FAQ | Service Paws Of Central PA

No, they are trained not to be distracted by people, animals, sounds, or most anything really and it could cause harm to the recipient. They could be punished for being distracted. For an individual with an invisible disability, it could be life threatening if you distract their dog. They could have a potential seizure, diabetic attack, etc. about to happen and if the dog is distracted it could miss alerting the recipient to an oncoming seizure, etc. An alert from their dog could be enough time to get to a safe place on the ground, bed, or chair to prevent falling or lessening the chance of injury.

They usually start socializing them by holding, massaging at 2 weeks and by 6 weeks they are put into warm water to learn to swim and get used to baths. They also start with the very basic “sit”, “come”, playing with toys, etc. Then each week more commands, playtime, and socializing are added.

A task is something a dog will do 90% of the time when commanded.

The number of tasks depends on the needs required by the disability.

No.

Seeing Eye broke the ground for rights and all other guide dog programs strived for years and then service dogs piggy backed off of them

A dog is retired when it is unable to perform the tasks required, or at about age 10, so that it has time to be just a pet.

On average, a service dog works about eight to ten years.

If you are not able to keep it or find a friend to take it, the schools maintain lists of people who want retired service dogs.

Training time varies and depends on how many tasks the dog will need to perform and how much individual training is required. It could be anywhere from one month up to two years.

Costs range up to $50,000. Most organizations generally range between $9,000 and $20,000, which you would be required to raise. Guide dogs are free, which was started with the generosity of Dorothy Eustris, millionaire, with the creation of Seeing Eye.

Schools use any medium to large breed, with the temperament to do the work

Labs and retrievers.

Schools breed their own dogs to get the characteristics they need for service dogs and to eliminate heredity defects.

The poodle cross-breeds, and now the Bouvier and Barbett.

“Is that a service dog required because of a disability?” “What tasks has that dog been trained to perform for you?”

Yes, even if your dog is a certified service dog.

No. A doctor is not legally qualified to certify a service dog.

No, an emotional support dog is the same as a devoted pet.

We help individuals locate accredited service dog schools, finance the purchase of accredited service dogs and, help service dog owners with extraordinary veterinary expenses

Apply to an accredited school which trains them.

Assistance Dogs International (ADI) maintains a list of accredited schools.

On June 11, 1928, Buddy, a German Shepherd was introduced by The Seeing Eye in New York City.

There are four categories of service dogs: guide dogs, hearing dogs, balance dogs and medical alert dogs.

Dogs that will detect: seizures, allergens, diabetes, PTSD and this list is growing.

No, they are chosen not to be aggressive, however, the dog may protect out of loyalty if the situation arises.

No, a service dog should have “four on the floor” when working or, maybe have paws on the user in some cases of medical alert dogs.

For guide dogs, most schools say sixteen. However, for medical alert dogs, it can be as young as five. Some organizations make exceptions to this rule if the health of the child can greatly benefit from a dog.

With the current breeding practices, it doesn’t make much difference.

Anytime a service dog is off their harness, they are generally allowed to play and relax. Some dogs may be off harness and relaxing at night while a recipient is sleeping, but they are still technically on duty. In most cases they should still respond to a seizure or diabetic attack, etc. even if off duty. Recipients should always make time for relaxing or play, each day for their service dog.

The type of correction depends upon the severity of the offense. The school determines what words, actions, etc., are to be used for correcting the dog. In most instances you would use a command such as “leave it’ or “no” firmly.

With an emphatic “good girl/boy”. Sometimes treats may be added.

Too many treats can be harmful, but when working on a task, or when the dog has done something especially well, treats are warranted.

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We serve the counties of Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, Fulton, Huntingdon, Somerset in central Pennsylvania.

Service dogs can cost up to $35,000 and medical costs for those dogs can get very high also. Your donations allow us to provide much needed financial help. That's why we started this organization.

We have no salaries and offices, our expenses are about 1/3 of the money We've raised, so far. Our big expenses are interpreters, website development and printing. As we get larger donations, and our website is well established, we hope to spend 90 % of our income on our clients.

We need our organization to become better known in order to attract qualified Board members, as well as clients in need of assistance.

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, a service dog is allowed any place a person can go.

It's important for a working dog to stay focused for the safety of the team and maintenance of training standards. However, most handlers enjoy interacting with the public when they have the time. It's an essential courtesy to first ask for permission to pet a service dog.

No. Many blind people have at least some vision; you do, however, need to be legally blind. People who utilize a mobility device like a white cane for the blind should evaluate whether or not a dog guide might be right for them.

Because it takes a certain level of maturity, discipline and commitment to work with a dog guide, the majority of trainees are 16 and older. There is no upper age limit for people who have the health and stamina to work with a dog guide.

It's a common misconception that a dog guide is essentially a well-trained pet. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is one of the most highly-trained working animals you'll ever meet. Several thousand hours of training have been put into this partnership. Dog guide schools do not charge for this service.

At 6-8 weeks, the pups begin to learn house manners and obedience and they are introduced to the world through puppy raisers' efforts. At 15-18 months, they begin their formal dog guide training, which takes 2-3 months. They meet their blind partner usually when they are around 1-1/2 years old and the two train together from anywhere between 2 – 4 weeks. But in reality, the training never stops. Most dog guide schools maintain continuous contact with their graduates and dogs, and continue to help them adjust to all sorts of situations they may face as they go through their lives together. This includes whether the person is moving or working in a new area, facing complex traffic situations, or wanting to learn advanced techniques.

There are roughly 10,000 people using dog guides in the US and Canada. We'd like to see more people become aware of their mobility options and the added benefits of the dog guide lifestyle. But it does take commitment to invite a living being into your home; that's an essential ingredient.

There are 12 schools accredited by the International Federation of Dog Guide Schools in the United States and still more in other countries. There may be a perception that all dog guide schools are essentially the same, and nothing could be further from the truth. Many of them differ in terms of philosophy, methods of training, size, and perhaps most importantly, how well they support the dog-human partnership after the initial training is complete.

Yes! When the harness is off, dog guides have time to play as family pets. In fact, play time is essential to maintaining the strength of the bond between a blind person and his/her guide.

Before you consider allowing your dog to greet a dog guide, please understand the importance of asking permission first, so the blind person can stop if he/she chooses, and remove the dog's harness to signal play time. Your dog should be on a leash and under control. Dog guides are not trained to be protection dogs, but they are busy guiding their partners when they are in their harness.

Drivers should be attentive, as they would with any other pedestrian, especially when turning right-on-red. Dog guides are trained in real-world situations, so it's helpful that you continue going on about your business. Please don't stop and honk, yell out your window, or otherwise distract a blind person using a dog. The person is listening for traffic flow to determine when it is safe to give the command to go forward and cross the street.

The kids you see with dogs wearing a school logo are called puppy raisers. They raise the dogs to be good canine citizens and prepare them for formal training in guidework. Dog guide training is done on the school’s campus by licensed dog guide mobility instructors. Dog guide schools also have many adult puppy raisers, too. It's really quite amazing what these kids and their families do. They devote incredible time and effort, and have to go through a special course to learn how to properly raise a dog guide puppy. They teach the puppies obedience and socialize them to the world. Raising a dog guide puppy involves joining a club and participating in supervised club activities. It's a commitment that not only grows good puppies, but strengthens families and develops tomorrow's community leaders.

Puppy raising, like other volunteer jobs, is a labor of love, and there is no reward greater than seeing a puppy become a working service dog. Raisers are paid in puppy hugs and have the pride and satisfaction of knowing they've had a profound impact on someone else's life.

Most service dog schools provide equipment, dog transportation, training, support, and basic veterinary care.

All of the dog guide schools’ funding is from private sources, donations from individuals and corporations, or from bequests, matching gifts, etc. Dog guide schools receive no government funding.

While statistically more dog guide users are employed than the national average, it's a striking fact that more than 70% of all blind people are unemployed or underemployed, and many live below the poverty level. Much of that has to do with people just not understanding how capable people accommodate for their lack of sight.

When a dog is ready to retire, the handler can keep it as a pet. If they can’t, the dog usually returns to its raiser family. If neither option is viable, the schools have lists of people who will adopt the dog.