autism assistance dogs

After entering the service dog program, candidates begin intensive socialization, exposing them to various environments, noises, and situations to ensure environmental stability and confidence. They also have positive experiences with different people, learning to remain calm and gentle with children, adults, and seniors. Dogs are introduced to various handling techniques to ensure tolerance to interaction with their fur, tails, and paws.

Concurrently with socialization, dogs learn specific tasks for individuals with autism, along with obedience commands and household rules. This ensures the service dog is easy to handle. The training is customized to meet the specific needs of each client, with trainers having years of experience ensuring reliable task performance. They offer free follow-up training for as long as the client owns the dog. They also offer service dog training for existing pets that pass their qualification tests.

Pricing Summary

The average cost of their service dogs is $15,900, which includes an initial set of customized equipment such as leashes, a service vest or harness, tethering equipment, and trailing equipment. They offer a simple payment schedule: a $2,500 deposit and signed training agreement are required after acceptance into the program to hold a spot on the waiting list. 50% of the total cost is due when specialized training begins after a dog match is agreed upon. The balance is due upon delivery of the dog. They do not charge application fees. Search and Rescue Trailing is not a standard task and typically incurs an additional fee.

Policies

They offer a one-year health guarantee on dogs they select and train. If for some reason something does not work out as expected, they will do their best to make it right, whether that means additional training or replacing the dog. They offer free phone and email consultations for as long as you own the dog. They also offer free follow-up training for as long as you own the dog.

Autism Assistance Dogs, a division of Highland Canine Training, LLC, specializes in providing highly trained service dogs to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders and other disabilities. They offer custom-selected and trained dogs to meet specific client needs, focusing on temperament, personality, and drive.

The business emphasizes personalized service, involving clients throughout the process, and offers a one-year health guarantee on dogs they select and train. They also provide free phone and email consultations for the lifetime of the dog.

Their unique advantages include not requiring fundraising for their organization, retaining no ownership rights over the dog after training, and offering a commitment to make things right, including dog replacement if necessary. They also have a shorter waiting list compared to many other providers.

Beyond service dog placement, they offer community education programs, including a “Waggy Tales” reading program where service dogs in training help children improve reading skills, and therapy dog visits to senior living homes and care centers. They also provide informational presentations for businesses on service dogs. They operate a school for dog trainers and have experience training search and rescue and police K9 dogs.

Accomplishments

Highland Canine Training, LLC opened in 2006 as a full-service dog training facility and launched its International School for Dog Trainers the same year. They began offering mobility service dogs in 2007. Assistance Dogs for Autism was officially launched in 2009 to address the need for affordable autism service dogs. Their first Autism Assistance Dog, Rocket, was delivered in Florida in 2010.

They partnered with DASHA (Dedicated Animals Serving Humans Always) in Puerto Rico in 2010 and delivered Mia, the first Hearing Assistance “Signal” Dog on the island, in 2012. In 2016, they started the ‘Waggy Tales’ Reading Program with Union Grove Elementary School, and the ‘Book Buddies’ program with Langtree Charter Academy in 2018. In 2018, they trained Solace, a Labrador Retriever, as a Therapy Dog for the Shelter Home of Caldwell County. In 2021, their team attended the Rainbow Kidz Summer Camp and the Alexander County Picnic With A Puppy event. In 2022, they partnered with Pawtism to help families obtain grants. In 2023, they trained Service Dog Bella for a deaf and blind individual. In 2024, they expanded international deliveries to Canada and Mexico.

How to Get Started!

The first step is to complete the application process, which consists of a Preliminary Application followed by a more in-depth Packet Application. The application process is simple, and they do not charge any application fees. They can help walk clients through each step of the process. Generally, children should be at least 3.5 years of age to apply for an Autism Assistance Dog, but each applicant’s situation is viewed individually based on their unique needs and lifestyle.