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 Owner Trained Facility dog
if you and your dog meet all of the following criteria. Our mission:
Provide skilled,
devoted companions to support and assist persons living 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 21 years of age to apply for this program.
2. The owner must be able to perform all
training requirements.
3. The task(s) to be trained must be directly
related to the facility’s needs.
4. JLAD will determine acceptance of applicant
based on the task-based needs of the applicant and the dog’s potential to meet
the facility’s specific needs.
5 Applicants must be willing and able to
provide for the dog’s physical, emotional, and financial needs.
6. 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.
7. In
addition to the above criteria, it is understood that JLAD is not responsible
for respite care nor 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- The
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.
- JLAD
will not train any task that arouse a dog's prey drive, or fear to elicit a
display of aggression for defense purposes.
- Mixed
breeds will require genetic testing to ensure guarding/herding instincts are
excluded.
- Adult
dogs must weigh a minimum of 45 pounds and not exceed 100 pounds.
- The
dog must be spayed or neutered between the ages of 12 and 18 months.
- The
dog must remain current on all vaccinations. Copies of veterinary records must
be provided to JLAD.
- 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.
- The
dog must meet all standards required to become a certified facility dog.
- The
dog must perform a task that mitigates the disabilities of the clients at the
facility.
- 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 onsite visit
at your facility 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,
balance assistance, bracing, social interactions, and PTSD. JLAD may at any
time, including 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 dog and owner 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 the client with a printed training manual.
5. A least intrusive, minimally aversive training methodology will be used in training all dogs in our program.
6. The dog must meet all standards set forth by
Assistance Dogs International (ADI) to be certified as a facility dog.
7. JLAD, at its sole discretion, will decide
when the dog is ready to graduate.
8. JLAD will perform monthly follow-ups for the
first 6 months, at 9 months, then yearly following program completion and
certification.
9. Identification of the dog as a facility dog
will be accomplished with an ID card with a photo and names of the
dog and owner. Whenever the dog is
working in the facility the dog must wear a scarf that is clean and easy to
read which identifies the dog as a facility dog.
10. The dog must be friendly with public
interaction
11. The owner must be able to demonstrate:
- That the dog can perform a task directly
related to the facility’s needs.
- That the owner has knowledge of
acceptable training techniques.
- That the owner has understanding of
canine care and health.
- That the owner has the ability to
maintain training, problem solve, and continue to train/add new skills (as
required) with their facility dog.
- That the owner has knowledge of federal,
state, and local access laws, and appropriate behavior
12. The dog and owner must meet recertification
requirements:- bi-yearly onsite evaluation by a JLAD
representative. Failure to successfully
meet the requirements will result in the dog not being re-certified as a
facility dog.
- bi-yearly passing of the Public Access Test (PAT)
Program Cost
1. Non-refundable Application fee: $155.00
2. Tuition fee for the first six months of
weekly classes: $3,500.00
3. Tuition fee for each succeeding 6 months of
weekly classes: $2,500.00
- All tuition fees paid are non-refundable
once training begins
- Payment arrangements must be made upon
acceptance of the application and must be paid in full prior to each six-month
session.
- Tuition is subject to change.
Application
Process
1. Submit this completed form along with the
application fee.
2. An automated letter will be sent to you with
a link to an electronic application.
3. Once we have your parts of the application
(A, B, D), we will contact you to set up an In-Facility-Visit.
4. You will receive a letter accepting or
declining you and your pup into our program at which time we will communicate
with you as to the weekly class that best meets your needs.
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.