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
Mailing: PO Box 12544 Wilmington NC 28405
Tax ID 84-2287904
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.