| Little Angels Service Dogs ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the handler ́s disability. Examples of work or tasks include, but are not limited to, assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing non-violent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting individuals to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors. The crime deterrent effects of an animal ́s presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition. Based on the ADA Service Dogs are allowed public access when accompanied by their disabled handler, as long as the above is met. Dog Breeds Certain breeds are preferred for service dog work, depending on the handler’s disabilities and needs. We generally use Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, all sizes of Poodles, and sometimes various mixes of these breeds. More important than the breed is the dog's temperament, intelligence, and health. It should be noted that most of our Service Dogs come from our own Labrador Breeding Program as we can insure the history of their genetic health. Practicing an Off-Leash Heel during Handler Training A socialization outing at Sea World during Specialized Training Little Angels Trainers on field trips to local shopping A Recipient learning how to groom her dog during Handler Training A recipient working with his dog for the first time during Handler Training Little Angels Program Standards We train and place fully trained dogs with approved disabled recipients, and also help the disabled train their own dogs to assist them. Regardless of how we are helping the disabled party to be assisted by a dog, our training practices are held to a high standard, such as the standards held by Assistance Dogs International (A.D.I.). These standards not only insure a higher level of assistance for the disabled party, but guarantees a high quality of life for the dog, and provides safety to others in our community. Dogs should: *Be clean and well groomed. *Eliminate in appropriate areas and only on command. *Not solicit attention or be a distraction to the public through barking or inappropriate behavior. *Never show aggression, but be confident and friendly towards everyone and everything. *Perform at least 3 tasks to assist the disabled party specifically with their disability. *Respond to obedience commands consistently. The disabled party has a right to: *Be considered by application or consultation regardless of race, sex, religion or creed. *Receive a sound education for an understanding of how to control their dog in public and at home, command the dog to assist them, and to use the dog with appropriate service dog etiquette in the public setting. *Receive follow-up training when needed. *Receive advice for questions on their dog’s medical treatment and behavior. *Refer to Little Angels regarding public access issues and their rights. All Little Angels Trainers understand and adhere to the highest level of standards and ethics by: *Communicating effectively and appropriately. *Matching and evaluating dog and handler teams with care. *Demonstrating their knowledge of canine behavior through humane training methods with regard to the dog’s well being and the safety of the public and disabled handlers. Together we are changing lives … one dog at a time. |
| Changing lives . . . one dog at a time! Little Angels Service Dogs is a 501c3 nonprofit organization of trainers and volunteers who work to provide highly trained dogs to assist disabled children and adults throughout the United States. Our dogs are trained to assist in a variety of ways to help with daily tasks and to increase independence. Most of the dogs we place are puppies that have come from our own breeding program, and are raised and molded from birth with the specific goal of being an Assistance Dog. Each dog's training is personalized in tasks to help their individual handler. For more information on each type of service dog we offer, please select each of the buttons above. |
| Training Your Own Service Dog Little Angels concentrates on training dogs directly in our own program, however there are options available for us to assist you in training your own Service Dog. Local Residents For those residing in Southern California, we offer two options; We can invite you to attend our Service Dog Training Clinics, or to leave your dog in our care for our Service Dog Boarding School. Clinics are held twice a month and concentrate on everything from advanced obedience for public access, to training for specialized tasks. These clinics are very different from traditional classes and the focus is on service dogs in training. For registration and clinic details click here; Training Clinics For information on our Service Dog Boarding school please email; littleangelsdogtraining@yahoo.com Long Distance For those who reside out of state, we will suggest one of our books. Each book is a step-by-step guide on how to train your own service dog. If you still have specific questions or difficulty in any areas after reading the book we will be more than happy to assist you via email. For book orders and review please click here; Service Dog Training Books |
| Maley has been placed with a 9-year-old boy with Cerebral Palsy. Maley was trained for Mobility Assistance, and helps brace his handler for balance, and retrieves hard-to-reach items. |
| Bailey is a Seizure Alert Dog, and alerts the mother of a 1-year-old baby before the infant has a seizure. |
| Cost It is our goal that all dogs are placed at no cost to the disabled handler. We understand the importance of adding a service dog to your life. We would never want finances to be the deciding factor. Many applicants go into the process thinking they are responsible for 'purchasing' their service dog. This is not the case. Fundraising is an option for our recipients, but is never a requirement. Organizations nationwide spend an average of $30,000.00-$40,000.00 on each assistance dog trained. The average service dog graduates with over 600 hours of training, and with that expense also comes veterinary care, boarding, grooming and training supplies. Because of the commitment of all our wonderful volunteers Little Angels spends a fraction of that, at $24,000.00 per dog. This is an expense covered through fundraising. Recipients are never expected to pay. The first step is to contact us by email so we can send you an application and the process for obtaining one of our highly trained dogs. If approved this is followed by a 1-hour phone consultation which allows us to assess your goals and see if a Service Dog is right for you. If we agree that a Service Dog is in your best interest you are able to return your Agreement and $500.00 deposit. This deposit shows your commitment to the program. However, this is gifted back to you once the fundraising is complete. |
| One of our dogs on a socialization outing at Sea World. |
| Out of State Travel If you do not live in Southern California, travel will be necessary. Arrangements can be made for a trainer to come to you, but in most cases you would take a short 'vacation' to San Diego, California for your Handler Training. In some cases we are able to arrange the payment of travel expenses through fund raising. Handler Training Hander Training is where the disabled party (or assistant of the disabled party) learns how to work with the dog as a team. This generally takes 14 days, with training every day. This is when the dog learns to respond to the commands of the handler, and when the handler learns how to reinforce the training that the dog has already received. We cover practical, day-to-day life experiences so you will feel confident taking the dog into your care. After the completion of Handler Training we work together on a series of field tests, which are administered by the trainer. After graduation, you and your dog will be certified as a working team. A certification card will be provided to the handler, as well as a service vest and aluminum identification tag for your dog, which labels him or her as a service animal. We have a lifetime commitment to each recipient and each dog that we place. Once you and your dog have graduated we maintain contact to insure that your dog's training and assistance remains in tact, that the dog remains healthy and happy, and that the dog is improving your quality of life. |
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