Independent Service Dog Trainers
Independent trainers (sometimes called private trainers) are usually for profit trainers (or very small nonprofit trainers) who do not train large quantities of service dogs. These trainers usually only train 1 -3 dogs at time. Most independent trainers do not have a waiting list for their clients. Therefore, the only wait time is the time it takes to raise and train the service dog and the handler.
Most private trainers are local therefore the the travel expense is limited to typical gas consumption. Private trainers can often provide substantially more one-on-training time. And they often specifically pick a dog for their handlers. The huge disadvantage obtaining a service dog through a private service dog trainer is cost, cost, and cost.
Most private trainers do not have a non-profit status and therefore cannot depend on corporations seeking a tax break to fund their programs. The handler must acquire the funds to obtain their dog. Since most disabled people do not work or have extremely limted incomes, they resort to fundraising to cover the entire required amount. The cost of a privately trained service dog can range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. Cost is driven by the amount and level of skill the handler requires to help navigate the restrictions of their disability. More skills require more training time which in turn increases the price of the service dog. Remember that non-profit organizations will tell you that it can take tens of thousands of dollars to train a service dog. They make no attempt to deny the time, the highly skilled training, and high cost of service dogs. Their cost is covered by fundraising of their handlers, and corporate donations. However, the cost of the training is still covered. Since private trainers cannot rely on corporate donations, they must ask for the cost of their services directly from the handler. Sadly, some private trainers are ridiculed for charging the very same prices that the large non-profit organizations say it requires to train a service dog. If a private trainer claims they can train a service dog for drastically reduced prices than another private trainer, then be assured that trainer most likely has another job that provides the income they need to survive. There is nothing wrong with that. Just know that’s how they can reduce prices, and donate their time and energy in training a service dog. The private trainer also runs the risk of their client getting tired and frustrated raising money for their services. Some clients leave, take their business somewhere else, and leave the trainer with dog that’s trained but without a handler.
Pros and Cons of Using an Independent Trainer to Obtain a Service Dog
Pros: most trainers are local, no waiting lists, more one-on-one training time, time with your service dog before they live with you, on going support from the private trainer while the dog is living with you. More individualized training, some will allow you keep existing pets. The service dog’s training is usually customized for you.
Cons: handler must cover the entire cost of training, some will require you to rehome existing pets.