Question 1

What type of working dogs do you train?

Accepted Answer

At Good Dog!, we offer two main types of placements:
Service Dogs – Trained and placed with children who have autism or related disabilities, assisting with daily tasks and providing life-changing support.
Facility Dogs – Live and work alongside a professional, helping children with autism or related disabilities reach their goals in schools, therapy centers, and care settings.
We also offer a Train Your Own (TYO) program, where we guide families and independent adults in training their own service dogs for a wide range of needs, including:
Neurocognitive Support (autism, sensory processing disorders, developmental delays, social and emotional support, etc.)
Medical Alert & Response (hard of hearing, diabetic alert, seizure alert, POTS, cardiac conditions, other episodic or chronic medical needs)
Mobility Support (balance and stability assistance, retrieving items, opening doors, wheelchair support, tasks to enhance independence)
Psychiatric Support (anxiety and depression, PTSD/trauma recovery, community reintegration)
…and many other unique or rare disability needs. If a trained service dog can assist, we can help guide you in training for it.

We cannot help you train a guide dog for the Blind and visually impaired.

All  applicants must be accepted via our application process and provide  proof of a qualifying disability if they wish to use a Service Dog in  public establishments.

Question 2

Can Good Dog! train my pet dog to become a service dog?

Accepted Answer

At Good Dog!, our trainers focus exclusively on raising and training puppies for our Full Service Placement Program—we do not train dogs already owned by families.

But if you already have a dog you’d like to train, there’s good news: our Train Your Own (TYO) Program is designed for just that. In this program, you take the lead in training your dog, with our expert coaching and support along the way.

To help set you and your dog up for success, we offer a Bring Your Own Dog (BYOD) Application & Assessment. This process gives you a clear, professional recommendation on whether your dog is a suitable candidate for service work. You can complete the BYOD assessment either before or after submitting your TYO application—whichever makes the most sense for you.

Question 3

How much do your programs cost?

Accepted Answer

Both programs begin with a $200 application fee, which is applied toward program costs if you are accepted.

Full Service Placement (FSP)
At Good Dog!, we’re committed to making life-changing service dogs accessible to all families in need. It costs over $32,000 to raise, care for, and train each dog, while also providing lifelong education and support for each family.

We offer two pathways to cover these costs:
Fee-for-Service: Families (or those with access to state funding) contribute the full $32,000.
Fundraising Program: Families are asked to raise $26,000, and together we work to secure the remaining amount. Families often continue fundraising while Good Dog! applies donations from our Scholarship Fund to support fundraising recipients. Fundraising is never required, but many families choose this path and find the love and support from their communities to be a healing experience in itself.
Additional Note: Families are responsible for their own travel, lodging, transportation, and food during the required five-day Team Training in Southern California.

Train Your Own (TYO) Certified Program
The total cost of the Certified TYO program is $12,000. Families may:
Pay the full amount (fee-for-service), OR
Fundraise the full amount with our fundraising coaching, tools, and support.
Additional Note: Puppy purchase is not included but may be added to your fundraising goal if needed.

Question 4

How is Good Dog! funded?

Accepted Answer

Good Dog! is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization (EIN #45-2627922). Our programs are funded through a combination of recipient contributions, individual donors, corporate sponsorships, and grants.

Recipients are required to either pay a minimum fee-for-service or fundraise toward the cost of their dog. All additional support comes from the generosity of donors, with every contribution going directly to the Good Dog! Scholarship Fund to help make service dogs accessible to families in need.

Question 5

Where can I learn more about the Founders of Good Dog!

Accepted Answer

Thank you for your interest in the Sylvester Family. There are a few places to go for more information about them and their inspiration to start Good Dog! Service Canines, originally Good Dog! Autism Companions:
1. Founders Story Blog
2. The bottom of the Who We Are page
3. Media Page

Question 6

What do you do with the dogs that don’t become service dogs?

Accepted Answer

Occasionally, we have a dog that is not suited for the high demands of service work.  These dogs are first evaluated for other careers, such as becoming a Facility Dog or a Companion Dog. If neither of these career paths are right for the dog, these dogs become available for adoption as excellent pets, called Released Dogs. Click here to apply for a Released Dog.

Question 7

What disabilities do you serve?

Accepted Answer

Full Service Placement (FSP)
Good Dog! service dogs are specially trained for families of children with autism and related diagnoses such as Down Syndrome, Fragile X, Apraxia, and ADHD. These dogs are trained in tasks that help mitigate disabilities, including applying or receiving pressure, interrupting or redirecting behavior, providing focus and grounding, and creating a social and communicative bridge.

All service dogs are placed as three-party teams: the dog, the child, and a parent/caregiver who lives with the child and serves as the primary handler.
 👉 View our Full Service Placement eligibility criteria here.

Train Your Own (TYO)
Our TYO Program is open to families raising children with disabilities as well as independent adults with disabilities. We support training for a wide variety of service dog roles, including:
Neurocognitive Support (autism, sensory processing disorders, developmental delays, social and emotional support, etc.)
Medical Alert & Response (hard of hearing, diabetic alert, seizure alert, POTS, cardiac conditions, other episodic or chronic medical needs)
Mobility Support (balance and stability assistance, retrieving items, opening doors, wheelchair support, tasks to enhance independence)
Psychiatric Support (anxiety and depression, PTSD/trauma recovery, community reintegration)
…and many other unique or rare disability needs. If a trained service dog can assist, we can help guide you in training for it.

We cannot help you train a guide dog for the Blind or visually impaired.

All  applicants must be accepted via our application process and provide  proof of a qualifying disability if they wish to use a Service Dog in  public establishments.

👉 View our Train Your Own eligibility criteria here.

Question 8

Do you provide service dogs to independent individuals with disabilities?

Accepted Answer

NO - Full Service Placement (FSP): Our Full Service program is designed specifically for children with disabilities and their families. All placements are three-party teams that include the dog, the child, and a parent/caregiver who serves as the primary handler.

YES - Train Your Own (TYO): Yes! Through our TYO program, we support independent adults with disabilities who are ready to take the lead in training their own service dog. With our guidance and resources, adults can successfully prepare their dog to become a working partner.

Question 9

How do I/we apply?

Accepted Answer

Whether you’re interested in our Full Service Placement (FSP) program or our Train Your Own (TYO) program, the first step is the same: attend the online Application Orientation for the program you are interested in.

This required session explains each program in detail, outlines what’s expected, and gives you a chance to ask questions—so you feel confident and informed before you apply.

👉 Sign up for one of our Application Orientations here.

Please note: the FSP program has open application periods. Orientation sessions are only available during the four months leading up to the application due date. If applications are currently closed, we recommend joining our Interest List—we’ll email you as soon as the next application period opens.

Not sure which program is right for you? Visit our Help Me Decide page.

Question 10

What’s the difference between service dogs, facility dogs, companion dogs, and emotional support animals?

Accepted Answer

The terms can be confusing, so here’s a simple breakdown:

Service Dogs – Specifically trained to perform tasks for one individual with a disability. They are legally allowed in public places and can live in housing with “no pets” policies. They may also fly in airplane cabins with their handler.
Facility Dogs – Specially trained to work alongside a professional (such as a therapist, teacher, or counselor) to support multiple people in schools, therapy sessions, or care settings. They do not have the same public access rights as service dogs.
Companion Dogs – Provide comfort, companionship, and emotional support to one person but are not trained for specific tasks related to a disability. They are not granted public access rights.
Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) – Offer emotional comfort and support, often prescribed by a medical professional. ESAs may qualify for housing with “no pets” policies but do not have public access rights or airplane access.

In short: service dogs are task-trained for disability support, facility dogs serve groups in professional settings, companion dogs offer personal companionship, and emotional support animals provide comfort without specialized training.
 
Here’s a quick comparison to help you see the differences between service dogs, facility dogs, companion dogs, and emotional support animals at a glance.

Question 11

What if we have trouble or questions once our dog is home?

Accepted Answer

Good Dog! provides lifetime support for every team, whether you’re in the Full Service Placement or Train Your Own program.
Full Service Placement (FSP): Families receive structured follow-up, including monthly contact during the first year after graduation and annual check-ins after that.
Train Your Own (TYO): While TYO teams do not have required monthly contact, they have ongoing access to our trainers and resources for the life of the dog.
In both programs, our team is always just a phone call or email away whenever questions or challenges arise.

Question 12

How do we know if TYO or FSP is best for us?

Accepted Answer

Choosing between our Full Service Placement (FSP) and Train Your Own (TYO) program depends on your family’s needs, capacity, and goals. FSP provides a fully trained dog after a wait period, while TYO allows you to start sooner by training your own dog with our support.

👉 Visit our Help Me Decide webpage for a step-by-step guide, tools, and resources to help you choose the best path for your situation.

Question 13

Full Service Placement – How long is the wait for a service dog?

Accepted Answer

The typical wait time for a Good Dog! service dog is about 36 months, beginning once a family has raised their fee-for-service. Because each match is customized, timing may vary depending on your child’s needs and your family’s lifestyle.

We know three years can feel like a long time, but our dogs complete a comprehensive two-year training program to ensure the best possible match. As a smaller organization, we take the time to really know each family so the right dog goes to the right home.

Please note: a three-year wait is standard for reputable service dog organizations. If you find a program with less than a two-year wait, we encourage you to research them carefully.

👉 If you need a service dog sooner and feel ready to take on the training yourself, consider our Train Your Own (TYO) Program, where we guide you in training your own dog.

Question 14

Full Service Placement - How is a Good Dog! chosen for my child in your?

Accepted Answer

We know that each family, child, and dog is unique and so Good Dog! custom matches each dog with the unique needs and lifestyle of each family. We use a three tiered system to evaluate personality compatibility, the child’s specific needs, and family environment.
 
Based on the tasks you would like the dog to perform, the special requirements of your child, and your family’s activity level and desires, we select a dog with just the right temperament, personality, and abilities to meet your family’s needs.  Learn more about this process here.

Question 15

Full Service Placement - What type of education & support do you offer families?

Accepted Answer

Our family education program is a 3-step program; 
1. Prerequisite learning/FETCH Online Classes, 
2. Team Training and 
3. Ongoing Support and Follow-up. 
 
1. After you are matched with a dog, you must complete required reading and participate in online classes in preparation for Team Training. This learning is encouraged for everyone in the household.

2. The primary handler will come to Southern California with a group of other handlers for a 5-day Team Training. Team Training is an immersive learning experience when you will go through classes on topics related to canine behavior, health, and psychology, hands-on sessions working with your dog, and field trips to practice handling the dog in public. At the end of team training you will graduate with your dog as a team and return with him to your child and family!

3. We provide ongoing support and assistance to service dog teams for the life of the dog, which includes, at a minimum, monthly follow-up contact for the first year after graduation and annual contact after that.

Question 16

Full Service Placement - My child is a runner/bolter/wanderer, are your dogs trained to help with this?"

Accepted Answer

We do not specialize in safety. If this is your number one priority, Good Dog! is most likely not the organization for you. You might find it helpful to attend our free online Infurmation Hour as we do discuss the pros and cons of service dogs for safety.

Question 17

Full Service Placement - What breeds of dogs do you train?  Where do you get your dogs?

Accepted Answer

We only train and place Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Golden/Labrador Retriever crosses and on occasion LabraDoodles, GoldenDoodles and Australian Labradoodles. Please note that we are unable to accept children/families who require hypoallergenic dogs.
 
We consider each puppy we bring into the program very carefully because we want to make sure each dog has the highest chance of graduating.  We currently obtain our puppies-for-training from purpose bred breeders who focus on even temperament and good health.

Question 18

Train Your Own - How will I learn to train my dog?

Accepted Answer

Our puppy training foundation is delivered in partnership with BAXTER & Bella, whose positive reinforcement-based online training system has helped thousands of families raise well-mannered dogs. Their tools are fully integrated into the Certified Good Dog! experience, giving you confidence and guidance from the start.

And you won’t be doing it alone—the Good Dog! team is with you every step of the way throughout both the Puppy Training Module (PTM) and the Finishing Training Module (FTM). With monthly check-ins, in-person assessments, and personalized coaching, we provide ongoing support to help you and your dog succeed at each stage of the journey.

Question 19

Train Your Own - Do I need to already have a dog to join the TYO program?

Accepted Answer

No. Some families or individuals already own a dog they hope to train (see our Bring Your Own Dog assessment), while others prefer to get a new puppy with our guidance. Either path can work—we’ll help you determine the best fit for your situation.

Question 20

Train Your Own - How much time should I expect to spend training my dog?

Accepted Answer

Training your own service dog is a daily commitment. Expect to practice skills and reinforce training throughout your regular routine, with additional focused training sessions several times a week. While the workload is significant, many families find it rewarding and empowering.

Question 21

Train Your Own - What happens if my dog doesn’t qualify to become a service dog?

Accepted Answer

Not every dog will be suited for full service work, and that’s okay. In some cases, a dog may still be able to perform all the trained tasks and cues at home or in limited settings, but not meet the requirements for public access. In that case, your dog could graduate as a Companion Dog—still offering life-changing support, just without public access rights.

You won’t ever be caught off guard. Throughout the program, we’ll work closely with you to monitor progress, address problem behaviors, and provide honest feedback. If challenges arise, we’ll walk through them together so you always know where your dog stands and what options are available.

And if your dog ultimately isn’t a fit, they’ll remain your beloved pet—and you’re welcome to continue the program with a new dog if you choose. Either way, you’ll never go through this process alone.

Frequently Asked Questions