A Service Dog is trained to assist ONE person to mitigate a disability. They are protected by the ADA and have rights to enter all public spaces.

Examples of Service Dogs

• Diabetic Alert Dog

• Seizure Response

• Mobility Assist

• Hearing Assist

• Seeing Eye

Training for Service dogs

Because of the high demand & difficulty inherent in training a service dog, it is recommended you have a professional trainer.

getting a service prospect from Valaurah farms

We have been very successful with our service dog placements in the past. Only one puppy thus far has washed from the program. Our high success rate is due to our diligence in raising bomb-proof puppies, our commitment to placing puppies with the correct aptitude and drive for the specific task, and our policies for service dog clients.

Families/Individuals seeking a service dog from us must understand and accept all of the following:

• We are committed to the success of your puppy meeting your needs. This may mean it can take a few litters before an excellent prospect comes along. Your patience, communication, and dedication are an absolute must. We want you and the puppy to succeed, so making the RIGHT match is vital.

• You cannot be picky about sex or coloring when discussing service dog prospects. This is about life-saving/life-changing ability and some dogs are just not suited for service work (too tenderhearted, too drivey, not enough drive). If you are more concerned about looks than about ability, then you may be waiting a loooooong time for a prospect to come around that meets your needs.

• We recommend you have a professional trainer who is versed in training service dogs. This is important for several reasons including the navigation of business tasks (like procuring insurance for your service dog) and increasing the success of your dog in completing the training program. If you are looking for a trainer near you, I recommend visiting USA Service Dog Registration to find a trainer near you.

• Service dog clients are always given priority pick (after Valaurah Farms). This is to ensure that when a service prospect is identified, that puppy is matched to the right client immediately.

 A Therapy Dog is trained to assist others and must be certified by an organization that carries the insurance on the dog. A therapy dog must comply with the regulations of the insuring organization and visit the organizations covered by that insurance company. Limited working hours are allowed and generally, the owner is the trainer and handler.

Examples where Therapy Dogs are common

• Therapist Office

• Hospitals

• Nursing Homes

• Funeral Homes

Training for therapy dogs

If not an established trainer, it is a good policy to consider having private lessons to achieve success

getting a therapy prospect from Valaurah farms

We have placed several therapy dogs over the years with great success. To be considered for a therapy placement, please be sure to notate your desire on the puppy application.

Families/Individuals seeking a therapy dog from us must understand and accept all of the following:

• We are committed to the success of your puppy meeting your needs. This may mean it can take a few litters before an excellent prospect comes along. Your patience, communication, and dedication are an absolute must. We want you and the puppy to succeed, so making the RIGHT match is vital.

• You cannot be picky about sex or coloring when discussing service dog prospects. This is about life-saving/life-changing ability and some dogs are just not suited for therapy work (too tenderhearted, too drivey, not enough drive). If you are more concerned about looks than about ability, then you may be waiting a loooooong time for a prospect to come around that meets your needs.

• We recommend you have a professional trainer who is versed in training therapy dogs. This is important for several reasons including the navigation of business tasks (like procuring insurance for your service dog) and increasing the success of your dog in completing the training program. If you are looking for a trainer near you, I recommend visiting AKC’s Recognized Therapy Dog Organizations page to find a trainer near you.

• Therapy dog seekers are not given priority pick at this time unless explicitly stated.

 A Facility Dog is trained to work as a “therapy dog”, but works only in one location. Full time working hours are common and generally, the owner is the trainer and handler. The question of who carries the insurance is variable.

Where Facility Dogs are common

• Schools

• DA Offices

• Nursing Homes

• Funeral Homes

Training for facility dogs

If not an established trainer, it is a good policy to consider having private lessons to achieve success

getting a facility prospect from Valaurah farms

To be considered for a facility placement, please be sure to notate your desire on the puppy application.

Individuals seeking a facility dog from us must understand and accept all of the following:

• We are committed to the success of your puppy meeting your needs. This may mean it can take a few litters before an excellent prospect comes along. Your patience, communication, and dedication are an absolute must. We want you and the puppy to succeed, so making the RIGHT match is vital.

• You cannot be picky about sex or coloring when discussing facility dog prospects. This is about life-saving/life-changing ability and some dogs are just not suited for therapy work (too tenderhearted, too drivey, not enough drive). If you are more concerned about looks than about ability, then you may be waiting a loooooong time for a prospect to come around that meets your needs.

• We recommend you have a professional trainer who is versed in training therapy dogs. This is important for several reasons including the navigation of business tasks (like procuring insurance for your dog) and increasing the success of your dog in completing the training program. If you are looking for a trainer near you, I recommend visiting AKC’s Recognized Therapy Dog Organizations page to find a trainer near you.

• Facility dog seekers are not given priority pick at this time unless explicitly stated.

 An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is not a Service Dog. There is no universalized training and the dog is not trained for specific tasks. Instead, ESAs help their owner with depression, anxiety, and/or other psychological disorders by providing companionship. They are not protected by the ADA but can fly on airlines and live in otherwise dog-prohibited HOA’s.

Training for ESA dogs

If not an established trainer, it is a good policy to consider having private lessons to achieve success

getting an ESA prospect from Valaurah farms

To be considered for a facility placement, please be sure to notate your desire on the puppy application. Please explicitly describe the type of help you are seeking from your dog.

Individuals seeking an ESA from us must understand and accept all of the following:

• We are committed to the success of your puppy meeting your needs. This may mean it can take a few litters before an excellent prospect comes along. Your patience, communication, and dedication are an absolute must. We want you and the puppy to succeed, so making the RIGHT match is vital.

• You can be picky about sex or coloring when discussing ESA dog prospects, however, I may deter you from one dog or another due to temperament evaluations. This is about life-saving/life-changing ability and some dogs are just not suited for therapy work (too tenderhearted, too drivey, not enough drive).