Qualifying for a PPAD Dog

There are many factors that contribute to accepting an applicant into our program, and ultimately pairing them with one of our dogs. In general, in order for a candidate to be eligible for a PPAD service dog the candidate must meet the following qualifications:

1. The candidate must in some way be able to meet the emotional, physical, and financial needs of the service dog, and be able to provide the dog with a stable home environment at all times.
2. The candidate must be mature enough and possess sufficient cognitive functioning to actively participate in the training and learning process required during the training phase of the service dog. This required training is approximately 40 – 60 hours with our dog and our trainers.
3. The candidate must be actively pursuing the goal of seeking to improve the quality of the candidate’s life through the aid of a service dog.
4. There must be reasonable expectation that the candidate's medical situation will enable the candidate to work with the dog for several years.
5. The candidate must be financially able to maintain his or her functional lifestyle during the transitional training phase with the service dog (approximately 10-14 days). PPAD does not provide such things as attendant care, transportation, etc., during this period. The candidate must provide for these needs. In the owner trained program, the applicant must be able to partake in the training at the owner’s expense.
6. The candidate must demonstrate or certify that he or she has the ability to pay for the daily expenses of caring for a service dog. These expenses include, but are not limited to, food, veterinary expenses, heartworm medication, and replacement equipment.
7. Minor applicants must have the supervision and support of an able-bodied adult, preferably a parent. The able-bodied adult must also partake in the transition or placement training so that the adult understands the training requirements of the service dog.
8. Minor applicants must be able to demonstrate commitment to the dog, as well as demonstrate financial contribution to the acquisition of the dog. This amount may vary, but the minimal expectation is $500. This will be considered part of the acquisition fee of $5,000.
9. The candidate must have lived with their disability for a minimum of 1 year before applying to Positive Partners.
10. The candidate must have a fenced in yard and demonstrate that the dog will have exercise opportunities.

If you have specific questions about qualifying for a dog, please give us a call at (208) 721-1309, or drop us an email.