The first step in creating a successful service dog team is finding the perfect service dog.

Northern Indiana Service Dogs uses golden retreivers and labrador retreivers that they own. They have worked very hard in finding the right bloodlines that will make the best service dogs.

As soon as the puppies are born, they start their service dog training. Their service dog training will consist of: public outings, home visits with volunteers and their recipients, and over 500 hours of one on one training with their trainer.

Northern Indiana Service Dogs train their dogs to work in the following areas:

1. Autism - Social Dogs
2. Companion Dogs
3. Emotional Support Dogs
4. Hearing Dogs
5. Seizure Response Dogs *
6. Service Dogs
7. Therapy Dogs

Tasks service dogs can perform:

1. Retrieve dropped objects
2. Open and close doors
3. Turn lights on and off
4. Nose buttons
5. Alert to sounds
6. Assist with balance
7. Assist pulling a wheelchair
8. Go get help
9. Provide unconditional love

* There is no guarantee that a seizure respone dog can predict a seizure. However, we would expect that in time, after bonding with your dog, they will notice oncoming seizures and will alert you to them.

It can take anywhere from 10 to 16 months to train a service dog.

Once a recipient is accepted into the program, Northern Indiana Service Dogs will discuss with the recipient what tasks are needed. Our goal is to specially train them a dog for their individual needs.

When the dog is ready to graudate, the recipient will come to Indiana and spend time with the trainer.

Northern Indiana Service Dogs will always be available to the team after placement.