Services

REQUESTS & INQUIRIES

Please check here for updates for when we are open to accepting new application requests. Autism Dog Services provides service to Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, most parts of the GTA, Hamilton, London, Brantford, Niagara and surrounding areas. Please note that we cannot provide service outside of our territory. To find out if you live in our area of service please email: allison@autismdogservices.ca

For a list of other accredited autism service dog providers please visit: https://assistancedogsinternational.org/

Applicants must be able to meet the financial and physical needs of supporting the needs of an autism service dog, and agree to complete the application process including all required pre-placement and post-placement activities, and the follow-up process.

Autism Dog Services screens applicants and will consider all applications regardless of race, sexual orientation, sex, or religion. Applicants are provided with information on eligibility requirements during every part of the application process.

Autism Dog Services provides fair and equal treatment to all interested applicants interested in applying for service dogs.

Autism SERVICE DOGS

Autism Service Dogs AND THEIR BENEFITS

Safety
For children that are a flight risk, the service dog keeps the child grounded and safe. The service dog can prevent the child from bolting or wandering by using a special belt and tether that connects the child and service dog.

Companionship
The service dog can become a companion and offers constant friendship.

Independence
The service dog offers opportunities for responsibility and independence making through daily care, feeding and grooming.

Socialization and Communication
The service dog can increase pro-social behaviours and opportunities for communication. The service dog can allow for more frequent opportunities for socialization.

Behaviour Modification
The service can dog helps modify behaviours through deep pressure therapy tasks allowing for easier transitions. The dog can also be trained to interrupt repetitive behaviours or act as a buffer in crowded places.

Family Unity
Families can experience unity as they safely explore the community and public places together with the help of a child’s service dog. Parents gain confidence going out together as a family and the family can participate in more outings together and more often.

Is an autism service dog right for you or your family?

To help guide you through the process, it would be best for you to explore the following to help you determine if an autism service dog is appropriate for the applicant Please ensure that you are able to meet the following requirements outlined in the questions prior to reaching out to us with your inquiry.

Can you demonstrate that the applicant would benefit from the tasks to help mitigate autism and related disorders that Autism Dog Services autism service dogs are trained to perform?
Dogs must live in a safe and smoke free home and have direct access to a fenced yard space.
Do you have the means and resources to manage and care for a dog? This includes feeding, grooming, exercising the dog and regular visits to a veterinarian. Food, vet care, treats, toys and bedding is about $2000-2500/year. This does not include emergency veterinary care. We strongly recommend pet insurance for our clients which is about $65-105/month on average.
Are the people the applicant lives with willing to support and assist with the training, care and maintenance of the autism service dog as required and comply with Autism Dog Services Guidelines?
Prior to receiving the autism service dog, is the applicant and/or support person(s) willing to stay engaged with Autism Dog Services by participating in the required preparatory workshops in Brantford?
Once paired with the autism service dog, is the applicant and/or support person(s) willing to stay engaged with Autism Dog Services, provide annual veterinary reports and participate in annual workshops in Brantford?
Having a service dog in your life is a big adjustment, a major lifestyle change, and long-term commitment. Do you believe you are ready for this?

What Makes the Autism Service Dog Program at Autism Dog Services Unique?

Focused Service

Autism Dog Services places dogs with people over the age of three. A diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder or a related disorder is required to be considered for our program. If an individual has challenges which present in a similar manner to Autism, Autism Dog Services will evaluate the need to determine if a service dog would provide beneficial support to the individual.

Autism Specific Resources

ADS provides autism specific Educational Manuals to families and educators upon the service dog placement. Other resources provided are social narrative samples, task strips and training videography along with video modelling to help children with autism work on daily tasks with their service dogs.

Home-Trained Service Dogs

Autism Dog Services dogs are raised in homes from puppyhood until they have completed their socialization and training and are paired with the client they will be assisting. The dogs live in stress-free conditions that allow them to reach their full potential. Once the dogs are moved to staff homes for advanced training, the Training Instructors get to know each dog in a very personal way. This close personal connection helps staff to make the best match possible for each family on the ADS wait list.

Applicant & Client Support

Autism Dog Services stays closely connected with all service dog recipients. Staff are regularly out in the community training service dogs, visiting clients, and instructing educators and are available for support when required.

Applicants approved for our service are required to complete mandatory specialized educational workshops upon joining the waiting list to learn as much as possible about the autism service dog's care and needs ahead of the autism service dog joining the client's home.

Clients with service dogs are required to attend one Graduate Refresher Training Workshop each year.

Autism Dog Services provides in-home placement of the service dog once the applicant reaches the top of the waiting list and a match has been determined by staff. Further training, support and instruction is done at the home and community. Applicants and/or their support persons (parents/guardians) will be required to take time off to meet staff for follow-up and may be required to travel to locations determined by the Training Instructor during the initial placement of the service dog.

Autism Dog Services fosters close working relationships with all the applicants who are waiting to receive service dogs. Staff aim to build a strong partnership with each applicant during their wait time and this support continues when each applicant receives their service dog until the dog's retirement at 10 years of age.

Facility Dogs

Autism Dog Services is accepting new applicants for the Facility Dog Program. Please read the information below for more details and contact information.

Applicants must be able to meet the financial and physical needs of supporting the needs of a facility dog, and agree to complete the application process including all required pre-placement and post-placement activities, and the follow-up process.

Autism Dog Services provides fair and equal treatment to all interested applicants interested in applying for service dogs.

For more information please contact Vicky Spadoni at info@autismdogservices.ca or call 519-722-2685

Is A Facility Dog Right For You?

To help guide you through the process, it would be best for you to explore the following to help you determine if a facility dog is appropriate for your business and clients. Please ensure that you are able to meet the following requirements outlined in the questions prior to reaching out to us with your inquiry.

Can you demonstrate that your clients would benefit from the tasks that Autism Dog Services facility dogs are trained to perform?
Dogs must reside in a safe and smoke free home.
Do you have the means and resources to manage and care for a dog? This includes feeding, grooming, exercising the dog and regular visits to a veterinarian.
Are the people you live with you willing to support your relationship with a facility dog and comply with Autism Dog Services Guidelines?
Once paired with the facility dog, are you willing to stay engaged with Autism Dog Services, provide annual veterinary reports and participate in annual workshops in Brantford?
Having a facility dog in your life is a big adjustment, a major lifestyle change, and long-term commitment. Do you believe you are ready for this?

Companion Plus Dog Program

ADS is excited to launch this brand new program for ADS.

This program is open to accepting new application requests. This program is for children, youth and people with special needs who would benefit from the support of a dog at home.

These dogs have special skills and task training but they do not have any certification to work out in public. Companion Plus Dogs do not have any public access rights and they cannot be certified to work as service dogs. Some dogs may accompany the client into pet friendly places at the discretion of ADS staff.

Applicants must be able to meet the financial and physical needs of supporting the needs of a Companion Plus Dog, and complete the application process outlined below.

Once applicants are approved for this program, they will be put on the wait list on a first come first serve basis. While waiting applicants will complete virtual training and education workshops. Once matched with a Companion Plus Dog they will continue to get support and follow up by ADS training staff and will be required to attend a training workshop in Brantford. Please note that ADS retains ownership of the dog for the first year to help support the client and dog team and ensure the dog’s needs are being met.

There is a fee of $3500 to be paired up with a Companion Plus Dog.

Autism Dog Services provides fair and equal treatment to all interested applicants interested in applying for dogs.

For more information please contact Allison at allison@autismdogservices.ca or 519-504-765

Is A Companion Plus Dog Right For You?

To help guide you through the process, it would be best for you to explore the following to help you determine if a Companion Plus Dog is appropriate for you. Please ensure that you are able to meet the following requirements outlined in the questions prior to filling out the application request form below.

Do you or your child have a special need and would benefit from having a Companion Plus Dog for comfort, companionship and deep pressure tasks at home?
Do you have the means and resources to manage and care for a dog? This includes feeding, grooming, exercising the dog and regular visits to a veterinarian.
Are the people you live with aware of your interest in a Companion Plus Dog? Are they supportive of this?
Having a Companion Plus Dog in your life is a big adjustment, a major lifestyle change, and long-term commitment. Do you believe you are ready for this?
If approved, do you agree to meet with ADS staff before, during and following being matched with a Companion Plus Dog for training and education? Please note you will need to have access to a vehicle and travel to Brantford, ON to meet with staff.

How to Request an Application

Who can request an application package and further screening to join the waiting list?
Companion Plus Dogs are available to those who reside in our area of service.

Fees
There is a $75 application fee. There is another fee of $3500 for a Companion Plus Dog when you are matched up with a Companion Plus Dog. This fee is to cover some of the expenses that the dog has incurred while in the ADS training program, some equipment, a manual, and to support you once paired up with the dog for the first year. This fee also includes 8 weeks of free pet insurance. After the first year, you will be eligible to adopt the dog for no charge.

*There is a waiting time of a minimum of six months to one year for our Companion Plus Dogs.

To request a full application package for a Companion + Dog please fill out this application request form:https://forms.gle/q4PQfYMVCAQYsrV16