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Service Dogs
| Throughout history dogs have assisted humans as companions and helpers, but it wasn’t until after WW I that a formal dog guide program was developed for the blind at a school in Pottsdam, Germany. |
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Well-trained and appropriately placed service dogs makes a substantial improvement in the quality of the lives of those they serve | |
Dorothy Harrison Eustis, a wealthy American advanced the movement after visiting the Pottsdam school. Experimenting with her own German Shepherds as working dogs, Dorothy believed the concept of a guide dog was a noble profession. After her article appeared in the 1927 edition of the Saturday Evening Post, a formal program was launched. |
In the last 30 years, service dogs around the globe have provided a wide range of services for individuals with diverse limitations, including those with sight and hearing impairments, social disabilities, and those who may be challenged by mobility limitations. Research indicates that the use of well-trained and appropriately placed service dogs makes a substantial improvement in the quality of the lives of those they serve. Although not an official service dog, visits by therapy dogs to nursing homes, prisons and schools have proven instrumental in elevating mood and improving behavior among targeted populations. Even domestic animals make a difference in the quality of our lives.
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ASDA carefully trains selectively bred Golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, and golden/lab mixes | |
ASDA primarily trains Golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers
and Golden Lab mixes. Those dogs selected for the ASDA
program are specifically trained and nurtured as soon as
they enter the program. Service dog training continues
while the dogs are in puppy-raising foster care homes. |
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When dogs are approximately 20 months old they are returned to the Autism Service Dog program trainer for advanced service dog training. Upon completion of basic training dogs are matched to an autistic child on the waiting list. |
Not every child with autism will benefit from a service dog, so each family is evaluated for the appropriateness of an ASDA service dog. Applicants are screened to ensure a successful match for the child, the family and the dog. If a placement seems appropriate the first step entails one week of intensive training of the parent who will most often be handling the service dog. The second week involves off-site training in the home with the parent, child and dog, and the integration of the service dog into the family.
Not all dogs graduate as service dogs and yet the expense is fixed. Programs like Autism Service Dogs of America make a substantial investment of time and money to raise and train service dogs for autism. For this reason, ASDA and other service dog programs depend on donations, grants, fundraisers and volunteers to help offset costs. The full cost to breed, raise and train an ASDA assistance dog can range from $15,000 to $20,000, although the ASDA service, the training and equipment fee is $13,500 |
