Is Being a Puppy-Raiser Right For Me?
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Have you researched the financial costs associated with the raising of a service dog, including veterinary care and ongoing expenses?
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I have not done research and don't know how
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I have an estimated price range and have worked out a monthly budget
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Need help?
It can be difficult to figure out where to start when trying to put a finger on how much a service dog is going to cost. The good news is, you don't have to figure out everything all at once. Here's a bit of a list to get you started.
Talk with your vet about a per-period quote.
- Training treat amount per week/month
The bougier the treats you get, the more expensive they'll be. Just remember that the treats you get - just like the food - is an investment into your medical equipment. They can only perform as well as you take care of them.
- Food expenses per month
This will depend on quality of food, and how much food your size of dog will need to eat each day.
- Amount of toys you want your dog to have, and how likely they will need restocking
How many chews does your dog need in order to satisfy their need to chew or to save your furniture/shoes?
How many stuffies do you want your dog to have, and how quickly will they tear through them?
How many brain games do you want?
I recommed enough of each to be able to cycle through them every once in a while in order to keep your dog's interest.
- How much do you want in the bank in case of an emergency?
I recommend at least a couple thousand - emergency vet bills come fast and hard.
- How often are you likely to need a new training vest? How much for the appropriate leashes/collars?
I would also recommend at least one backup - you never know when one might break unexpectedly. True story.
- Grooming expenses
Brush. Comb. Shampoo. Nail grinder and clippers.
For dogs with more grooming needs (like poodles,) this will also include hair cutting needs, and potentially a grooming table.
I would also recommend a power dryer (especially for the aforementioned dogs with more grooming needs). That one's less of a necessity and more of a "it's an extra help." I've used a regular hairdryer in the interim, but the power dryer definitely makes drying from a bath faster and easier.
How many brain games do you want?
I recommed enough of each to be able to cycle through them every once in a while in order to keep your dog's interest.
- How much do you want in the bank in case of an emergency?
I recommend at least a couple thousand - emergency vet bills come fast and hard.
- How often are you likely to need a new training vest? How much for the appropriate leashes/collars?
I would also recommend at least one backup - you never know when one might break unexpectedly. True story.
- Grooming expenses
Brush. Comb. Shampoo. Nail grinder and clippers.
For dogs with more grooming needs (like poodles,) this will also include hair cutting needs, and potentially a grooming table.
I would also recommend a power dryer (especially for the aforementioned dogs with more grooming needs). That one's less of a necessity and more of a "it's an extra help." I've used a regular hairdryer in the interim, but the power dryer definitely makes drying from a bath faster and easier.
These aren't the only expenses you should take into consideration; merely a starting point. To dig deeper and get more ideas, you can check out Six Feet to Independence here. (Link will open in new tab, so you can continue the assessment!)
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Nice work!
Finances can be a bit of an elephant in the room, especially when it comes to something as important as someone else's medical equipment. Let's take a look at a rough list of things it'll be important to look at before you bring the puppy home. See if you've got all of these figured out. (Roughly - it's hard to pin down an exact amount.)
Talk with your vet about a per-period quote.
- Training treat amount per week/month
The bougier the treats you get, the more expensive they'll be. Just remember that the treats you get - just like the food - is an investment into the medical equipment you're training. They can only perform as well as you take care of them.
- Food expenses per month
This will depend on quality of food, and how much food a dog of the size you're getting will need to eat each day.
- Amount of toys you want the dog to have, and how likely they will need restocking
How many chews does your dog need in order to satisfy their need to chew or to save your furniture/shoes?
How many stuffies do you want your dog to have, and how quickly will they tear through them?
How many brain games do you want?
I recommed enough of each to be able to cycle through them every once in a while in order to keep the dog's interest.
- How much do you want in the bank in case of an emergency?
I recommend at least a couple thousand - emergency vet bills come fast and hard.
- How often are you likely to need a new training vest? How much for the appropriate leashes/collars?
I would also recommend at least one backup - you never know when one might break unexpectedly. True story.
- Grooming expenses
Brush. Comb. Shampoo. Nail grinder and clippers.
For dogs with more grooming needs (like poodles,) this will also include hair cutting needs, and potentially a grooming table.
I would also recommend a power dryer (especially for the aforementioned dogs with more grooming needs). That one's less of a necessity and more of a "it's an extra help." I've used a regular hairdryer in the interim, but the power dryer definitely makes drying from a bath faster and easier.
How many brain games do you want?
I recommed enough of each to be able to cycle through them every once in a while in order to keep the dog's interest.
- How much do you want in the bank in case of an emergency?
I recommend at least a couple thousand - emergency vet bills come fast and hard.
- How often are you likely to need a new training vest? How much for the appropriate leashes/collars?
I would also recommend at least one backup - you never know when one might break unexpectedly. True story.
- Grooming expenses
Brush. Comb. Shampoo. Nail grinder and clippers.
For dogs with more grooming needs (like poodles,) this will also include hair cutting needs, and potentially a grooming table.
I would also recommend a power dryer (especially for the aforementioned dogs with more grooming needs). That one's less of a necessity and more of a "it's an extra help." I've used a regular hairdryer in the interim, but the power dryer definitely makes drying from a bath faster and easier.
-Home alone expenses
Eventually, the dog will go along with their handler to a majority of places, but while they're in training, they'll likely be home a lot of the time. Do you know where they'll be, in that situation? Do you have a crate for them? Pee-pads for puppies? An X-pen to give them a bit of play space? Safe chews or toys they won't choke on?
Are you planning on hiring a dog walker or drop-in dogsitter to let them out while you're gone? Do you know how much that'll be, and how often the walker/sitter will look to be paid?
These aren't the only expenses you should take into consideration; merely a starting point. To dig deeper and get more ideas, you can check out Six Feet to Independence here. (Open link in new tab to continue the assessment!)
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Do you have a stable living and housing situation that is suitable for a service dog, including enough space and a secure outdoor area? Have you taken into consideration how the breed or size of dog you're looking at (if you have one in mind) might change those necessities?
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Yes
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What is a stable living and housing situation for a service dog?
This can be a complicated question to answer, as it involves a lot of factors. Let's start with a few examples to get your mind going in the right direction.
- Do you own your house, or is your landlord okay with pets?
Housing can be a bit of a gray area, when it comes to service dog law. A good general rule of thumb is that a service dog can't be disallowed on the basis of a no-pets clause, and you can't be expected to pay a pet fee because of a service dog.
In some states, service dogs in training have the same rights as service dogs. In others, they don't. What are your state's rules? Especially if you're puppy raising and the dog won't be a full service dog while in your house, this is something you'll want to check up on.
The rule of thumb mentioned above is also not a hard and fast rule - it can depend on how many houses or buildings your landlord owns and handles. The number can also vary from state to state. It's important that you know your rights, here, because not every landlord or apartment will.
- Is there at least somewhat of a steady routine?
- Does your house have a fenced-in yard, or are you willing to put in the training on where the yard's boundary lines are?
- Will the dog have someone and some way to burn their energy, every day?
Maybe you have a drop-in dogsitter while you're out. Maybe the kids play with the dog after school. Maybe you take the dog for a walk after work. Whatever it is, make sure the dog's physical energy has a way of being worked out.
- Will training be a regular occurrence?
Service dog candidates are SMART. They have to be, to make it through what'd equate to a PhD for a human. As such, they need a way to burn their mental energy just as much as their physical energy. Do you have a plan on where that fits into your schedule?
- Can they depend on their grooming needs being met?
- Who is responsible for making sure the dog has been fed and has adequate water? Does this responsibility change between people throughout the day or week?
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Do you have a stable living and housing situation that is suitable for a service dog, including enough space and a secure outdoor area? Have you taken into consideration how the breed or size of dog you're looking at (if you have one in mind) might change those necessities?
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Yes
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What is a stable living and housing situation for a service dog?
This can be a complicated question to answer, as it involves a lot of factors. Let's start with a few examples to get your mind going in the right direction.
- Do you own your house, or is your landlord okay with pets?
Housing can be a bit of a gray area, when it comes to service dog law. A good general rule of thumb is that a service dog can't be disallowed on the basis of a no-pets clause, and you can't be expected to pay a pet fee because of a service dog.
In some states, service dogs in training have the same rights as service dogs. In others, they don't. What are your state's rules? Especially if you're puppy raising and the dog won't be a full service dog while in your house, this is something you'll want to check up on.
The rule of thumb mentioned above is also not a hard and fast rule - it can depend on how many houses or buildings your landlord owns and handles. The number can also vary from state to state. It's important that you know your rights, here, because not every landlord or apartment will.
- Is there at least somewhat of a steady routine?
- Does your house have a fenced-in yard, or are you willing to put in the training on where the yard's boundary lines are?
- Will the dog have someone and some way to burn their energy, every day?
Maybe you have a drop-in dogsitter while you're out. Maybe the kids play with the dog after school. Maybe you take the dog for a walk after work. Whatever it is, make sure the dog's physical energy has a way of being worked out.
- Will training be a regular occurrence?
Service dog candidates are SMART. They have to be, to make it through what'd equate to a PhD for a human. As such, they need a way to burn their mental energy just as much as their physical energy. Do you have a plan on where that fits into your schedule?
- Can they depend on their grooming needs being met?
- Who is responsible for making sure the dog has been fed and has adequate water? Does this responsibility change between people throughout the day or week?
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Are you mentally prepared for the time when you have to give the dog up? That you'll have the dog in its punk-y stages, and someone else will get to experience the fruits of your labor in having a well-behaved dog?
Are you aware that that is actually the sign that you did your job right?
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I think so, but I'm not sure
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Have you considered the time commitment required to train and care for a service dog?
Yes
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Are you (and any others that live with you) able to provide a stable and consistent routine for a service dog?
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Are you able to trust the trainer you're working under?
Do you get along with them as a person?
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Yes
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Is everyone in your home fully committed to following the instructions provided by the service dog trainer for the well-being of the service dog? Even when you don't agree with those instructions?
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Yes
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You're signing up to make this journey harder than it needs to be
A service dog trainer - like any expert - knows what they're doing. If you've signed up to work with a service dog trainer but aren't committed to following their advice, it's like you hired a tour guide within a cave system but decided to strike off on your own, anyway. If you get lost in the tunnels and systems and can't find your way out, it's on you. And, in this case, you're not the only one to suffer as a result - both the dog and the dog's eventual handler will suffer, as well.
If you find yourself in this position of being unable to commit to do what your trainer suggests, I have two suggestions:
1. Re-evaluate your stance.
2. Find another trainer.
If it's someone you live with that won't commit to listening to your trainer, you may need to have a hard conversation about not interacting with the dog. If the dog has two different sets of rules, you can end up with a situation to similar to if one parent tells a child "no candy before dinner," and the other tells a child that candy before dinner is fine. It can result in a confused child/dog set up to fail. If you're set up to fail, it can result in frustration, which has the potential to lead to burn-out on the dog's part.
That, in turn, will lead to a loss of time, effort, and potentially money on your part.
If you need to have this conversation, handing them the book Six Feet to Independence can work to confirm that you're both operating from the same base knowledge, coming into that hard discussion. (That link will open in a new tab so you can continue the assessment.)
One way or another, if someone is unwilling to fully commit to listening to the trainer - whether you or someone you live with - this journey may end up more difficult than it needs to be.
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Have you made necessary adjustments in your home to accommodate the needs of a service dog, such as creating a designated space for the dog's belongings and rest? Have you taken into consideration how the breed or size of dog you're looking at (if you have one in mind) might change those necessities?
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Yes
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Uh-oh! You may want to rethink that strategy...
In my experience, "in the moment" can be the hardest time to figure out something like this. Dogs - like most animals - tend to prefer certainty, whether that's in a schedule or a safe place to retreat, like a crate. Having a consistent "away" place for them to go, or establishing the crate as a safe, calm place ahead of time might be exactly what you need in the moment. And, at that point, it's too late to establish it.
If Cor is worked up and having a hard time calming down, I'll put him in the crate for a little while to help him settle down. It's like a human retreating to their room after a frustrating conversation - it helps settle the mind.
As for the dogs' belongings having a place to go, that can mainly be for the humans' peace of mind.
- When the toys have a place to go, and don't just stay scattered around, then there aren't dog toys scattered around, just waiting to reach out and twist an ankle like children's toys are likely to do. It's even better if you can teach the dog to pick up their toys and put them in the basket!
- When the vest, leash, and outing treats have a place to stay, you don't have to scramble to find what's necessary before you go out. We have a hook by the garage door that holds all the leashes, the vests, and the keys so it's just a grab-and-go. My sister does one smarter, and has everything in a bag by those hooks.
- When you keep all the grooming supplies in the same place, it's easier to grab whatever it is you need rather than leave the dog on the grooming table to run and grab the one thing. Then, bonus! you won't come back to the dog having jumped off the table and tracked hair everywhere. (Not that I speak from experience or anything.)
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Are you open to receiving feedback and guidance from a trainer to enhance the bond and effectiveness of the service dog within your family? AND are you willing to humble yourself enough to listen?
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Yes
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Are there animals in your home that will have a problem with you welcoming in a puppy?
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Yes
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Uh-oh, it seems we have an issue
If there's an animal that will have a problem with another animal coming into the home, this likely isn't the best choice.
Like humans, animals don't work well when they feel threatened or in another way unsafe. If there's another animal in the house that will take issue with the service-dog-in-training's presence, it may lead to a fearful, overly submissive, or ultimately aggressive dog. I have seen dogs that became unable to continue work as a service dog because they'd had one too many dogs come at them. This is one reason fake service dogs can be so dangerous; if a dog that learns to be wary of other dogs, like a human that's learned it's better to push someone away than have them leave, they can start to have aggressive tendencies. This isn't because they're bad dogs, but because they feel unsafe. Any animal - human or otherwise - will try and defend themself. That will take precedence to working.
This is not a situation where it'd be okay to bring a service-dog-in-training into your home. What you can do, if you really want to help train a service dog, is reach out to the organization and ask if there are any outings where you can come out and handle a dog in public. This will allow them to get another dog out and working, and my guess is that most organizations would jump at the offer of another volunteer, even if you can't train a dog in your own home.
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Do you know what breed/size/temperament of dog you'll be working with?
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Yes
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This is a good question for your trainer
Good dog trainers know their craft - just like any expert. A good trainer will be aiming to determine which dog/breed will work well for the person and is most likely to succeed in training. They'll know what red and green flags they're looking for in a candidate, and be able to match a dog to a handler/raiser better than that person themself. Even if the handler/raiser has a breed they like the look or idea of.
Trust me on this one - both me and my sister walked in with the idea of a German shepherd. Our trainer was able to tell us that breed wasn't a good idea for:
- first time handlers in general
- us in particular
- people looking for the specific kind of service dogs we were
- people with allergies (they don't blow coat quite as bad as other dogs, but they're not poodles, by any means.)
Neither of us would've known this without trial-and-error. And, if you read Six Feet to Independence, you'll see she was right. (That link will open in a new tab, so you can continue the assessment.)
In addition, some trainers only work with certain breeds. Others will only work with purebreds or with rescues. Still others only train for certain things, and have thus figured out some nuances to look for that make this or that dog more ideal. If you know what trainer you want to work with and they're a capable trainer, they'll have a good idea as to what kind of dog would work best for you to train.
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Does the company you're working with promise to get the dog onto the service dog registry?
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Yes
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You've Been Scammed!
(Or you don't live in the U.S.)
(Or you don't live in the U.S.)
In the United States, there is NO service dog registry, certification, or record.
If someone has promised to certify the dog you're training - or if you have someone lined up to put your dog on a "service dog registry," you've either been scammed, or they're working from outside the U.S.
If someone has promised to certify the dog you're training - or if you have someone lined up to put your dog on a "service dog registry," you've either been scammed, or they're working from outside the U.S.
A dog is a service dog if (and only if) - according to the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): they are a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.
Now, this does come with a few caveats*, but a "certification" is not one of them. You do not need an ID card for the dog, a registration/certification number, or credentials for the dog to be of the service variety.
*An aggressive dog cannot be a service dog.
*A service dog is expected to be able to handle themselves properly in public. Many trainers will put a service dog through several levels of obedience training, just because of how much scrutiny is on them, but, legally, as long as the dog is "potty-trained," can behave in public, and performs at least one disability-mitigating task, they're a service dog.
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Are the others in the house willing to actively participate in the service dog's care and training?
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Yes
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Uh-oh, you may want to consider a different strategy
This is actually something I cover in Six Feet to Independence. Training a service dog isn't a one-person endeavor, even if the handler is owner-training, and especially not if you're puppy-raising.
- There will be times someone has to step away. Whether that's for their mental health or the dog's.
- There will be times someone has to do something away from home, and the others in the house have to take up the slack.
- There will be times when someone is sick or injured, and others need to step in to help out in ways that person currently can't.
There are also more everyday situations where division of focus and responsibilities are more spread out.
- Is there someone who leaves the house after the others in the morning that would be better suited to taking the dog out one last time and then putting them into their crate for the day?
- Can a couple people come home over the lunch hour on a rotating schedule to let the dog out?
- Is there someone who gets home earliest in the evenings that can let the dog out to go potty and either get them settled with a brain game, take them for a walk, or play with them for a few minutes to burn energy?
- Is there someone better suited than others to more consistent or firm training? Does this need to be a tag-team effort?
Other questions will come up for your individual situation that you'll get to figure out yourselves. The point is that, similar to many things in life, raising and/or training a service dog is a team effort.
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This may be something worth touching base on, again.
This is actually something I cover in Six Feet to Independence. (Link will open in new tab so you can continue the assessment!) Training a service dog isn't a one-person endeavor, even if the handler is owner-training, and especially not if you're puppy-raising.
- There will be times someone has to step away. Whether that's for their mental health or the dog's.
- There will be times someone has to do something away from home, and the others in the house have to take up the slack.
- There will be times when someone is sick or injured, and others need to step in to help out in ways that person currently can't.
There are also more everyday situations where division of focus and responsibilities are more spread out.
- Is there someone who leaves the house after the others in the morning that would be better suited to taking the dog out one last time and then putting them into their crate for the day?
- Can a couple people come home over the lunch hour on a rotating schedule to let the dog out?
- Is there someone who gets home earliest in the evenings that can let the dog out to go potty and either get them settled with a brain game, take them for a walk, or play with them for a few minutes to burn energy?
- Is there someone better suited than others to more consistent or firm training? Does this need to be a tag-team effort?
Other questions will come up for your individual situation that you'll get to figure out yourselves. The point is that, similar to many things in life, raising and/or training a service dog is a team effort. If not everyone is on board, this can become more of a challenge.
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Have those where you're living discussed the responsibilities of owning a service dog?
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Yes
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Are you willing to allow your trainer to pick the dog you're working with?
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Uh-oh! You may want to consider another strategy
It can be very easy for a prospective handler/raiser to fall in love with a particular dog/breed and therefore have a biased view when picking out the service dog candidate they want to train.
A good trainer is more interested in determining a dog/breed that will work well for the person who needs them and is more likely to succeed in training. They'll know what red and green flags they're looking for in a candidate, and be able to match a dog to a raiser better than the raiser themself. Especially if this is the raiser's first try.
Some trainers only work with certain breeds. Others will only work with purebreds or with rescues. Still others only train for certain things, and have thus figured out some nuances to look for that make this or that dog more ideal. A good trainer will be able to match temperaments, energies, and personalities because they've done it before. They know what they're doing.
And, trust me - you'll fall in love with the dog whether or not you yourself choose it!
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Are there small children in your home that will have/could cause a problem with you welcoming in a puppy?
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Yes
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Are there children in your home that will struggle with holding boundaries or rules for a puppy?
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Yes
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Are you able to keep yourself in check when you get frustrated?
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Uh-oh... it seems like we have a problem.
Puppies like to push buttons. Sometimes, they think it's a game. Other times, they need to be told "no" several times to get the idea.
If you get frustrated easily and have a hard time controlling yourself when frustrated, it may not be the time to take on an additional stressor. Especially one that someone is going to end up depending on for their health and medical response. A fearful dog isn't a good thing in that situation. So we all want to avoid that. If this is your situation, there's likely a better way to support a service dog group near you.
If you find yourself in this situation, here's a few ideas on next steps:
- Donate monetarily to a local service dog group
- Reach out to a local service dog group to see if they need help training older dogs
- Reach out to a local service dog group and see if they need help keeping up, cleaning, repairing, etc. It may not be the prettiest or most fun job, but it'll help take a lot off the trainers' plates, and help support all the teams that depend on those trainers
- See if local service dog groups need help making connections with places around town. Several service dog groups would be willing to give talks, give demonstrations, or raise awareness. They may simply not have time to reach out and make those connections because they're working on training dogs.
There are a lot of ways to support your local service dogs and their handlers aside from puppy raising.
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Do you have a service dog training group in mind you'd like to work with?
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How to start looking?
This is easily done through a simple search on your favorite search engine - Google, DuckDuckGo, Brave, Ecosia, Bing, or any others.
What you will want to look out for is whether the group you're looking at is one of quality. In the book Six Feet to Independence: Understanding Life With A Service Dog, I go over a few red and green flags to know when you're looking at a good-quality service dog trainer. Here are just a few big ones:
- Do they promise to get you on a service dog registry? Or, similarly, do they promise to certify your dog as a service dog? If so, either they're working from outside the US, or they're a scam.
- Do they promise to train your dog "fast" or "in x months?" If so, they're likely a scam. A good trainer isn't going to promise results in a set time, because whether you're qualified for service dog-hood will depend on how the dog and handler do.
- How fast do they respond? If the organization is slow to respond, it doesn't necessarily mean they arent legit, but it could make things painful. A good rule of thumb when you're a handler looking for a group is to go with one that responds in a decent time frame; I'd recommed the same for those looking to owner train.
If you want to find more red and green flags for finding a good-quality teacher, check out Six Feet to Independence! (Links open in a new tab, so you don't have to stop taking the assessment!)
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Does this training group have an option to volunteer as a puppy raiser?
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Well, that could be an issue...
If the group you're hoping to help out doesn't have the process in place to have volunteers raise and/or train puppies, there are a few potential next steps.
- You work with the training group to put a process in place.
- You look for another group to volunteer with.
- You look to support this group another way.
If you find yourself in this situation and decide to go with the third option, there're a few ways you could potentially support the group:
- Donate monetarily
- See if they need someone added to a rotation to help train older dogs. In many cases, it's important that the dog can be handled by several people. The group may work on this by having strangers come in and work with an older dog every so often.
- Similar to the above, see if they need "new people" to help the dog's graduation test - either as a mock handler, or as a by-passer/distraction.
- See if the group needs help cleaning the premises, repairing tools, etc. It may not be the prettiest or most fun job, but it'll help take a lot off the trainers' plates, and help support all the teams that depend on those trainers.
- See if the group needs help making connections with places around town. Several service dog groups would be willing to give talks, give demonstrations, or raise awareness. They may simply not have time to reach out and make those connections because they're working on training dogs.
There are a lot of ways to support your local service dogs and their handlers aside from puppy raising. It may also be possible to puppy raise for one group while helping support another in any of the above ways.
Any one group may not need this or that support from the above list, so a good question to have in your back pocket would be, "is there any other support you need that I haven't thought to ask?" Either way, they're sure to be grateful for the help!
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I don't suggest puppy-raising, my friend.
But that's actually good news!
But that's actually good news!
Why? Because now you know where you're starting - and you know what you need to do to improve.
OR
You know - deep down - you may know that you don't really want to puppy-raise or puppy-train. The good news with that? You found out now, rather than finding out with a puppy in your house. Do me a favor, if this is the case? Pass on the good deed and share this assessment. Let's save someone else the pain of realizing this too late!
If you want to improve and be ready to puppy-raise or puppy-train in the future? Taking this assessment and learning what you have to look deeper into is the first step - and you just took it! Way to go! The good news is that your inbox now holds an email that lists your answers and the correct answers. Take a look at that email and see the full breakdown of what we suggest improving and researching.
The even better news? There's a book that can help you with a sizable chunk of that research, saving you time, money, and potentially even heartache -and you can get it now, at 40% off.
Six Feet to Independence is written as the book the author wishes she'd found when she was starting her journey of raising and training a service dog; the one that could've told her just how her life would change. The one that would tell her what she needed to work on and tweak before she got started. What could save her from pouring time and energy and money down the wrong path.
Six Feet to Independence is full of wisdom and insight from trainers, responsible breeders, handlers, and family members of handlers - all of whom answer the questions she didn't know to ask when starting.
You can find the book through the link below, or through the email that we just sent to your inbox. In that email, you'll also find a link to hop on a call with the author to ask questions and discover next steps. You'll also find a gift!
Nota bene: Be sure to check your spam folder!
OR
You know - deep down - you may know that you don't really want to puppy-raise or puppy-train. The good news with that? You found out now, rather than finding out with a puppy in your house. Do me a favor, if this is the case? Pass on the good deed and share this assessment. Let's save someone else the pain of realizing this too late!
If you want to improve and be ready to puppy-raise or puppy-train in the future? Taking this assessment and learning what you have to look deeper into is the first step - and you just took it! Way to go! The good news is that your inbox now holds an email that lists your answers and the correct answers. Take a look at that email and see the full breakdown of what we suggest improving and researching.
The even better news? There's a book that can help you with a sizable chunk of that research, saving you time, money, and potentially even heartache -and you can get it now, at 40% off.
Six Feet to Independence is written as the book the author wishes she'd found when she was starting her journey of raising and training a service dog; the one that could've told her just how her life would change. The one that would tell her what she needed to work on and tweak before she got started. What could save her from pouring time and energy and money down the wrong path.
Six Feet to Independence is full of wisdom and insight from trainers, responsible breeders, handlers, and family members of handlers - all of whom answer the questions she didn't know to ask when starting.
You can find the book through the link below, or through the email that we just sent to your inbox. In that email, you'll also find a link to hop on a call with the author to ask questions and discover next steps. You'll also find a gift!
Nota bene: Be sure to check your spam folder!
Get the book, Pay Nothing!
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Good news!
You're on your way to being ready to puppy-raise or puppy-train!
That said, it'd be a good idea to do some more research before you jump into this endeavor. The good news is that your inbox now holds an email that lists your answers and the correct answers. Take a look at that email and see the full breakdown of what we suggest improving and researching.
And!
The even better news is that there's a book that can help you with a sizable chunk of that research, saving you time, money, and heartache - and you can get it now, at 40% off.
Six Feet to Independence is written as the book the author wishes she'd found when she was starting her journey of raising and training a service dog; the one that could've told her just how her life would change. The one that would tell her what she needed to work on and tweak before she got started. What could save her from pouring time and energy and money down the wrong path.
Six Feet to Independence is full of wisdom and insight from trainers, responsible breeders, handlers, and family members of handlers - all of whom answer the questions she didn't know to ask when starting.
You can find the book through the link below, or through the email that we just sent to your inbox. In that email, you'll also find a link to hop on a call with the author to ask questions and discover next steps. You'll also find a gift!
Nota bene: Be sure to check your spam folder!
And, if in the process of taking this assessment, you realized you actually don't want to puppy-raise or puppy-train?
Then that's equally as good news! Why? Because you've figured that out now, and not when you have a puppy in your home. Pass on the good deed and share this assessment!
Get the book, now!
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Good News!
You're well on your way to being ready for puppy-raising a service dog! You're not *quite* to where we would suggest you jump right in, yet, however. The good news is that your inbox now holds an email that lists your answers and the correct answers. Take a look at that email and see the full breakdown of what we suggest improving and researching.
And!
The even better news is that there's a book that can help you with a sizable chunk of that research, saving you time, money, and heartache - and you can get it now, at 40% off.
Six Feet to Independence is written as the book the author wishes she'd found when she was starting her journey of raising and training a service dog; the one that could've told her just how her life would change. The one that would tell her what she needed to work on and tweak before she got started. What could save her from pouring time and energy and money down the wrong path.
Six Feet to Independence is full of wisdom and insight from trainers, responsible breeders, handlers, and family members of handlers - all of whom answer the questions she didn't know to ask when starting.
You can find the book through the link below, or through the email that we just sent to your inbox. In that email, you'll also find a link to hop on a call with the author to ask questions and discover next steps. You'll also find a gift!
Nota bene: Be sure to check your spam folder!
And, if in the process of taking this assessment, you realized you actually don't want to puppy-raise or puppy-train?
Then that's equally as good news! Why? Because you've figured that out now, and not when you have a puppy in your home. Pass on the good deed and share this assessment - let's save someone else that pain, too!
Get the book, now!
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WOW!!
Way to go! You must've studied a lot to know this much. (Are you puppy-raising already? 😉 )
What are your next steps? We'd suggest you start to build an emergency fund, find a reputable service dog trainer near you (if you haven't already), and connect with other service dog handlers or raisers that can encourage and support you on your journey.
We also suggest you get a copy or two of this book (click the link below to go directly to checkout) to help those around you better understand the journey you're about to start on - especially if there are others you're living with that may not know what they're getting into. As the author points out in the book, a supportive rope team is important.
Six Feet to Independence is written as the book the author wishes she'd found when she was starting to train and raise her service dog; the one that could've told her just how her life would change. The one she could hand to her family to show them the same; a book would be more impressive than her broken explanations. The book that could save her - and everyone around her - from pouring time and energy and money down the wrong path.
Six Feet to Independence is full of wisdom and insight from trainers, responsible breeders, handlers, and family members of handlers - all of whom answer the questions she didn't know to ask when starting - and you can get it now, at 40% off.
And! (Because more help is better than less, here,) the email we just sent you contains two links; one is the link to the book, and the other is a link to schedule a zoom call with the author to get any further questions answered. This link is good for the handler, family, or friends. (Limit: 3 calls per email sent out.)
Nota bene: Be sure to check your spam folder!
Wishing you all the best with your continued adventure!
Get the book, now!
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