NOW OFFERING IN HOME, AND HOSPICE VISITS! Call us for Details
SERVICE DOG TRAINING PROGRAM
Bonafide Therapy Dogs, Inc. in conjunction with 2gether Furever, Inc. is pleased to offer:
Service Dog Training, and the Public Access Test
Whether you are in the process of training your own dog for Service Dog work, or are in the need of
making your dog into a Service Dog, this is an excellent opportunity to give your companion the best
possible start to their training. With rules and regulations always changing regarding Services animals,
Let us help you to be more educated in your rights.
We work with the Public Sector, 1st Responders, and Veterans. If you are in the need of a Service Dog, please contact us so we can help you find that perfect partner!
Through the utilization of the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program you and your dog will begin your journey
towards becoming a Service Dog Team, with a bond that is unbreakable. Learn the basic commands and
the leash work required to go anywhere with your dog.
Next, hit the streets as you and your dog learn to function as a team in any situation in public. If another
dog walks by, what do I do?, Can I go into a grocery store to shop? Can my dog come with me to my
doctor’s appointment? What do I need to fly with my dog? Learn the answers to these questions and more!
Your first step is to have Bonafide Therapy Dogs, Inc. evaluate your dog for the 3 Level AKC Canine
Good Citizen program. The evaluation is FREE, and it gives our certified AKC evaluators a better idea of
how your dog behaves under certain situations.
You will also need to provide a letter from your physician
that states a Service Dog would benefit you. This letter needs to be on the Physicians letterhead.
Once you have passed your evaluation, you will be enrolled in our program.
This program is an 8 - week
course, given once a week, for an hour. Items that will be covered include: basic obedience, traveling in
the car, walking into and out of a building, restaurant manners, handling crowds and noise, flying with
your dog, and most importantly your rights as a Service Dog Handler/Owner. If you would like further
assistance with task work training, and your 300 hours needed to become a Service Dog, 2gether Furever, Inc. will be able to assist you.
If you’re living with a disability in Florida, it might be worth training your new pooch (or new puppy) to become a service dog. Not only do these lovable creatures provide invaluable assistance with everyday tasks, but they also receive legal protections under federal and state laws.
Although there are no formal certification or registration requirements, a canine must be adequately trained to qualify as a service dog.
Florida Statute 413.08 provides similar protections for individually trained animals that assist a person with a disability. Unlike the ADA, Florida law also covers service dogs during the training process as well, granting them the same rights as a fully trained animal. Therefore, a person with a disability may bring a partially trained service animal into any public accommodation.
Choosing an appropriate service dog trainer is the first step, towards turning a canine companion into a bonafide service animal.
6 Types of Service Dogs
1. Psychiatric service dog: These dogs provide aid for owners living with psychiatric disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental afflictions. Psychiatric dogs can remind their owners to take medications, interrupt panic attacks, or help adjust the environment (like turning on/off light switches) to produce a calming effect.
2. Hearing dog: Hearing dogs are assigned to those who are deaf or hard of hearing, and can alert their owners to a baby’s cry, the doorbell, or a ringing phone.
3. Mobility assistance dogs: These kinds of dogs are able to fetch or carry things for their owners who may be in a wheelchair or limited in their movement in another capacity due to anything from arthritis to spinal cord injuries.
4. Alert dogs: Alert dogs are specially trained to notify their owners who have disorders like diabetes or seizures of changes to their conditions. Some dogs can detect a drop in blood sugar levels through scent, or alert owners who are about to have a seizure. They can also be trained to respond to those having a seizure, alerting others for help nearby, or bringing medication or a phone to someone who has just experienced a seizure.
5. Autism support dogs: Autism support dogs help children with autism feel less isolated and comfort them in times of stress, confusion, or other emotional problems. Autism support dogs work as icebreakers for kids who have trouble socializing or connecting, and keep them away from distractions or running away.
6. Allergy detection dogs: Allergy detection dogs, or anaphylaxis service dogs, are able to sniff out potential allergens like peanuts, gluten, or other ingredients that may be potentially harmful to its owner.
Please Contact: Joyce at bonafidetherapydogs@gmail.com / 561.818.7876, Debbie at debkalmus@2getherfurever.com / 561-309-5110
Please Note:
AKC Urban CGC test has always included the items needed for Public Access Testing. Public
access tests demonstrate that the handler has good control over the dog, and the dog is well-
behaved when in public. Passing all of our 3 levels of the AKC Canine Good Citizen tests (CGC,
CGCA, and CGCA) alone does not constitute your dog to be a Service Dog. A key distinction of
Service Dogs is that the dog is trained to help mitigate the disability of the owner/handler. They
are trained for a purpose for that individual. It is unethical to misrepresent a pet dog as a Service
animal.
After the above tests are completed, there is a minimum of 300 hours of task work to be done to
be considered a Service Dog, Which is accomplished with an additional course, and cost. After
your course is completed and hours have been met, you will receive a letter of completion.
***PLEASE DO NOT CALL OR EMAIL US, AND ASK IF WE CAN CERTIFY YOUR DOG TO FLY***