Service Dogs

You can lead a more independent, self-reliant, and fulfilling life with the assistance of a canine partner.

What does a Service Dog do?

Service dogs play a vital role in assisting individuals with physical disabilities by performing specific tasks like opening doors, turning lights on and off, retrieving dropped or needed items, paying at counters, pulling wheelchairs, providing balance, and so much more! PawPADs is dedicated to training these incredible dogs to help people with physical disabilities, while also providing their partners with psychological and social benefits. With a service dog, individuals often gain increased confidence, independence, and opportunities for social interaction.

Over the course of approximately two years, PawPADs’ young service dogs in training undergo rigorous health, behavior, obedience, and skill assessments to meet the high standards required to become a working service dog.

Once matched, participants attend a two-week Partner Training Camp (PTC), where they receive detailed instruction on caring for and working alongside their new partner.

Ready To Apply?

Complete a free pre-application that helps us know if we can meet your needs.

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Basic Service Dog Placement Criteria

1. PawPADs does not train Autism support dogs, Emotional Support Dogs (ESD) or Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSD) to work specifically with psychological or emotional challenges (bipolar, anxiety, PTSD, panic attacks, depression, etc). Absent an accompanying physical disability, it is not our focus.
2. We ask most recipients to contribute $3,500 toward their service dog.
  PawPADs offers scholarships allowing us to place Service Dogs with qualified veterans with service-connected physical disabilities up to the amount of the full placement fee.
3. We place our dogs with those living within 200 miles of Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. Those living within 250 miles of Minneapolis/St. Paul may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
4. Children under 12 years of age may be considered on a case-by-case basis. We occasionally do third party handler placements, with a parent or legal guardian being the primary handler and caretaker for the dog, who will perform tasks to assist the child.
5. You must be able to meet the emotional, physical, and financial needs of the service dog and must offer a stable home environment. This includes providing the dog with appropriate exercise and grooming.
6. You must be mature enough and possess sufficient cognitive functioning to actively participate in the training and learning process required during team training.
7. You must also be capable of managing the dog once you are living together.
8. Your medical situation should allow you to work with the dog for several years.
9. You must be actively pursuing the goal of independent living and seek to improve the quality of life through the partnership with a service dog.
10. You must be able to attend a two-week Partner Training Camp (PTC), to receive proper instruction on how to care for and work with your dog. (You will be responsible for living expenses – travel, accommodation, food, etc. during this time).
11. You must complete an intensive certification process, which includes a written final, an oral exam, and multiple dog handling tests.
12. Following service dog placement, you must complete monthly written evaluations on your dog’s behavior and as needed, participate in training lessons and evaluations given in your home. After 1 year, your partnership will be re-evaluated and, if appropriate, full ownership will be transferred to you.
13. Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs reserves the right to deny services to an applicant if it can be determined that the individual’s special circumstances or requirements could result in the unsafe handling of the dog or may cause undue hardship, personal injury to the handler or endanger the safety of the general public.