FAQ For Service Dogs

A service dog (also known as an assistance dog) is a dog specifically trained to help people who have disabilities, such as visual impairment, hearing impairments, mental illnesses (such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)), seizure disorder, mobility impairment, and diabetes. They help people overcome limitations caused by the disability and increase their independence and quality of life.

The most important things to consider when selecting a breed to be a service dog are the animal’s size, temperament, and receptiveness to training. Smaller breeds of dogs may struggle to perform their necessary tasks, and dogs that are too large may be difficult for a disabled person to transport. A person’s mobility requirements, environment and physical ability will determine the most appropriate type of dog for them.
That’s why most service dog programs and organizations train golden retrievers and labradors to be assistance animals, but many other breeds may also be suitable.

Partnering with a service dog can be an enriching and highly beneficial experience, however not everyone is suited to working with a dog and there are many factors that have to be taken into account. You must ask yourself questions regarding your financial, physical and psychological ability to care for a dog full time. We would be happy to have a chat with you and advise you in this.

It’s not essential, we may ask you some questions about your current situation, this can be very beneficial for helping you and also us in determining what type of service dog would be best suited to you.

Yes, if you want to be an official service dog (who go with you to shops, restaurant, etc.) need to certified.

The waiting time can vary, but generally we say about six to twelve months. This is, however, governed by the types of dog available at any given time and your particular requirements, and in some cases the waiting period can be shorter or longer.

Whilst some dogs that display an aptitude for learning and performing the tasks required to be a service dog can be trained successfully, our preference is to train dogs that have been carefully selected by us as puppies. A service dog must receive adequate training in three areas: obedience, tasks, and public access and should be reliable in obeying commands at least 90% of the time on the first command. Of course, every dog is an individual and we would be happy to meet with you and your canine family member to assess their potential.

Most of our dogs begin life in top European kennels with our trusted colleagues who hand select them as puppies and train them in socialisation and basic performance. Selection starts at 3 days old then tested again at 6 weeks. The ones who excel are then imported to our training centre in Ireland for further specialised training.

In order to complete such an intensive training course it is necessary that the dog stay with the trainer. You are more than welcome to visit them if you want, or see them regularly over skype/video messenger.

The law does not require service animals to wear a vest, ID tag, or specific harness. However, it can be helpful when out in public, particularly when flying, to clearly identify your dog as a service animal so that it is not confused with being a standard pet.

It generally takes 1–2 years to train a service dog. A service dog must receive adequate training in three areas: obedience, tasks, and public access and should be reliable in obeying commands at least 90% of the time on the first command.

Whilst they are working, touching is a distraction and can prevent assistance dogs from tending to their human partners. Be sensitive to the fact that they may be in the middle of a command or direction. Please always ask the handler before interacting with a service dog – whether they are in training or with their partner. Interaction includes talking to or making sounds at the dog as well as touching it.

The dog’s behaviour in the house is of great importance and the dog must be aware right from the start of what is acceptable. It should never be allowed on furniture and should not be encouraged to bark or become over-excited, nor should the dog be allowed to jump up at people in the house or visitors at the door. You need to remember that it is a working dog, so behaviour at home will affect how the dog works when out with you. This is why it is important that we train the dog to have good habits from a very young age.

Although there are bound to be some changes, the assistance dog should fit into family life with little disruption. It is essential that the family understands the importance of following the guidelines given to them. The owner must always be supported as ‘the boss’ and should be the one to feed, walk and discipline the dog. In the owner’s temporary absence it is helpful if a family member is able to maintain the same consistent approach.

Again, this is not usually a problem. Service dogs are generally quite happy around other pets, including cats. If they are introduced carefully then they get to know each other and the dog will settle into the home.

Training is as important for you as it is for the dog. The dog will have been trained to respond to specific commands and directions, and you will need to learn these in order to make the dog work for you. It is also an important time to build the bond with the dog so that it takes responsibility for helping you. Training programmes are individually designed in order to meet the needs of you and your dog, and will normally involve residential training followed by a number of visits to your home. We work with you until both you and the dog are happy and confident. You will also cover areas such as grooming, feeding, obedience, understanding dog behaviour, cleaning up after your dog and general dog-handling skills.

In most cases employers are happy for the service dog to go into the workplace. You would need to ensure that there is somewhere suitable for the dog in the workplace (for example under the desk), and that you make provision for the dog to relieve itself during the day.

Equality legislation now means that service dogs are accepted in most public places including shops and restaurants in Ireland. However, there may be occasions where you could encounter difficulties with a dog being admitted. It’s always good to phone ahead and check this.

Following training the dog will be used to travelling on buses and trains and will lie down quietly either under or between the seats.

Yes, staff members will keep in touch with you from time to time, and you are always encouraged to keep in touch with us. Aftercare visits are arranged as required and are carried out by an instructor to check that you are working happily and safely together.

Get in touch on our contact page or by Tel: +353 1890364443 Mobile: 0870515474 and arrange a visit with us. We'd love to talk to you about your needs and what we can do to help.

We will inspect the premises where the dog will be residing, we need to make sure that both you and the dog are in a comfortable environment.

We will contact the owner when we feel the dog is ready to be housed, the trainer will need to stay with the dog for 2 weeks after it has moved in. This will help ease the transition of the dog from trainer to owner.

After you have successfully applied for the service dog we will require a deposit payment whilst we take care of the dog training.

We wont just leave the dog with you and hope for the best. We will keep in touch and schedule visits at 2,6 weeks then at 2,3 months and finally a cyclical 6 month visit or when required to ensure the dog is well incorporated into your lifestyle.