1. Will you train my dog? No. We select service dogs based on outstanding temperament, structural and genetic soundness. Only a select few are a good fit for our training program, and not every dog that begins, finishes. We can refer you to a trainer who can evaluate and help you if you have a current dog you are considering training for service work.

2. I have had a litter of puppies I would like to donate to the program, how can I do that? We appreciate the desire to help, but there are very specific requirements we look for in our service dogs including temperament, genetic testing and a history of service dogs in their lineage. The most successful dogs are those that are actually bred for service work and possess low reactivity to stimuli (not too much prey drive), have no sound sensitivity or resource guarding tendencies in their line, and are naturally cooperative with humans. Service puppies are started very early in puppyhood learning how to learn and do not spend their formative months rehearsing bad behaviors or ignoring humans. There is a very short critical window of socialization before 16 weeks of age during which these puppies need to learn to be socially neutral to a wide range of environmental factors. If you still are interested in donating puppies, please contact us for more information about basic qualifications.

3. What are the requirements for an individual to enter SAFE service dog program? The individual must submit a complete application, including the portions to be filled out by a current counselor and physician. Their injuries must be a result of sexual assault and / or domestic violence. Our program welcomes applicants of any gender or sexual orientation.

4. Do participants pay for their service dog? No. Participants pay nothing for the service dog or Trauma Resiliency program.

5. Do I have to attend the three week trauma resiliency program to obtain a service dog? Unequivocally, yes.

6. What do SAFE service dogs actually do? Our PTSD service dogs are custom-trained to detect anxiety responses displayed by the participant. Our dogs are trained to recognize, indicate and interrupt early signs of anxiety, panic attacks and nightmares, allowing the survivor to break the cycle and regain emotional control. The trained service dog and our staff at SAFE work directly with the participant during the 3-week long Resiliency portion of our program, and follow up is made by program staff interaction with the participant and their support network. Each dog is custom trained to meet the needs of the individual participant.

7. Once my application is approved, how long will it be before I receive my dog? Once an application is approved, the wait time is approximately 1 year – 3 years.

8. Can the participant select their own dog? No. The appropriate matching of the dog and individual is an art and a skill. We learn a great deal about each survivor who qualifies for our program including lifestyle, family and home environment, their range of physical, psychological and cognitive abilities and their individual personalities. Through this process, we are able to match the dog for the participant’s unique needs.

9. How long does it take to train a service dog? The length of training is determined by the individual’s needs and the tasks the dog is required to do. Training ranges from 8 to 18 months.

10. Does an applicant have to live in Idaho to apply for the program? No.

11. What are the differences between companion dogs, emotional suport dogs (ESA), therapy dogs and service dogs? Companion dogs are pets and their main job is to hang out and be your companion. Certified therapy dogs are required to pass a test by the parent organization that evaluates obedience and temperament. These dogs are typically used to visit long-term care facilities, hospitals and children’s programs to bring joy and comfort to the people they visit. ESA (emotional support animals)provide emotional support and comfort to their owner and are allowed access to public transportation and open housing access with the letter from a doctor or therapist verifying the needs of the individual. ESAs have no specialized training and ARE NOT granted public access rights under the law and guidelines set forth in the American's with Disabilities Act. Service dogs are specifically task trained for an individual and are allowed public access. Their role is integral in providing independence by assisting with physical and psychological needs of their human partner. See the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements for service animals.

12. Why do you use puppies purchased from a breeder? Why not use shelter dogs in your program? SAFE has successfully selected, trained and placed several shelter dogs for service work. It has, however, been our experience that many shelter dogs come with their own trauma or behavioral issues, and that can make them less able to perform the difficult tasks we set for them. The reality is that selecting dogs from a shelter environment results in a higher wash out rate and can potentially increase the amount of time it will take for participants to receive a dog. In contrast, the success rate of dogs specifically bred for the demands of service work combined with the advantage of starting with a blank slate encourages us to continue sourcing our dogs from breeders that select for the traits we – and our participants – need.

13. What breeds of dogs do you use? Temperament and workability is key. Considering the background of our victims, we have chosen to work with dogs breeds that provide a sense of security to our participants while being traditionally obedient and bonded with their owners. For these reasons we have chosen to focus our efforts on developing our own in house breeding program and building relationships with reputable German shepherd breeders.

14. How old are dogs when they come into your program? Puppies are a clean slate. We want to be involved with puppy training from their earliest days, so we prefer to take carefully selected puppies into the program at 8 to 10 weeks old.

15. Are you service dogs certified? Actually there is NO SUCH THING as certified service dogs. Businesses that offer certification do so just to make money and their credentials hold no sway with the law and certification is NOT required under the Americans with Disability Act. We have a rigorous training program and public access test our dogs must pass in order to be placed for service work. If you have other questions, please contact us.