Program Overview

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All breeds of dogs may become *certified as Service Dogs.  Families may choose to certify their current pet dogs or dogs that are  purchased/adopted specifically for the purpose of Service Dog work.  

*The Americans with Disabilities Act does not require Service Dogs to be certified.  The Paws In Partnership certification program is solely for training due diligence on the part of the dog owner.

Certification requires 450 hours of documented training time.  Hours are logged in journal and video format.  Forms and format for required training documentation is provided by Paws In Partnership. Record keeping is the responsibility of the dog owner. 

Certification is self-paced.  Paws In Partnership compiles owner submitted reporting into a portfolio documenting ADA standards for Service Dogs.   Dogs may begin training as early as 6-weeks of age and may be eligible for certification as young as 8-months of age.  There is no age limit for dogs beginning the certification program.  There is no time limit to complete your certification.   

Paws in Partnership exceeds industry training standards.  To uphold our reputation and certification process, all portfolio documentation is reviewed by an accredited service dog trainer with over 15 years of industry experience.   Our expertise guides you through the process of training your Service Dog.  

As of January 2021, Service Dog documentation will be required for all Service Dogs including emotional support animals traveling on airlines.  Public access is required for all dogs assisting persons with disabilities.  Dogs are required to meet training standards to be certified. 

As your certification provider, Paws in Partnership stands behind the training documentation you submit and is available to support you with public access.  However, if your dog either accidently or intentionally causes destruction or harm to persons or property while working as a certified Service Dog, we are not liable.  We require personal insurance documentation and an executed hold harmless agreement to complete the certification process. 

An investment of time and energy is required to successfully train your Service Dog.  As a self-paced course, this requires your initiative and commitment.  

To encourage your timely progress, we provide personalized training timelines to keep you and your dog on track for certification.  Weekly virtual progress calls are highly recommended. 

Dogs who do not complete the 450 training hours will not be eligible for Paws In Partnership certification.  

Paws in Partnership stands firmly behind dogs who have been properly evaluated, socialized and trained as Service Dogs.  We advocate for the safety and access of all of our partnerships.  We provide lifetime support and continuing education for all families.  

Enrolling in the Paws in Partnership certification program is affordable. There is a one-time initial consultation fee of $225 required for enrollment.  This fee covers our careful review of your application and our first 60-minute virtual meeting. 

After that, our families "pay as they go" with no commitment. With this approach, you arrange your virtual training sessions scheduled at your pace.

Virtual training support meetings are $45 for 30-minutes and $90 for 60-minutes.