Canine Companions for Independence - North Central Region - Canine Companions for Independence

• People with disabilities who can demonstrate that an assistance dog will enhance their independence or their quality of life
• Also eligible are professionals working for organizations that provide care to clients who will benefit from interaction with a facility dog
• Individuals applying for a service dog must be at least 18 years old with an established, stable home life.
• Children must be at least five years old to be considered a Skilled Companion.

Canine Companions does not train or place dogs for the following: to do guide work for the blind, to do seizure or diabetic alert/response, to anticipate or detect medical symptoms, for the primary benefit of emotional comfort or social support, to recognize and/or manage undesirable human behavior, to provide supervision, navigation, or safety from environmental hazards, to respond aggressively or to provide personal protection.

An application with instructions is available online. The application process takes between 3 - 6 months, on average, before an applicant can be accepted into the program. If accepted, the candidate moves to the waiting list. Waiting times can vary widely.

The dog is free of charge. Students must pay for their transportation to and from the center, their meals during Team Training, and depending on the training center in your regional area, the cost of staying in a hotel.