Tucson 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 program, you will train your own dog under the guidance of expert instructors over the course of 12–18 months.

Once your dog certifies, you’re welcome to attend group classes at no cost—we’re here for the long haul.

Ability Dogs is a training center and a community.

Click for the Phoenix or Las Vegas.

See the tasks service dogs can perform below

Our Matching Program

If you are in the Tucson area, Ability Dogs is happy to help match you to the best dog possible. We do this a couple of different ways.

  1. Through a highly regarded breeding cooperative, and through donations from reputable breeders, we make a small number of young dogs available to Tucson area applicants who do not have a suitable dog of their own. These specially bred companions possess the ideal temperament and health for service work, and have been nurtured with love, receiving socialization and basic obedience training from birth. In some instances, you can foster a puppy in advance of it entering the service dog program.

  2. We work with local shelters to find rescues that have the appropriate temperament, size, and age for service work. We carefully evaluate dogs and then notify people on our wait list of their availability. These dogs are then adopted by people in the program, and receive training as needed before starting service dog training.

  • All criteria, program requirements, and fees for our Service Dog Training Program will apply to option 1, in addition to the purchase price of the dog. Financial assistance may be available.

  • Having a dog in your home already does not prevent us from finding a match for you, as long as your current dog is dog-friendly and a positive influence.

  • Matches are based on which dog we believe will work best for each person — our training staff will make this decision after reviewing your needs.

If you qualify for our program, you will be placed on a waiting list. Wait list time varies depending on the number greatly, depending on the number of dogs available.

Printable Overview of Matching Program and Fees  

Interested in applying to this program?

Once you've completed the online application below, send the completed medical form(s) to:

Ability Dogs of Arizona

75 South Montego Drive

Tucson, AZ 85710

OR

Email copies to contact@abilitydogsaz.org

  1. Matching Program Application including a financial self-assessment.

  2. Medical Statement -- Submit the form that applies to your disability. If you want to train for both physical and psychiatric tasks, submit both forms:

    Physician Statement -- for Mobility Assistance, Hearing Alert, Diabetic Alert Dogs.

    Mental Health Report -- for Psychiatric Service Dogs.

After receiving your completed forms, we will contact you to schedule a consultation to discuss your needs and goals.

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. Dog Matching OR Pet Assessment

    3. Acceptance into Program

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

    5. Certification

    6. Free Group Classes (optional)

    7. 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 Tucson, lessons are generally 4 times per month. Some will be at the training center and others in public settings around the area. Most teams take 12-18 months to complete the program. Close adherence to the schedule is necessary to reach certification.

  • 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:

    Initial Consultation - $30
    Monthly cost - $260 (Tucson) and $340 (Phoenix)*
    Certification Test Fee - $250

    If you are applying to the Matching Program, there will be an additional fee for a purpose bred dog.

    *Outside of Tucson, all training is currently one-on-one, resulting in the higher fee.

  • 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.

  • 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!