Access ADI

Assistance Dog International (ADI) is a growing organization. It is presently comprised of 168 accredited non profit member agencies that train and place service dogs. The ADI includes 38 guide dog organizations and sets a high level of standards for member agencies and individual service dog teams. In 2024, ADI placed 4,469 new partnerships. There were a total of 28,372 active accredited working teams in mid 2022 (1). 12,753 of these active ADI teams were guide dogs. Almost 50% of dogs, active and newly minted, are dogs assisting persons with mobility issues. Graduates with hearing dogs comprised 8%, 18% were veterans placed with PTSD canine partners, 5% psychiatric service dogs, 3% diabetic alert dogs, 2% seizure alert dogs and so on (2).

A few more interesting facts about ADI are that 83 of the members have their own breeding programs, 42 have a prison based program, 35 recruit some dogs from shelters and 37 ADI members work with private dog owners (3). The providing of training services to owners of their own dogs was a rarity back in the 1990’s. The ADI sets a high bar for its standards. One most commendable standard is “Organizations provide lifetime follow-up and team support.” (4). It is one thing to accredit a working team, quite another to support the graduate teams throughout their entire placement. A couple final facts are: “as of 12/31/2023, there are (were) 10,969 dogs/puppies in training with ADI accredited member programs with a wait list of 8,481 potential clients.” (5).

10,969 appears, at first glance, to be a sizable pool of potential, caped working companions. The problem is that 50% or more of the puppies and dogs in training will not make it through the training programs (6). This does not mean these career changers are bad dogs- there could be a medical problem or temperament issue that will not detract from a long career as a wonderful pet. Cost is another big factor of obtaining a service dog. Guiding Eyes for the Blind says it can take $50,000 to raise, train and fully support a team throughout its working lifetime (7).

Canine Companions, one of the largest providers of service dog teams, does not charge its clients for obtaining a dog. CCI places an average of about 350 dogs a year (8). However, once placed, the recipient is responsible for all medical, feeding and other costs. CCI maintains ownership of the dog. “A graduate is personally and financially responsible for the service dog’s care and maintenance, including food and veterinary expenses.” (9). “Graduates periodically return to campus with their dogs for public certification, workshops, seminars and reunions.”

The ADI is limited in the number of well trained teams that can be placed in a year. In the time of the two years of training it takes to “finish” a service dog, expenses mount up quickly. The basics of obedience like sit and walking politely on leash must be mastered. Then you add additional training for mobility and task work. Impeccable public behavior is also a must. The price tag to train and place a service dog is somewhere between $10,000 and $50,000, depending on the disability and the organization (10). As mentioned, a service dog graduate is often responsible for all feeding, veterinary care, insurance and other costs. Just like the everyday expenses of a pet owner.

The ADI members are unique organizations with varying amounts of funding, number and types of dogs placed. Each has an individual approach to its program mission. Some find various ways to provide help to candidates to limit the costs of obtaining and maintaining a service dog. For example, Paws With A Cause does not charge to place a dog which they say costs $30,000. They do encourage the graduate to “pay it forward” by getting involved in fundraising for another dog/team (12). Little Angels Service Dogs in CA, charges $18,000 fee for a trained dog but will aid the recipient if he or she wishes to offset the charge by fundraising for the organization.

The VA does not provide service dogs to veterans. However, the VA will cover all veterinary and equipment expenses for qualified veterans with a service dog. Insurance companies do not cover any cost of acquiring a service dog. But there are plenty of companies willing to sell an individual handler a policy for his or her dog. Don’t expect a discount for good behavior. In Texas, Dog Alliance has a grant that covers the placement fees for qualified veterans who are residents of Texas. In general, crowdfunding, grants, scholarships, VA assistance and the organizations themselves are the main sources of funding options for help with expenses (13).

Of the 37 ADI member organizations that work with individuals who train their own dogs, the potential teams must undergo a minimum of six months of training before being certified by ADI (14). The minimum training standards recommended by the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners, IAADP, an access advocacy group, cites the recommendation that training should consist of a minimum of 120 documented hours, 30 of which need to take place in public settings (15), Again, individual ADI members may have individual approaches.

Dog Alliance, in Texas, will work with private owners with basic training from the get go of building a beginning training foundation through six months of advanced training for ADI accreditation. Clients must be within 30-45 miles of their facility in Cedar Park, Texas and attend four classes and two off-site outings per month. A basic six week training class is $235, $150 for a basic on site private session (16). Ability Dogs Of Arizona was a pioneer in the service dog world. Dating back to the 1970’s, this program places dogs that have been screened for temperament and medical issues at 8-12 months of age. Basic training has taken place within this early time period. Once accepted into the program, part of the pre placement criteria is for a candidate to attend six sessions working with dogs who may be a potential match. For a fee of $3,000 the dogs are then placed with a potential partner/owner and training continues for another 12-18 months. There is no guarantee of success but the person does have a huge input into the training and socializing of their dog. Once matched, training continues for at least six months with work in home, at the training center and in public. Cost is then $260 per month (17).

Atlas Assistance Dogs takes a different approach. Whereas Canine Companions has established 6 regional training centers across the country, Atlas Assistance Dogs developed a unique process. This organization, a non profit which is hoping to become accredited by ADI, trains already experienced trainers to become service dog trainers. A trainer must already have two years experience, the fee to work with Atlas is between $2,800 and $3,800. The trainer is not an employee of Atlas but remains independent and there are several dozen or so Atlas trainers spread throughout the United States. For clients of an Atlas trainer, the cost is $900 for 6 to 9 months of training. Before being accepted into the Atlas service dog program, a disabled client and dog must pass the AKC Good Citizen Test. This requirement in itself would eliminate many under trained, reactive dogs. One of the CGC test exercises is to have the testee and dog calmly approach another person with a dog, stop and exchange pleasantries (18).

Custom Canine Service Dog Academy is not a member of ADI. This group works with a number of disabilities- veterans with PTSD, first responders, civilians and more. Currently there is a 3 to 5 year waiting list. There is no charge for a CCSDA trained placement. There is a $1500 fee for the six month service dog training provided for private dog owners. Having passed the Canine Good Citizen Test is a prerequisite for this program. “From our work with veterans with PTS, we have found a need for individuals to be able to train their own dogs as service dog partners.” (19). CCSDA is open to all training methods. K9s For Warriors has placed more than 1.000 dogs since 2011. “On average, 20 vets a day take their own lives.” (20). K9s For Warriors is working hard to change this tragic reality. The organization uses rescue dogs and over the years has rescued 2,000 dogs. Of course they find good homes for those dogs that do not meet the strict requirements of a service dog career.

The breeds that first come to mind as the best candidates for the job as service dogs are Labradors, Golden Retrievers or perhaps a Standard Poodle or a German Shepherd. The temperament and size of these breeds is well suited to many requirements of assistance dog work. The AKC also lists Great Danes, Bernese Mountain Dogs, American Staffordshire Terriers and yes, you guessed it, Pomeranions. “Pomeranians have proven adept at alerting their owners to symptoms and complications associated with diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, or asthma. Intelligent and alert, Poms also make excellent service dogs for the hearing-impaired and those with mental disabilities. Their tiny size makes them portable and easy to take into spaces where large dogs might have a harder time.” (21). Size does matter.

So, if 83 out of the 168 ADI members have their own”purpose bred” breeding programs where do the rest of the dogs come from? “Mixed-breed dogs are becoming increasingly valued in the assistance dog community.” (22). As mentioned above, 35 organizations recruit some shelter dogs, Dogs can also be purchased from or donated by breeders or by individuals.” 99 ADI Accredited Member programs will consider receiving breeder donations.” (23). Some ADI members work with owners who already have dogs. Dogs For Better Lives, an ADI affiliate, is eclectic in using multiple sources- “We acquire dogs through partnerships with breeders, co-ops, shelters and rescues.” (24). ADI members with breeding programs use the International Breeding Cooperative, IBC, to “provide a reliable and relevant puppy supply while exponentially improving service dog type. In other words, IBC ensures that all member organizations have access to sufficient puppies of Guide and Assistance Dog quality to meet their needs.“ (25).

America’s VetDogs is affiliated with The Guide Dog Foundation. It is one of the 42 programs that work with prisons (26). This organization raises puppies within 15 prisons in 6 states (27). “Puppies are transported to the prisons at 8-9 weeks old in groups of 3 - 4. A primary and secondary handler is then paired to work with each puppy. Puppies live in the handler’s cell and house-breaking, crate training, and basic puppy skills are started immediately. The vast majority of each pup’s day is spent outside the cell, attending classes, programs, observing recreational activities and going to meals in the chow hall.” (28). On weekends, the puppies leave the prisons to continue training and socializing with “weekend puppy raisers.” “Statistics have shown that prison raised dogs are usually so skilled they are able to go through the final training process in half the normal time of a home raised dog.” (29).

The types of service dogs vary as widely as the tasks they provide. Hearing dogs alert to sounds, guide dogs help maneuver around obstacles, mobility dogs may retrieve or help with balance. Medical alert dogs may warn of allergies, low or high blood sugar or respond to a seizure (30). The duties of a psychiatric dog can include such diverse tasks as applying deep pressure, behavior interruption, space management and more (31). The list of tasks that dogs can perform is impressive (32). The ADI organizations vary from about a dozen or so members placing 100 or more dogs per year to roughly 70 members who place 10 dogs or fewer per year (33). The ADI continues to slowly welcome additional members as they qualify by meeting high organizational and training standards. But the number of people placed on waiting lists continues to grow and applicants must endure a 2- 5 year meanwhile in their lives.

(1). Assistance Dogs International .

(2). ADI Member Organization Statistics - Assistance Dogs International

(3). 2023_ADI_Fact_Sheet_FINAL.pdf

(4). 1 - 2025_ADI_Summary_of_Standards.pdf

(5). 23_ADI_Fact_Sheet_FINAL.pdf

(6). Must Read Service Dog Statistics 2021 - Atlas Assistance Dogs

(7). Guiding Eyes for the Blind Fact Sheet 2025 - Guiding-Eyes-for-the-Blind-Fact-Sheet-Feb2025.pdf

(8). FAQs - Canine Companions

(9) Ibid

(10). Service Dog Training Costs: Full Guide with Funding Tips

(11). Ibid

(12). Client FAQ - PAWS WITH A CAUSE