Service dogs can help their handlers with a psychiatric disability in numerous ways by performing tasks directly related to their disability. This can range from retrieving fallen objects from the ground for someone using a wheelchair to helping an individual with visual impairments avoid obstacles to alerting hard-of-hearing doorbells and smoke alarms.
As remarkable as the things service dogs can do for their handlers are, these dogs require immense training in order to be able to carry out their duties effectively. They must not only be trained to perform their tasks flawlessly but also remain calm in everyday situations, which further intensifies the training requirements for service dogs.
The elite level of training service dogs require often makes many ask about the cost of it all. If you’re wondering how much service dog training costs, continue reading our article to find out about all the associated costs. You will know exactly how much service dog training costs following different means of training, including online options.
How Much Does Service Dog Training Cost? Average Cost Breakdown
There isn’t just one type of service dog training; those who are interested in having a service dog trained have multiple options, ranging from hiring a private dog trainer to train their dogs at home or another convenient location to dropping your dog off for a board and train program. Here’s the average cost breakdown of service dog training to help budget for having your dog trained for this type of work.
Hiring a Private Trainer
If you want your dog to get personalized attention, hiring a private trainer is often the best way to have them trained for service dog work. Depending on your location, the rates professional dog trainers charge can vary between $75 and $200 per hour. Considering that a standard service dog needs to be trained for anywhere between 40 and 100 hours on average, the overall estimate can be $3,000 to $20,000 in total.
Although the value you and your dog get is much higher with private training compared to many other forms of service dog training, it is also among the costliest.
Board and Train Programs
Just like for every training goal, board and training programs are an effective means of service dog training. It typically involves dropping your dog off at the trainer’s facility, where they will spend a set amount of time and receive training. For service dog training, board and train programs typically last six to eight weeks and can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $15,000 and more, depending on the trainer’s pricing, services, and location.
However, this may not always be effective, especially for dogs with separation anxiety. Since the trainer will need to first work through any obstacle (like separation anxiety) to have your dog ready for service dog training, they may get fewer training sessions than intended in the end.
Also, some trainers may require dogs to be fully ready before taking them in for service dog work, such as having obedience training done and not having any behavioral issues, which will add to the overall training costs.
Specialized Training Programs
There are various organizations, nonprofit or not, that offer specialized training programs for people who need or would benefit from a service dog; veteran organizations are a great example of this. While some provide free service dogs, there are many that take suitable dogs for training. The cost of working with an organization like this can range anywhere from no charge at all to up to $20,000.
As for how the training is conducted, it can be any of the above or a mix of board and train, private lessons, and group classes.
How Much Does Service Dog Training Cost Online?
The above answers the service dog training cost for in-person training. In addition to these, those interested in service dog training also have online courses as an alternative. While they are self-led and require you to get directly involved in training, they can be a cost-effective form of dog training. Online service dog training, for example, is one of the affordable but effective ways of training a service dog.
As for the exact costs, online dog training can range between $300 and $1,000 for a well-structured course developed by professionals. An online service dog training course is surely more affordable, but note that you will need to pay for it mainly with your time and effort rather than money.
How Much Does Service Dog Training Cost? Conclusion
This article answered how much service dog training costs and summarized the overall cost of having a dog trained to assist someone with a disability. Before having your dog trained for service dog work, note that you can also buy a fully trained service dog, whether you need a psychiatric service dog, a mobility assistance dog, or a guide dog.
Many dog training companies and service dog organizations sell fully trained service dogs and work with their handlers to customize their training to their individual needs, eliminating the hassle of figuring out if your dog is suitable for service dog work or adopting/buying one that is.
