Frequently Asked Questions
Have Questions About Hope Service Dogs?
Choosing a service dog, puppy, or training program is a big decision.
We've answered some of the questions we hear most often below. If you don't find the answer you're looking for, contact us and we'll be happy to help.
Service Dogs
What is a service dog?
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is a dog that has been individually trained to perform work or tasks for a person with a disability. The task or tasks must be directly related to the person's disability.
Does HSD provide fully trained service dogs?
HSD specializes in Started Service Dogs, although we also provide training programs that continue a dog's development toward reliable service work.
A Started Service Dog has begun formal service-dog training but has not yet completed all of the training necessary to become a fully trained working service dog.
Service-dog training generally takes close to two years or more, depending on the individual dog, the work required, and the team's progress.
LEARN ABOUT STARTED SERVICE DOGS
What disabilities does HSD train for?
We work with a variety of disabilities and functional needs, including:
Dysautonomia
POTS
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Medical alert
Medical response
Medical recovery
Mobility-related needs
Psychiatric disabilities
Autism
PTSD
Training is individualized to the needs of the person and the capabilities of the dog.
What tasks can a service dog perform?
A service dog can be trained to perform tasks that directly mitigate their handler's disability.
Possible tasks include medical alert and response, retrieval, interruption, mobility-related assistance, positioning, finding help, and many others.
The appropriate tasks depend on the individual's disability and needs.
How long does it take to train a service dog?
There is no universal timeline.
Individual tasks may be taught relatively quickly, but developing a reliable service dog requires extensive training, public-access experience, environmental exposure, task reliability, and team development.
At HSD, we generally expect close to two years of training for a dog to reach a fully trained level.
Training continues throughout a service dog's working life.
Puppies
How much are HSD puppies?
HSD puppies currently start at $4,900.
When can puppies go home?
Our puppies may go home beginning at 8 weeks of age, depending on the individual puppy and program.
Can I train my own puppy?
Absolutely.
Owner-training is an important part of the service-dog community, and HSD provides resources to help families continue their puppy's development at home.
All HSD puppies go home with access to our Service Dog Success online course, providing professional training education and resources.
LEARN ABOUT SERVICE DOG SUCCESS
Can HSD train my puppy?
Yes.
We offer several puppy-training options depending on the amount and type of professional training you want HSD to provide.
What does “started” mean?
A Started Service Dog has begun formal service-dog training but has not yet completed all of the training necessary to become a fully trained service dog.
The term refers to the dog's stage of training, not a legal certification or guarantee of future service-dog status.
Training
Can HSD train a dog I already own?
Yes, provided the dog passes our evaluation and is an appropriate candidate for the requested training.
We offer private training, immersion training, and service-dog training options for dogs outside of our breeding program.
Do you work with non-HSD dogs?
Yes.
Although our breeding program produces the Golden Retrievers at the heart of HSD, some of our training programs are available to dogs from outside our breeding program.
An evaluation may be required before enrollment.
Do you offer private training?
Yes.
Private training is available for both service-dog teams and pet dogs.
Sessions can address obedience, leash skills, service-dog tasks, public access, behavior, handler skills, and other individualized training goals.
Do you offer virtual training?
Yes.
Virtual coaching is available for training guidance, troubleshooting, handler education, and developing training plans.
What happens after training?
Training doesn't end when your dog leaves our care.
Depending on the program, HSD provides continued trainer support, handler education, training resources, and transition support.
Our goal is to help you maintain and continue developing your dog's skills at home.
Placement & Puppies
Do I have to live in Florida?
No.
HSD dogs and families live throughout the United States.
Some training programs require your dog to spend time training with us in Central Florida, but you do not have to be a Florida resident to work with HSD.
How does the puppy application process work?
Start by submitting the online application and scheduling a phone call.
During our call, we will review your application, discuss your needs, answer questions, and determine whether HSD is a good fit.
If approved for the puppy wait list, a $500 non-refundable holding fee/donation is required.
When your name comes up on the puppy list, we'll contact you so you can determine whether the timing and available puppy are right for you.
How do you determine which puppy is right for me?
We evaluate puppies throughout their development and consider their individual strengths, temperament, behavior, structure, and working potential.
We then consider those characteristics alongside what the future handler needs from a service dog.
We match the puppy to the person—not simply the puppy to the next person on the list.
Legal & Public Access
Does my service dog need certification?
No.
There is no federally recognized or legally required service-dog certification under the ADA.
The ADA does not require service dogs to be professionally certified, registered, or identified by a special vest or document.
What is public access?
Public access refers to a service dog's ability to behave appropriately and remain under control in places where the public is permitted.
Public-access training goes far beyond taking a dog to a pet-friendly location.
A service dog must be able to work appropriately around people, animals, food, noise, crowds, unexpected distractions, and other real-world situations.
LEARN ABOUT OUR PUBLIC ACCESS ASSESSMENT
Does the HSD Public Access Assessment certify my service dog?
No.
The HSD Public Access Assessment is an evaluation tool, not a legal certification or registration.
It provides a structured way to evaluate the performance of a service dog team in public environments.
LEARN ABOUT THE HSD PUBLIC ACCESS ASSESSMENT
What rights do service dog handlers have?
The ADA provides specific protections for people with disabilities who use service animals.
Because legal questions can be complicated, we recommend reviewing the official information provided by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Still Have Questions?
We know choosing a service dog organization, puppy, or training program can feel overwhelming.
If you have a question that isn't answered here, reach out to us.
We're happy to talk with you about your situation and help you determine whether Hope Service Dogs is the right fit.
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