal choice for disability mitigation. We train dogs to the tasks their handler needs, not a generic dog for a health condition.
