About Assistance Dog Network
The
last several decades have seen a dramatic increase in the use of service
dogs to provide assistance to the physically disabled and hearing impaired.
There are many different types of service dogs: assistance, hearing, seizure
alert, stabilizing, bomb detection, drugs, and search and rescue. As the
use of dogs has increased, so has the number of organizations breeding and
training them.
All of the working dog organizations across the country cannot meet the demand for service dogs. To fill this void, several small non-profit working dog organizations have begun operation. Even with this additional input, assistance dog organizations have a waiting list from two to five years.
Assistance Dog Network (ADN) has capitalized on the early efforts of many organizations that pioneered the service dog profession. We have taken advantage of the know-how in recruiting volunteers, staffing allotments and assignments, and the design of training facilities.
ADN is proud to enlist the services of its volunteers, and bring together the expertise and disciplines derived from years of experience in the service dog profession. We feel extremely fortunate, that we may capitalize on this pool of talent, and put together an organization which will be successful financially, as well as, deliver a product to those who desperately need it.
ADN is staffed entirely by volunteers. When funds become available, paid staff positions will be integrated. The Board of Directors is composed of leaders from local industry and businesses, with priority given to those individuals who believe strongly in our mission.
Our goal is to provide highly trained service dogs, to individuals confined to wheelchairs, and for the hearing impaired, with special emphasis given to physically challenged children under 18 years of age. Our aim is to tailor each dog’s capabilities to match those of the person he will eventually be partnered with. ADN does not turn out “key hole” service dogs. The dog’s temperament evaluation, personality, and bonding capability are determined and then potentially placed with a client. Final bonding and working ethics from both parties are discovered during team training. All of these factors determine the success or failure of the placement.
Our dogs are acquired by donations from reputable breeders, as well as, our local Humane Society. Rescue dogs go through an extensive evaluation, as to temperament, learning ability, socialization, and health issues before they are placed in our program. If the dog that was rescued doesn’t have the ability to become a service dog, ADN places these dogs through a screening process among the applicants for released dogs. ADN is proud of the fact that we have an open door policy with any of our dogs.
ADN Trainers and Board of Directors are proud of the fact that we use only “positive” training methods. Our tools for training are patience, treats and a clicker. No choke collars, prong collars or shock collars are used as well as no “abusive” shaping. There is no set date to when our dogs are placed. It is common for most service dog organization to place their dogs between 14 and 17 months old. Here at ADN, we feel each individual dog needs to be assessed periodically and given the extra time that is needed to become a sound service dog.
ADN supports other organizations by making available well socialized and
obedient trained dogs, ready for advance training. Our socialization and training
eliminates fourteen months from the lead time required to place a service
dog. By accelerating the training process between agencies, placements
can be expedited to help alleviate the backlog.