Apply for a Service Dog

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EACH APPLICATION IS REVIEWED BY A TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS INCLUDING VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS. EACH APPLICANT IS CAREFULLY CONSIDERED ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. INSTEAD OF RELYING SOLEY ON A PERCENTAGE RATING OF DISABILITY, RECIPIENTS ARE CHOSEN BASED ON AN EVALUATION OF THEIR BACKGROUND, REFERENCES, TYPE OF DISABILITY, AND ABILITY TO SUCCEED WITHIN OUR PROGRAM.

ELIGIBLE DISABILITIES ARE SOLEY BASED ON THE SKILL SET WE ARE CAPABLE TO TRAIN OUR DOGS FOR AND THIS LIST MAY EXPAND AS WE DEVELOP NEW TRAINING TECHNIQUES.
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DISABILITIES
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  • BLINDNESS OR VISUAL IMPAIRMENT 
  • (ASSISTANCE, NOT SEEING EYE)
  • DEAFNESS OR HEARING IMPAIRMENT (MINIMAL TINNITUS WITH NO OTHER QUALIFYING DISABILITY WOULD NOT BE SELECTED)
  • MOBILITY LIMITATIONS TO INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO: LOSS OF LIMB, PROSTHESIS,REQUIRED MOBILITY DEVICES (WHEELCHAIR, WALKER, CANE, ETC.), SIGNIFICANT SPINAL FLEXION LIMITATIONS, DEGENERATIVE DISC DISORDER, ETC. 
  • EPILEPSY AND SEIZURES (ASSISTANCE, NOT DETECTION) 
  • TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND ASSOCIATED SYMPTOMS
  • MENTAL HEALTH IMPAIRMENTS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: PTSD, PANIC DISORDERS, ANXIETY DISORDERS, MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS ETC.

*DOGS IN OUR PROGRAM CAN BE TAUGHT A VARIETY OF PHYSICAL SKILLS THAT CAN ASSIST THEIR HANDLER NAVIGATE THEIR DISABILITY BETTER. OUR DOGS ARE NOT YET CAPABLE OF PROVIDING CHEMICAL ASSISTANCE TO THEIR HANDLERS.IE OUR DOG COULD NOT IDENTIFY THAT HIS HANDLER WAS ABOUT TO HAVE A SEIZURE, HOWEVER OUR DOG COULD BE TRAINED TO SUPPORT HIS HANDLER’S HEAD WHILE THEY WERE HAVING A SEIZURE. HOWEVER, OVER TIME, A DOG MAY NATURALLY PICK UP ON HIS HANDLER’S MEDICAL NEEDS AND COULD ALERT HIS HANDLER OF AN ISSUE WITHOUT EVER BEING TAUGHT THAT SKILL.*

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Trainable Skills
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*LIST INCLUDES BUT NOT LIMITED TO*

  • MOBILITY ASSISTANCE
  • BALANCE AND SUPPORT
  • BRACING
  • AIDING WITH STANDING UP
  • FALL PROTECTION / ALERTING FOR HELP
  • RETRIEVAL / CARRYING
  • DEEP PRESSURE THERAPY / HUGS
  • CONTACT FOR ANXIETY
  • INTERRUPTING BEHAVIORS ASSOCIATED WITH PANIC ATTACKS ETC
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Using your own dog
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  • MINIMUM AGE IS 1 YR
  • NO BREED REQUIREMENTS
  • SIZE OF DOG DETERMINES WHAT SKILL SET CAN BE TAUGHT (IE A SMALL DOG MAY NOT BEABLE TO PROVIDE MOBILITY ASSISTANCE FOR THERE HANDLER)
  • UP TO DATE VACCINATIONS MUST BE PROVIDED
  • HEALTH CHECK MUST INCLUDE AT LEAST 3 MORE YEARS OF LIFE UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES (MORE INFORMATION)
  • DOG MUST PASS SOCIAL/BEHAVIORAL/TRAINABILITY ASSESSMENT
  • SELECTED DOGS MUST BE BOARDED AND TRAINED FOR UP TO 4 MONTHS AT FORTIFIED K9 IN TN
Health Requirements
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  • ANNUAL CHECK-UP WITHIN LAST YEAR 
  • MANDATORY RABIES VACCINE
  • AN INTIAL SERIES OF CORE DISTEMPER, HEPATITIS, AND PARVOVIRUS VACCINATIONS 
  • NEGATIVE FECAL EXAM WITHIN LAST YEAR
  • NEGATIVE HEARTWORM TEST WITHIN THE LAST YEAR IF THE DOG IS NOT ON CONTINUOUS HEARTWORM MEDICATION. A NEGATIVE HEARTWORM TEST WITHIN THE LAST 2 YEARS IF THE DOG IS ON CONTINUOUS HEARTWORM MEDICATION

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A VETERINARIAN DUE TO FINANCIAL REASONS, SHEPHERDS FOR SHEEPDOGS CAN HELP GET YOU CONNECTED WITH A LOCAL, LOW COST OPTION TO KEEP YOUR DOG HEALTHY.

Behavioral Screenings
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BEHAVIORAL SCREENING REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

  • POSSESS THE BASIC TEMPERAMENT TO BECOME A SERVICE DOG
  • DEMONSTRATES A CALM/ RELAXED DISPOSITION IN PUBLIC           
  • IS WELL BEHAVED AND RESPONSIVE TO OWNER 
  • ATTENTIVE TO OWNER            
  • NO CLEAR SIGNS OF ANIMAL AGGRESSION                 
  • NO CLEAR SIGNS OF PEOPLE AGGRESSION                
  • COOPERATIVE FOR HANDLING 
Contact Us
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Need a Dog or Have Your Own
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