The Four Paws and a Wake Up Service Dog Application and Matching Process
Our Service Dog Program
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Service Dogs for Veterans who have a permanent service-connected disability for which Veterans Administration has documented related to mobility, service-related post-traumatic stress and/or traumatic brain injury
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Service Dogs for individuals with mobility disabilities (limited availability)
Please note that Four Paws and a Wake Up does not train seizure alert dogs, guide dogs for the blind, diabetes alert dogs, dogs for people with Alzheimer's, emotional support, or psychiatric dogs for non-Veterans. Four Paws and a Wake Up does not train dogs that are already owned by individuals. Contact Assistance Dogs International for information about other organizations who may be able to help.
Cost of Obtaining a Service Dog
Many people ask us about the cost of obtaining a Service Dog. Thanks to generous donors and funding from grants, there is no charge for clients who are eligible for our services for receiving a Service Dog. Clients will need to pay for annual dog supplies such as food and veterinary services that can average $1,000-$2,000 a year.
Four Paws and a Wake Up-NC
Canine Services
Owner Assisted Service Dog Training Program
In our Owner Assisted Service Dog Training program in Wilmington, North Carolina, qualified clients will be able to train their own dog as a service dog under the direction of Four Paws and a Wake Up-NC staff and experienced volunteer trainers.
Requirements
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Individuals must have a disability as defined by the Americans with Disability Act.
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The disability must be documented by a medical doctor or psychiatrist.
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Individuals must be willing and able to commit to attending 60-minute classes 1 day a week for 10 to 12 months depending on the skills needed and the dedication of the individual.
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Must continue training for at least 20 minutes a day when not in class.
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Must be willing to participate in scheduled outings in the community.
What is Owner-Assisted Training?
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Owner Assisted Training (OAT) is a service offered to assist people who have their own dogs to train the dogs as their service dog.
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The owner of the dog does the training under the guidance and direction of Four Paws and a Wake Up-NC staff and volunteers following a curriculum of training.
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No training experience is needed.
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This service is fee-based.
Provider Trained
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Demand for trained service dogs high; inventory low
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Limited to what dogs are trained for
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The provider does all the training of the dog
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Training time is 12 months or greater per dog
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Replacement dogs for prior clients take priority
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Waitlists greater than 5 years
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No cost to the client
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The provider selects the dog the individual receives
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The provider may own the dog for 3 years
Owner Assisted Trained
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Individual uses their own dog
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Dog must be at least 6 months old and owner must have had the dog for at least 6 months
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The individual does the training under our direction
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Individual and dog have an established bond
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Individual is engaged in the process
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Skills essential for the individual are taught
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Training is accomplished within 10 to 12 months depending on the skills needed
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Standards are maintained for a quality trained dog
How Does it Work?
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OAT is a fee-based training curriculum that considers the needs of the person and their disability, the dog they have, and the skills that are needed.
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The individual submits an application to enroll in the OAT program.
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Our team reviews the application and conducts a consultation with the person.
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Following the consultation, a time is arranged for our team to assess the persons' dog in the public location.
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After the assessment of the dog, our team will determine if the dog is suitable to begin service dog work, customize a training plan, and set a date to begin training classes.
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Classes are in a small group format or individual.
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Our full training package includes a minimum of 40 hours of guided training, detailed training plans, accompanied public outings, and coaching.
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After a final assessment, you will receive a letter attesting to the training achieved, a service dog identification card, and a vest for the service dog.
Why Train with Us?
We have over 30 years’ experience training service dogs
What makes our classes different than a regular obedience class?
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Training a service dog is very different from training a pet dog.
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Most dog trainers do not have the experience and understanding of this type of training, as there are many small but important differences when training a service dog.
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Each level builds upon the previous one, the commands are taught in specific ways to start off with a solid foundation, and most trainers do not understand the needs of a person living with a disability.
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We consider the person and the dog throughout the training and adjust the plan as needed without relaxing standards.
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Our training includes real-life practice out in the community where the dog will be used when it completes training.