Page last updated 1/05/2007
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Happy Tails Service Dogs, Inc.
Happy Tails Service Dogs Inc. teaches persons who are deaf or have a hearing loss and those with physical disabilities how to train their dog to become a service dog as recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act. This requires students to come to class each week for a period of approximately 20 months.
If a student does not have a dog, they are referred to local rescues and shelters.
Training is free to the students. Upon graduation, students are given the opportunity to become Peer Mentors to new students. Students also participate in community events and giving presentations to educate others on the legal rights of individuals who use service dogs.
Potential dogs for the program must be at least a year old and no older than four years old. They must be either spayed or neutered and have all of the required immunizations. Dogs must be licensed and it is preferred that they have a micro-chip. Dogs must have at least one obedience class with other dogs.
Training is divided into three phases. The first phase of the program is where students and dogs meet weekly in a classroom setting. The second phase is when the students go out as a group to local stores, malls, restaurants, etc. At this time they must pass the Canine Good Citizen test and a Public Access Test. The third phase is when the dog receives it's "Service Dog in Training" cape meaning the student and dog travel independently in the community but still attend classes.
In order for a person to graduate from the program, they must pass the test for certification. The test takes about two hours and is done partly in the home and in the community. Each year, new graduates are introduced at the annual Christmas party.
The greatest accomplishment of the program is when a service dog team is out in the community and are asked where their dog was trained, the student takes great pride in saying, "I trained him/her myself".
Visit the Happy Tails Service Dogs, Inc. home page.
