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Heeli Service Dogs
What is Included and What it Costs
Our comprehensive service dog training program costs $5,000 and includes:
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Basic and Advanced Skills & Obedience: Build foundational behaviors and master advanced commands with our Fundamentals I and II courses.
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AKC Canine Good Citizen Program: Includes testing to benchmark your dog’s progress.
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Assistance Dogs International (ADI) Public Access Training: Prepare your dog to navigate public spaces with confidence and meet ADI standards.
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Task Training: Learn two essential tasks tailored to your unique needs.
Our program is designed to help you and your dog pass the Assistance Dogs International Public Access Test, ensuring your dog is well-prepared for public spaces. Upon successful completion, you’ll receive a written endorsement documenting your hard work and achievements.
What is a Service Dog
A service dog is a professionally trained companion that helps individuals with disabilities lead more independent lives. These exceptional dogs are taught to perform specific tasks that offset their handler’s disability, such as guiding someone who is visually impaired, detecting medical changes, or providing grounding during anxiety attacks. Unlike emotional support animals or therapy dogs, service dogs are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), granting them public access rights.
Who Qualifies for a Service Dog
Individuals with disabilities that significantly affect their daily life may qualify for a service dog. You don’t need to qualify for government disability benefits to be eligible—a service dog can provide essential support for anyone whose disability can be mitigated through task-trained assistance.
Service dogs can help people with:
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Mobility impairments
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Visual or hearing disabilities
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Psychiatric conditions like PTSD, severe anxiety, or depression
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Medical conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, or severe allergies
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Cognitive or neurodiverse conditions, including autism or ADHD
With the right training, a service dog can greatly enhance independence, safety, and quality of life.
Heeli's Owner-Facilitated Service Dog Program: Empowering You and Your Dog
Unlike institutional programs where dogs are trained and then placed with a handler, Heeli Dog Training follows an owner-facilitated approach. This method involves the owner in every step of the process, ensuring the training is tailored to the handler’s unique needs while strengthening the bond between the dog and their handler.
Why choose owner-facilitated training?
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Customized Training: Tasks are specific to your needs and lifestyle.
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Strengthened Bond: Training alongside your dog builds trust and connection.
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Behavioral Stability: Avoids rehoming, which can disrupt a dog’s sense of security.
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Therapeutic Involvement: Owners benefit from the empowerment and sense of purpose gained by participating in their dog’s training.
At Heeli, we believe the best way to partner with a service dog is by training your own—with expert guidance. Our comprehensive service dog training program ensures you and your dog succeed in building a life-changing partnership.
Types of Service Dogs We Train
We specialize in training service dogs for a wide range of needs:
1. Mobility Assistance Dogs: These dogs assist individuals with physical disabilities by performing tasks such as retrieving items, opening doors, turning on lights, and providing balance support.
2. Psychiatric Service Dogs: These dogs support individuals with PTSD, severe anxiety, or depression by grounding them during panic attacks, interrupting harmful behaviors, or creating personal space in crowded areas.
3. Medical Response Dogs: Trained to assist with medical conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, or severe allergies, these dogs can alert to changes in blood sugar, recognize seizures, or detect allergens.
4. Neurodiversity Support Dogs: Designed to assist individuals with autism, ADHD, or other neurodiverse conditions, these dogs can provide deep pressure therapy, prevent elopement, interrupt repetitive behaviors, and help manage sensory overload.
5. Hearing Dogs: Hearing dogs help individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing by alerting them to important sounds like doorbells, alarms, or someone calling their name.
How to Get Started
Getting started with Heeli Dog Training is simple! Book a free consultation to discuss your needs and evaluate your dog’s suitability for service work. Together, we’ll create a personalized training plan and guide you through every step of the process. Call 1-888-855-HEEL (4335) or book an initial consultation to begin your journey toward a life-changing partnership.
