What is a Service Dog you might ask? We hear this question daily
A service dog is a type of assistance dog specifically trained to help perform tasks for people who have disabilities. These disabilities include but are not limited to: visual impairment, hearing impairments, mental illnesses (such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)), seizure disorder, mobility impairment,

Here at Foothills Canine we strive to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities, not only to improve independence and safety, but to provide a reliable friend and companion.
We offer several differents types of assistance dogs including: Autism Assistance, Mobility and Stability, Psychiatric Assistance (PTSD, Severe Anxiety Disorders), and Alert Dogs (Hearing, Seizure).
If you don't see the type of Service you are looking for, feel free to contact us! We may be able to help you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Service Dogs
  • Q. Can only certaing breeds be trained as Service or Assistance dogs?
    A. Absolutely not! The ADA ( American's For Disabilites Act) is not breed discriminating and neither are we! Personality and Workability is much more important to us than the breed of dog. However, we must take into consideration the tasks we will require the dog to do. For example, we would not be able to train a Chihuahua to be a mobility dog, we need a large, robust breed that is able to use his or her strength for the things we will ask of them.
  • Q. Can you train my current dog to be my Service Dog?                                                                                                                          
            A.  It is a possibility, when choosing a dog to be a service dog it is very important to be sure the dog is both physically and mentally able to do the job.                          We require that we meet and assess the dog to gauge whether they have the potential to be a service dog. As we mentioned above, it is also important to take             the breed into consideration!
  • Q.  Is my dog too old to be a Service Dog?
          A.  The younger the better, Service Dog training can take months and sometimes a year or more of intense work depending the tasks and assistance the dog              needs to perform. Purchasing a Service Dog is also a large monetary investment, so when we are asked to train your current dog please keep that in mind. We            try to place service dogs with their families no later than 2 years of age. When we pick and acquire puppies to train, we get them as early as 8 weeks old to start          their extensive training. 
  • Q.  Do I Qualify For A Service Dog?
    A.  There isn't a a straight forward answer to this question. In order for a dog to meet the requirements of a Service Dog they must be trained to perform tasks for the handler that the handler cannot accomplish on his//her own. Please see our Flow Chart or fill out an application if you're still unsure if you qualify, we will be glad to assist you!
  • Q.  I have a child with a disablity, are they eligible for a service dog? 
    A.  YES! We train a large amount of  Service dogs for children. We do not set a specific age limit in our Training Program, we evaluate each candidate on a "Case by Case" basis.  There are many variables in training a service dog for a child with disablities: the type of disabilty, progressiveness of the disability, and many other things. Contact us with any questions you may have!
  • Q. Can I Just Register My Dog As A Service Dog Online?
    A. No, that does not make your dog a Service Dog. It is punishable by law to fake your personal dog as a service dog just to be able to take your dog everywhere with you. Not only is it illegal to do so, it makes things difficult for true service dog trainers and handlers. When "Pet Dogs" are taken out in public they may bark, urinate, defecate, jump on people, and scare patrons, therefore putting a bad name on legitmate service animals.  A true service dog has been trained extensively and generally handlers have put large amounts of money into their dogs. 

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