In Need of a Service Dog?
If you are in need of a Service dog please read the following information about our process closely
Our goal is to help provide professionally trained Service Dogs to Veterans, First Responders, and people with disabilities who have not already obtained a dog. If you or someone you know are in need of a Service Dog, please fill out an inquiry form.
Our Service Dog Process is as follows:
After we receive your initial inquiry you will have a phone assessment with our Founder, Lead Trainers, or our Client Liaison, during which we will go over a number of questions with you. After which an application will be sent to you for you to fill out and return.
We will need verification from your primary care physician, or mental health professional stating that a Service Dog is needed.
A visit to our facility either in person or via zoom to view our facility and speak with our team more in depth about the tasks a dog will be required to do.
An in home visit either in person or via zoom will be conducted to ensure you have adequate space and environment for a dog.
Expectations of Accepted Applicants
If you are accepted as a Service Dog recipient the following are required to be done by the end of your dogs training.
200 hours of hands-on volunteer time to assist in the care and training of the dogs at Pawsitive Directions. This is done to help recipients understand not only what care is required for a Service Dog but also for them to give back to others in the program by working with multiple dogs not just your future Service Dog.
Attend a seminar (either group or individual) to learn training essentials such as:
Rules, structure, boundaries, and guidelines, what this means, and how to implement them.
Canine Psychology
Dog Body Language
Advocating for yourself and your dog
Appropriate dog on dog interaction
Your specific dogs breed or mix thereof
What it means to have a Service Dog
ADA Rules and regulations
When your Service Dog has down time, what that means
Participate in the puppy raiser classes for 5 weeks (5-7 hours)
during which you will work with multiple different dogs, not only your future Service Dog