06/01/2026
The most common question we get: "Why does a service dog cost $20,000?"
It's a fair question. Here's the honest, complete answer.
A service dog isn't purchased — it's built. Two-plus years of structured, methodical training conducted by a certified professional, across four distinct phases:
Phase 1 — Foundation obedience (~$2,500)
The dog learns to sit, stay, heel, and maintain focus regardless of distraction. These aren't tricks. They're the non-negotiable baseline for everything that follows.
Phase 2 — Task training (~$6,000)
This is where the specialisation happens. Deep pressure therapy. Cardiac alert scent training. Dissociation interruption. Seizure detection. The tasks that make the dog medically relevant.
Phase 3 — Public access conditioning (~$5,000)
The dog is exposed to every environment they'll ever work in — stores, hospitals, schools, transport, crowds. This takes months and cannot be rushed.
Phase 4 — Handler-specific refinement + placement (~$4,500)
The dog's training adapts to the specific needs and disability profile of their future handler. Then: placement.
Add veterinary care, food, specialist equipment, and tools across all phases: ~$2,000+.
Total: $20,000+ for one dog. For one person. Funded entirely by donations.
Bruno and Crimson are both in Phase 3 right now. Both have people waiting for them.
💛 wyoassistancepups.com/ways-to-help
📍 Wyo Assistance Pups · Cheyenne, Wyoming
