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:

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. 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.
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 between the ages of 12 and 18 months.
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 facility dog.
11. The dog must perform a task that mitigates the disabilities of the clients at the facility.
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 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, turning lights on and off, 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 electronic 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

•  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: $3,000.00

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

• 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.