Obtaining a Service Dog

Obtaining a service dog has been described as akin to adopting a child (Ogden 1992). There is a lengthy application process. If accepted, there is a training program to teach the team to work together. The applicant can be failed out of the training if the trainers deem them unsuited to being teamed with a service dog (Canine Companions for Independence 2008). Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind leases the dog to the user for $1.00, but the user is responsible for the dog’s food, care, and vet costs while in the user’s care (Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind 2010).
The costs of training a service dog varies, depending upon where you get your dog. Some trainers will train your own dog in a four day training program for $4000. (Darnfar Ranch 2009). Service dog organizations, who raise the dogs from puppies, incur costs of around $20,000. (Service Dog Central 2012). Some organizations will fundraise to provide the applicant with a dog at a very low cost -$100 plus travel costs. Other organizations require the applicant to do their own fundraising to cover the costs of the dog (Infinitec.org 2011).
The Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) will check up on all their dogs and require their graduates to return to their facility to be tested six weeks after the training program and return periodically after that for the life of the dog (Canine Companions for Independence 2008).