Service Dogs are trained to perform specific tasks and can be with their handler in public anywhere a civilian is permitted, with few exceptions.
Therapy Dogs are dogs who go with their owners to volunteer in settings such as schools, hospitals, and nursing homes. Therapy Dogs are not trained for specific tasks and are only permitted in facilities where they are working and dog-friendly establishments.
If you seek endorsement from Good Human Dog Training,
we require the following:
To start training, we require the following:
- a Letter of Medical Necessity from your healthcare provider
- a signed Service Dog Training Agreement
- emergency contacts who may agree to provide support and house your dog, in the event of an emergency
- your dog’s vaccination records and documentation of a negative fecal test
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), there is no nationally recognized certification for service dogs, and service dog handlers are not required to show any documentation proving their dog is a service dog or that they have a disability. However, a dog must be under the handler’s control and adequately trained to qualify as a service dog. Click here to learn more about the ADA and how it governs the use of service dogs.
Many organizations and training companies offer their own certification to recognize that the dog meets their standards. We feel the term “certified” misrepresents the requirements to utilize a service dog and perpetuates a perceived barrier to owner training. People with disabilities have the right to train their own dogs and are not required to use a professional service dog training program. We’re here to help!
You can read more about our endorsement program here.
Yes! We are happy to offer dog training instruction and resources to owner-trainers. You may use the same resources as the teams in our program.
- Completion of any online courses does not imply endorsement by Good Human Dog Training.
- To be endorsed by Good Human, core assessments must be completed in person. Read more here.
The length of training is different for every dog, and many factors need to be considered, such as the dog’s age, trainability, cue/skill sets they need to acquire, and level of commitment of the owner/handler. Training may take two (2) years to complete depending on these factors.
Anyone can purchase a vest to give the public the impression that their pet is a service dog. Wearing a vest (even one that’s labeled “Service Animal”) doesn’t give you a full-access pass to take your dog into a place of business.
It is expected that the service dog behaves in a non-disruptive manner in public spaces. The ADA specifies that a business owner may ask a person to remove their dog if “the dog is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it.” Vest or no vest.
Good Human strives for our clients to be fully prepared for any situation they might encounter while navigating the sometimes challenging world. Upon completion of our endorsement program, you may purchase a Good Human branded vest, ID cards, and other materials to help you present yourself as a professional team.
Trained service dogs are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and can be with their handler in public anywhere a civilian is permitted, with few exceptions.
Please read the ADA requirements for service dogs.
There is no guarantee that any team that starts the training process will successfully complete it. There are many variables to service dog training, such as the handler’s time and availability to do follow-up training, the cues/skills required, the dog’s age and level of socialization, the dog’s genetic disposition, and so on. If your Good Human trainer has any concerns about your dog’s capability to complete public access training, we will let you know without delay.
We strive for learner-centered, minimally stressful, and thoughtful training sessions with all species. We only use gentle methods based on the most current dog training and behavior science.
Positive reinforcement is the most humane way to achieve these attributes, and it works faster than other training methods because it increases the odds of the dog learning the skills required.
- We have an intensive, online course that will minimize the need for in-person training.
- If you are not close to Winston-Salem, NC, and are willing to travel for 3 assessments (Initial, midway checkpoint and the Public Access Test), we have the program for you!
- Many clients outside of our immediate training area have successfully utilized an outside trainer to provide assistance working with Good Human.
- We can use virtual coaching. This is especially useful for training service tasks.
* Self-study pricing is tbd
Note: Costs associated with the purchase of a dog, training costs, veterinarian bills, food (if prescribed by the veterinarian), and other expenses may all be tax-deductible! Please consult your insurance company and tax professional for additional information.
- Good Human’s Service Dog Training program is paid for by the lesson; there are no upfront costs. We also offer learning opportunities that may be more affordable than the in-person option.
- Service Dogs are considered necessary medical equipment so check with your health insurance company. You can use the tax-free funds from a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to pay for the costs of buying, training, and maintaining a service dog.
- Many of our clients have successfully funded their training through fundraisers, donations from their community, or sponsorship from non-profit organizations.
- At this time, we do not offer scholarships. If you are unable to pay for training and are unable to fundraise, we can direct you to a non-profit organization that may better fit your needs.
We train dogs for clients of all ages. While there are no age requirements for handlers, there are special considerations when training dogs for children not old enough to be active in the training process. We’re happy to discuss these considerations to determine if our service dog training program is a good fit for your child. And, if not, we can help you find a program that suits your needs.
Nope. Training a service dog for protection or perceived aggression is not considered a task and is not covered under the ADA. Further, it does not align with Good Human’s dog training methods and training philosophy.
And, if you are an anxious learner, we also have methods to facilitate learning in people.
Catch your dog doing it right!
Too often, we focus on what they do wrong. How often do we ignore our dogs when they quietly lie at our feet or play with one of their toys? We don’t notice because it doesn’t bother us. However, the minute the dog grabs our shoe or comes over to hassle us, they get all our attention. Reward the behavior you like, and you will get more of it!