The Service Dog Application Process

Many people have been asking me about the Application Process (click to read the info on NSD's website) that we had to go through in order for Cayleb to be approved for his (future) dog.

The first step is to learn that there is a program out there providing dogs for kids with autism. I honestly cannot recall where I heard about a service dog first but one day I simply googled service dogs for autism and came across NSD's website.
The next step was to fill out their 12 page application form, of which Cayleb's paediatrician had to fill out a few pages.
Once our application was reviewed, an interview was set up and a NSD staff member and dog (Chazz) came to our home. The answers we provided were then taken back to a committee who finally approved Cayleb for a dog.

Shortly after our approval, I asked how long the wait would be for Cayleb's dog. At that point we were #24 on the list and NSD places approximately 15 dogs per year. Obviously this number depends on how many dogs are born with the right personality to be a service dog. The puppies are placed in a home for the first year of their lives where they are taken to various places in their community and exposed to various types of situations. Once the puppies are a year old, they return to the NSD centre and complete one year of training. At the end of the two years, the eligible families who are next on the list spend a week (parents only) at the training centre in Cambridge and learn how to work with the dog.

There is an information session which we will be required to attend in the near future where I will have much more information to share.