Assistance Dogs providing stability & independence
Duo Dogs breeds, trains and places Assistance Dogs serving clients with physical or hearing challenges and Veterans living with PTSD. Independence shouldn’t be limited to those who look or live a certain way. Disability reaches all ages, races, classes and backgrounds, and Duo Dogs will, too. Currently, Duo uses Labrador Retrievers because of their excellent disposition and willingness to perform the tasks necessary of a working dog.
Duo Dogs does not train Guide Dogs, Medical Alert Dogs, Autism Support Dogs, Psychiatric Service Dogs for non-Veterans, or personal dogs as Assistance Dogs. For more information on organizations certified by Assistance Dogs International that may be able to serve you, click here.
Eligibility requirements
Thank you for your interest in a Duo Assistance Dog. Before proceeding with the inquiry process, please review Duo’s Eligibility Requirements and the Assistance Dog FAQs.
Applicant(s) must be able to care for and cover the cost of the dog’s basic daily needs, veterinary needs and extended needs including exercise and enrichment. A non-refundable $100 Application Fee is due at the time of application submission.
All applicants must have the cognitive ability and working memory necessary to provide for an Assistance Dog’s safety and well-being, coordinate care for the dog and learn and implement a complex sequence of commands paired with physical redirection.
We require all applicants and those residing in their households aged 18+ to complete a background check. Applicants for Assistance Dogs must have received documentation of diagnosis of a disability/disabling condition at least one year prior to application.
All applicants are required to attend a Team Training in St. Louis, MO and purchase the Assistance Dog Equipment Kit. This kit contains approved equipment necessary to care for the Assistance Dog. The cost is approximately $450. This fee may increase if specialized and/or additional equipment is needed. All fees are to be paid in full at the completion of Team Training. Duo’s “DAVID Fund” is available to cover the cost of equipment for all Veteran clients.
Mobility
An applicant for a Mobility Dog must be at least 18 years of age and live within 120 miles of the Duo Dogs facility. Applicants seeking a Mobility Dog must have a documented disability for at least one year that hinders their mobility. Applicants must not be an active fall risk and must be able to transfer and brace themselves independently with or without the use of an assistive mobility device. The applicant must have good balance with or without the use of an assistive mobility device. Functional upper body strength and adequate motor control that allows for the handling of an Assistance Dog is required (assistive devices may be incorporated to assist with this, as needed). Mobility clients must be able to independently handle, care for and verbally provide commands for an Assistance Dog.
Hearing
An applicant for a Hearing Dog must be 18 years of age and be able to provide a current audiogram. Hearing Dogs placed must be the exclusive dog in the home. Duo Hearing Dogs can only alert to noises they are trained to identify, for example the phone, doorbell, smoke detector, etc. Duo dogs cannot alert to sudden or transient noises, provide traffic safety or provide personal security. Hearing clients must be able to independently handle, care for and verbally provide commands for an Assistance Dog.
PTSD Assistance Dog (Veteran-Specific)
Duo’s Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Program serves Veterans residing within 120 miles of the Duo Dogs facility. Duo does not train PTSD Dogs for the mitigation of any other psychiatric diagnosis or symptoms or as a result of any other type of trauma. Veterans applying for a PTSD Dog must be connected to and receive the ongoing support of a mental health provider at the Veterans Administration or another mental health provider. A diagnosis of PTSD must have been made by a mental health professional at least ONE YEAR PRIOR to application. PTSD Dogs can reorient a client to time and place, reduce anxiety, intervene during nightmares and night terrors, increase confidence in public spaces and provide a social bridge for positive interactions in the community. Our PTSD dogs cannot alert you to sudden noises, provide traffic safety, search rooms or provide guarding or personal security.
Request assistance for an individual
To submit an inquiry for additional information, and to see if Duo Dogs may be a good fit for an Assistance Dog, please complete the form below. A Duo Dogs representative will review the inquiry and provide a response within 7 business days of receipt. If Duo’s program aligns with inquirer’s goals, additional information about moving forward with an application will be provided. If there are any required questions that cannot be answered at this time, please indicate accordingly.
