Phoenix Service Dog Training

Ability Dogs is proud to be the oldest service dog training organization in the U.S. and one of only two ADI-accredited programs in Arizona. In our Phoenix program, you will train your own dog under the guidance of expert instructors over the course of 12–18 months.

Click for Tucson or Las Vegas.

See the tasks service dogs can perform below

FAQs

  • At Ability Dogs, you train your dog under the close supervision of our instructors. While other service dog providers train and deliver dogs to people, our proven model helps you and your dog create a lasting bond, and ensures that you fully know one another’s needs. It also allows the added benefit of becoming part of a community.

    1. Application

    2. Pet Assessment

    3. Acceptance into Program

    4. Training Program (12-18 months, on avg)

    5. Certification

    6. Recertification (every 1-3 years)

  • We proudly serve veterans, civilians, adults, and children.

    Tasks include:

    • Diabetic Alert

    • Hearing Alert

    • Physical & Mobility Assistance

    • Psychiatric Assistance including PTSD and panic disorders

    • Seizure Response

    • POTS

    This is by no means a comprehensive list, so if you have different needs please ask us.

  • Experts do this for us. We take great care to ensure that everyone we serve qualifies for our services. Before starting the program, we require forms from medical and/or mental health professionals. We call each office to verify the forms are valid.

  • In Phoenix, training is done in home or in public, about once per week. You’ll work out a convenient schedule with your instructor.

  • Possibly! Many service dogs in our facility start out as pets. That said, the success of our program depends on making the correct match between a dog and a person. Age, temperament, and size are primary factors, along with the tasks your dog will be required to perform.

  • At Ability Dogs, the true cost of training a Service Dog is heavily subsidized by donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations.

    We operate on a Pay-As-You-Can model, ensuring that everyone has access to our services via scholarships, regardless of financial circumstances.

    Here’s the breakdown in fees for the Phoenix Program:

    Initial Consultation - $30
    Monthly cost - $340/month
    Certification Test Fee - $250

  • Currently, applicants must live in the greater Tucson, Phoenix, or Las Vegas areas. Because of our program requirements, we cannot accept applicants who cannot commute to and from these cities once a week.

  • Absolutely. Certified teams (dog + human) are welcome to attend group classes in Tucson free of charge, so long as the class has space and you re-certify your dog regularly. We are currently working to establish public group classes in Phoenix as well.

    For those who can’t make it to Tucson, we’re always a phone call away if you have questions or concerns.

  • No reputable training organization certifies dogs they do not train. In our case we could lose our ADI accreditation.

    We only offer certification tests for dogs who have been trained at Ability Dogs. If your dog performs tasks for you already and you join the program, it will take a minimum of 6 months, per ADI standards.

Let’s Start the Conversation

Service dogs are life changing but we get that starting the process can feel overwhelming sometimes. The good news is we’re here to help simplify the process and make it as easy as possible.

You may have questions about finding a dog, associated costs, how owner-train programs work, and literally anything else. We’ve heard it all, so don’t be afraid to ask.

Let us know about you and what you’re looking for, and we will reach out to start exploring opportunities!