General Assistance Dog Questions
What is an assistance dog?
Do assistance dogs ever get to “be a dog”?
Is it okay to greet assistance dogs when I see them in public?
Can I talk to someone who has an assistance dog?
Can my pet dog be trained as an assistance dog?
Can Do Canines Assistance Dogs FAQs
Why should I apply for a dog through Can Do Canines?
What can a Can Do Canines assistance dog do for me?
What is the cost of a Can Do Canines assistance dog?
What is Can Do Canines area of service?
Do you have any general requirements for application?
What is the application process?
Do I get to choose my dog?
How long can the average dog work?
What happens when assistance dogs can’t work anymore?
What if, for example, I have mobility issues and am also diabetic? Can a dog help with both disabilities?
Can the dog work for more than one person in a home?
Why don’t you provide dogs solely for PTSD or psychiatric reasons?
General Assistance Dog Questions
What is an assistance dog?
An assistance dog (AD) is a dog that is specially trained in tasks that mitigate their handler’s disability. ADs, also known as service dogs, work alongside their handler at home and in public. These dogs enhance the lives of their handlers by providing safety and independence.
Remember, ADs are very different from Emotional Support Animals (ESAs). ESAs do not have the right to accompany their handlers in public and are not trained to mitigate a person’s disabilities.
Do assistance dogs ever get to “be a dog”?
Yes! Assistance dogs have rich lives filled with a job that they love and plenty of rest time, as well as play and snuggles with their human handler. Although they work hard, assistance dogs also get to enjoy hikes, swimming, and playing fetch.
Is it okay to greet assistance dogs when I see them in public?
We know it’s hard, but do not greet, pet or distract assistance dogs when you come upon them in public. Even if the dog notices you, that is not an invitation to say hi. Assistance dogs are usually friendly (that is what makes them so good in public!) but they are working and need to be ready to assist their handler at any minute.
You can always ask the handler about the dog but please be respectful if they aren’t able to talk or allow you to meet their dog.
Can I talk to someone who has an assistance dog?
Yes! Just like you, they may be in a hurry or in the middle of something so may not always be free to chat, but in general you may greet the handler and ask questions or compliment their canine teammate.
Can my pet dog be trained as an assistance dog?
Possibly! Most dogs are not well-suited to life as an assistance dog. It takes years of training in addition to the right genetics, health and temperament to produce a quality assistance dog prospect. Even then, there is no guarantee the dog will also choose the life of a working dog.
If you feel that you qualify for an assistance dog and your dog would be a good candidate to work for you, it’s best to work with an experienced organization like Can Do Canines to assess and potentially train the dog. We do offer an Owner-Provided Dog Program for mobility, diabetic, hearing and seizure assist applicants.
General Assistance Dog Questions
Why should I apply for a dog through Can Do Canines?
Working with Can Do Canines means you’ll have our team of experienced staff and an industry-leading organization behind you!
Most importantly, Can Do Canines is an Assistance Dog International accredited organization. In a world of false claims and fake service animals, ADI and their member organizations are the gold star standard of assistance dogs, training and support.
What can a Can Do Canines assistance dog do for me?
Please explore our five types of assistance dogs for ideas on skills that we train our dogs to perform. We are well known for our out-of-the-box thinking when it comes to ways to utilize dogs to increase safety and independence. Share your unique ideas and let us help find a way to make it work!
While our dogs are an amazing addition to your life and your care, they are not a replacement for medical devices such as canes, walkers, blood glucose monitors, etc.
What is the cost of a Can Do Canines assistance dog?
We proudly place our dogs free of charge through the support of our amazing donors.
However, applicants are expected to assume the costs of care following placement of a dog. Costs to research and consider:
- Food
- Supplies (toys, treats, beds, grooming items)
- Wellness care (annual exams, vaccinations, monthly preventatives)
- Emergency veterinary care
- Pet insurance premiums
- Pet sitters or dog walkers
What is Can Do Canines' area of service?
For those interested in our mobility, hearing, diabetes or seizure assist programs we are accepting applications from those residing in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Due to our long waiting list for Autism Assist Dogs, we are only able to accept applications for those residing in Minnesota.
Do you have any general requirements for application?
Aside from residency within our service area (see previous FAQ), we do have a few other general requirements. Applicants (or in the case of a dependent, their families) must be physically and financially able to assume full responsibility of the dog following placement. Applicants will also be required to provide confirmation of their diagnosis. We have additional age requirements as well, which can vary by program.
Age requirements:
- Applicants for diabetes or hearing assist programs must be over 18.
- Applicants for our mobility assist program must be at least 10.
- Applicants for our autism assist program must be between the ages of 2 and 7 years old.
What is the application process?
- Apply
The first step is to fill out and submit an application. Once we have received the required forms from you and your references, your application will be reviewed by training staff. Completion of the application process does not guarantee that you will be matched with a dog.
- In-home Interview
Based on your application, you may be contacted for an in-home interview. This interview provides an opportunity to discuss any questions you have in person and check your home’s safety and suitability for an assistance dog.
- Finding Your Assistance Dog
If your application is accepted, our training staff will begin looking for a dog that will suit you best. Visit Assistance Dogs to learn more about what types of dogs we offer and Journey of a Can Do Canine to learn how they are raised and trained.
Once a dog is identified, we will tell you about the dog and if you agree that it is a good match, we will proceed to train the specific skills you require.
- Training
You will then attend our New Team Orientation and two group classes to learn the basics of owning and handling an assistance dog. Following this, a client services coordinator will begin working with you and your dog as a team to develop your partnership.
At first, you’ll be working at our training center (or, in some cases, at your home). Once you’re in good control of the dog, you’ll begin going out in public together to practice your skills in real-life situations. Eventually, the dog will move into your home, and training continues as you have more time to practice together.
- Certification
When your training as a team is complete, you’ll take two certification tests. One test demonstrates all of the tasks your dog was trained to perform for you, and the other test rates your control over your dog in public settings. When your dog passes both tests, it is considered a “certified assistance dog” and your meetings with your client services coordinator will come to an end. You’ll continue practicing with your dog on a regular basis to maintain the skills and good habits you’ve worked so hard to build.
- Graduation
After certification, we will feature you and your dog on this website, and possibly in other publicity. You’ll receive an identification card and be scheduled to participate in the next graduation ceremony (held in February, June and October). You and your dog will be properly honored as the special team you’ve become.
Can Do Canines will maintain ongoing contact with you and your dog. It is very important to us that you and your dog are a successful working team. You will be an “ambassador” for Can Do Canines. However, no applicant, client or graduate shall be required to participate in fundraising or public relations activities without their expressed and voluntary permission. We want you to be pleased with your assistance dog and pleased with Can Do Canines, and we want the dog to be a well-cared-for and devoted worker.
Do I get to choose my dog?
In general, no, but your personality, preferences and lifestyle matters! Can Do Canines staff works hard to get to know our applicants as well as we know our dogs in order to help make the best team matches possible.
How long can the average dog work?
With proper care, our dogs can typically work happily with their clients until they are 10 years of age. In many cases, dogs can even work beyond that!
What happens when assistance dogs can’t work anymore?
In most cases, the dogs retire and live out their days with their client. Occasionally, the client needs to apply for a successor dog so the retiring dog will join a family member’s home or even retire with one of their former foster families. No matter what, Can Do Canines staff help clients decide when the time is right for retirement and what will be best for the dog.
What if, for example, I have mobility issues and am also diabetic? Can a dog help with both disabilities?
Maybe! Some of our clients do qualify for more than one type of dog. In these cases, we search for just the right dog who can assist them well in both areas.
Not all combinations are possible. For example, a dog assisting with balance work cannot also assist with alert work- it would be unsafe for a balance dog to alert their handler as it may result in a fall risk.
Can the dog work for more than one person in a home?
Generally, no. The dogs work best when they can bond strongly to one human partner. This keeps their task work clear, too. They always know who to alert or who to bring retrieved items to, for example.
Why don’t you provide dogs solely for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or psychiatric reasons?
Mental health is incredibly important. We know that a great ancillary benefit to an assistance dog is comfort and improved mental health, however we choose to focus on the tangible tasks. We are experts in this area and know we are not the experts in tasks to mitigate PTSD or other psychiatric disabilities.
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