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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/

Our waitlist is currently CLOSED.
Be notified when we open our waitlist for

Applications for
Autism 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. 

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.

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 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.

 
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 Dogs

Autism Dog Services is accepting new applicants for the companion dog pet dog adoption program for children, youth and people with special needs. 

Dogs that are adopted out as companion dogs do not meet the criteria to work out in public as service dogs but would make good pet dog companions. These dogs typically have minor behaviour or health concerns that do not permit them to work as service dogs. 

These dogs do not have any special skills or task training and do not have any certification to work out in public. Companion dogs do not have any public access and they cannot be certified or utilized in public at any time.

Applicants must be able to meet the financial and physical needs of supporting the needs of a pet companion dog, and agree to complete the application process and provide references.

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.

 
For more information please contact Janine at janine@autismdogservices.ca or 519-722-6563

Is A Companion 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 dog is appropriate for you. Please ensure that you are able to meet the following requirements outlined in the questions prior to reaching out to us with your inquiry.

  • Do you or your child have a special need and would benefit from having a pet dog companion for comfort 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 applying to adopt a companion dog?  Are they supportive of this companion dog adoption?
  • Having a companion dog in your life is a big adjustment, a major lifestyle change, and long-term commitment. Do you believe you are ready for this.
 

How to apply for a Companion dog

Who can apply to be put on the adoption list?
Companion dogs are available to residents of Ontario with travel expectations.

 

Adoption Fee
There is an adoption fee for a companion dog to cover some of the expenses that the dog has incurred while in the ADS training program. Fees range from $3500 – $4000

To be considered for adopting a companion dog or regular pet dog please fill out this form: Adoption Form *please note this is not a service dog application form. 

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