03/24/2025
Let's talk about being incredibly careful when looking to purchase a service dog. Friendly reminder, dog training is unregulated. Anyone, can say anything and make it all up as they go. This profession is a magnet for over bloated ego's that sound like they know what they are doing. Most don't and most get away with it. Dog training is a service and most bad trainers never see the down side of not completing the work they say they will. They just take your money and walk away, because it is a service! They did the work weather your problem is solved or not. "Work," is used loosely here. So, lets help solve the problem. What are the things you need to look for in a company so that you can trust they are actually a good company, doing good work for you?
Reviews are not always what they seem: Any company can have people post up reviews to help the business get seen on google. Ask for references. Ask for them specific to the dog you are looking to get. Talk to clients that have those specific tasks trained into their current service dog from the company.
Third party verification is a MUST in this industry. Too many companies test their own dogs with their own made up tests, with their own trainer/ handlers testing the dogs. This is the BIGGEST red flag. Make sure your dogs are getting the actual public access test (not the companies made up public access test) and/or all 3 AKC CGC's evaluated by trainers outside the company. It is a breach of ethics to have trainers in the company evaluating company dogs.
Health Testing and DNA on parent dogs or if shelter dogs, on that dog. Service Dogs have a huge load on them to preform and help for a long long time in the handlers life. If we are checking the health and DNA on the dogs we can help to hopefully make the working life longer for the dog.
Transparency in work is a huge green flag. Can you get working video's of your dog? Is it preforming in public, the home and the task work like you will need?
Trainer Certifications: Not everyone will agree with this. That's ok. I prefer certifications because most require continual learning on the part of the trainer. It isn't about which certification, more about the ones that require the trainer to do continuing education to keep that certification.
Post going home client care: This is super important and should be very high on your list. Dogs will go through a transition period when they get home and then YOU will as well. You will need to learn to handle your own service dog until you become a working team together.
Pricing and age: if you see someone selling a "service dog," at 6-8 months and they are saying fully trained! Run. That is no where near the correct time frame to get what you need as a disabled handler. You will be frustrated, sad and likely very overwhelmed with a dog that is "fully trained," at that age. Because they are not. Not even close.
If the price is WAY cheaper than what you are seeing around, likely not a good choice. If the pricing is over bloated for the time in the program, walk away. Look for consistency and if you aren't sure, ask for an explanation of costs.
Lastly, and most high on my list: You need to be OK with the training methods you see that are being used for your dog. Do not pick a company that you do not agree with their method. This goes both ways. If you pick up a dog from us, expect to learn Errorless Learning and implement it to work your dog. The method taught to the dog through puppyhood and beyond is going to stay with your dog. You will be trained in how to implement each companies method. Make sure it is a method you are ok with using once your dog gets home.
Believe it or not, this is a short list haha. Dog trainers have no rules, no regulations on how we work. It is on the client to do the leg work and be very sure about the integrity of the company they choose.
Welcome! We are a board and train Service Dog program specializing in Errorless Learning.
