Thank you for your interest in JLAD (The Joys of Living Assistance Dogs.) We will be happy to send you the complete application for the Civilian Owner Trained service dog if you and your dog meet all of the following criteria.  Our mission:

To provide skilled, devoted companions to support and assist veterans, first responders and others with disabilities, creating cohesive teams focused on building a life of greater freedom and independence.

JLAD conducts its business and acceptance process in a manner that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, age, veteran status, genetic information, military assistance, or other protected status.

Applicant Criteria:

1.   The applicant must be at least 18 years of age to apply for this program.

2.   JLAD dogs assist people with primary mobility impairment such as multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, paraplegia, tetraplegia, arthritis, amputation, stroke, or traumatic brain or spinal cord injury, and PTSD.  JLAD does not train dogs to assist individuals with seizure disorders, blood sugar disorders, those with significant vision loss, and companion or emotional support dogs. The owner must be able to perform all training requirements.  If the disability limits the owner’s ability to train their dog, another person may assist in the training

3.   Applicant must have a qualifying disability that impacts their quality of life, independence, and activities of daily living.

4.   The tasks(s) to be trained must be directly related to the client's disability.

5.   JLAD will determine acceptance of applicant based on the task-based needs of the applicant and the dog’s potential to meet the owner’s specific needs.

6.   Applicants must have a referral or recommendation by your healthcare provider as submitted in Part C of the application.

7.   Applicant must have a qualifying disability that impacts your quality of life, independence, and activities of daily living.

8.   Applicants must be willing and able to provide for the dog’s physical, emotional, and financial needs.

9.   Applicants must have a stable home environment, support of all other household and family members, be financially stable, open minded, and have a willingness to learn.

10. Applicants living in a group/transition home are not eligible for the JLAD owner trained program.

11. The owner must have a contingency plan for the dog in the event that the owner is not able to care for the dog.  The care for the dog is not the responsibility of JLAD

12. In addition to the above-mentioned criteria, it is understood that JLAD is not responsible for respite care no rehoming the dog for any reason.   

Dog Criteria:

Any dog not meeting JLAD required standards will not be accepted into the program.

To be accepted into the program:

1.   The dog must be at least 12 months of age and no more than 36 months of age to enroll in the Owner Trained program.

2.   The dog must pass the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test prior to enrollment. A copy of this certificate will need to be submitted during our interview or mailed and receiver prior to the interview.

3.   Dog breeds must be void of guarding and herding instincts such as found in Shepherds, Rottweilers, Staffordshire Terriers, Huskies, Doberman, McNab, Australian Cattle Dog, Cane Corso, to name a few.

4.   JLAD will not train any task that arouse a dog's prey drive, or fear to elicit a display of aggression for defense purposes.

5.   Mixed breeds will require genetic testing to ensure guarding/herding instincts are excluded.

6.   Adult dogs must weigh a minimum of 45 pounds and not exceed 100 pounds.

7.   The dog must be spayed or neutered prior to 18 months of age.

8.   The dog must remain current on all vaccinations. Copies of veterinary records must be provided to JLAD.

9.   The dog must pass all health clearances required of assistance dogs which are hips, elbows, heart, and eyes between the ages of 12 and 18 months.

10. The dog must meet all standards required to become a certified assistance dog

11. The dog must perform a task that mitigates his handle’s disability in a significant manner and must be specific to the handler’s disability.

12. The dog must meet the same program standards as the dogs trained and placed by JLAD.

 To graduate from the program the dog must have:

1.      Tolerance to a high level of stress

2.      Sensitivity without anxiety

3.      The ability to perceive environmental and interpersonal cues

4.      The ability to complete tasks in very difficult and emotional situations

5.      No reactivity, possessiveness, guarding behaviors or increased anxiety

Program Requirements:

After acceptance into the program, a JLAD representative will schedule an in-home visit for the purpose of understand all elements that will influence the working environment of your dog.

All our dogs are trained in basic obedience cues, house manners, and how to behave in public.  Our dogs are also trained in technical skills such as: retrieving, opening doors, turning lights on and off, balance assistance, bracing, social interactions, and PTSD. JLAD may at any time, including during program training, team training, or after certification determine to discharge/decertify the dog because of temperament, health, or behavioral or training issues.  There is a 50% probability that any given dog will make it into service work.  In regards to this training:

1.   Training must be completed within a consecutive two-year period or the team will be  dropped from the program.

2.   The owner will attend weekly classes held in consecutive increments of six months.  Teams must live within an hours' drive from our facility in Salem, OR.

3.   More than three absences during any six-month period is cause for dismissal from  the program.

4.  JLAD will provide clients with a  printed training manual.

5.  A least intrusive, minimally aversive training methodology will be used in training of all dogs in our program.

6.  The team must meet all standards set forth by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) to be certified as an assistance dog.

7.   JLAD will perform monthly follow-ups with the team for the first 6 months, at 9  months, then yearly following program completion and certification.

8.   JLAD, at its sole discretion, will decide when the team is ready to go through the team training process and to take the Public Access Test (PAT).

9.   The owner will be provided instruction in meeting the ADI Minimum Standards for Assistance Dogs in Public. The owner must be able to demonstrate:

10.   Identification of the dog as an assistance dog will be accomplished with an electronic ID card with a photo and names of the team.  Whenever the dog is in public the dog must wear a coat, a harness, or other similar piece of equipment or clothing that is clean and easy to read which identifies the dog as an assistance dog.

      11.   The dog must be friendly with public interaction.

Special skills are trained on an individual basis.  JLAD will NOT train behaviors that encourage guarding, protecting, or searching for a thread.  In addition, we will train not dogs for emotional support or medical alert.

To be considered for our program, you must fill out an application.  Upon acceptance of the application JLAD will schedule an in-home visit, Skype, FaceTime, or Zoom depending on your distance from our headquarters.  The purpose of this visit is to meet with you, as many family members as possible, and any others living in your home, and family pets.  This meeting helps JLAD understand all elements that will influence the working environment of a service dog.  JLAD will inform you as to when you and your dog can start training, as well as when you are ready to take the Public Access Test (PAT).  At this time you will be invited to Team Training which will be explained further during our first visit. You MUST attend a Team Training and pass a Public Access Test before JLAD will allow you to hold out your dog as an assistance dog.  JLAD fill follow up with the client monthly for the first six months and yearly after that to assure a smooth transition into this new working partnership.  Follow-ups will be accomplished using a real-time, two-way communication by a staff member or trained volunteer.   If the client fails to maintain the training and prescribed behavior of their dog, and their dog becomes non-compliant, JLAD will not be responsible for the re-training of their dog, nor will JLAD be held responsible to replace such a dog. Yearly veterinary report will need to be submitter by the client for the dog.  

Recertification is required every two years.  Recipients and their dogs will need to return to JLAD for this process.  If for some reason a client cannot come to Salem due to extenuating circumstances, the client can request to take the PAT virtually.  This request and scheduling will need to be done two months prior to the test to which the client is invited, and must be completed within two weeks prior to the scheduled PAT in Salem.

 If for any reason a client does not uphold the ADI standards and/or is found abusive or neglectful towards the dog, JLAD reserves the right to revoke all association with said client.

Program Cost:

1.   Non-refundable Application fee: $155.00. Once paid, the electronic application will be sent to your email.

2.   Tuition fee for the first six month of weekly classes: $3000.00

3.   Tuition fee for each succeeding 6 months of weekly classes: 2000.00

·         Tuition payments are to be made prior to each six-month session.

·         All tuition fees paid are non-refundable once training begins.

·         Tuition is subject to change.

Application Process

1. Submit this completed form.

2. (a) Upon acceptance of the breed, and if your dog is between one and three years of age,  you will be sent an application fee payment request.  

    (b) If the breed is declined, no further action is necessary.

3. When the application fee is received, the full application will be sent.

4.  Once we have all four sections of the application returned, including Part C from your physician and/or mental health provider, we will contact you to set up an In-Home-Visit (IHV).

5.  We will either accept or decline your application via email after the IHV at which time we will discuss which class would be best suited for you. 

No applicant, client, or graduate is required to participate in fundraising or public relations activities without their expressed and voluntary permission to cover any program cost or after care follow-up visits.

The application process must be completed within three months of submitting this form. Any incomplete applications will be deleted from our system at that time, and the application process will need to be restarted.

If you have further questions, please contact us at:  503-551-4572 or info@joydogs.org.

By typing my name below, I acknowledge having read the terms of this document and accept the conditions set forth by JLAD.