Social Dogs are obedience-trained companions that will be managed by an adult caretaker with the help of the child.  Social dogs are generally used by children who need a best friend and part-time helper. They provide unconditional love as well as retrieve items and perform other tasks needed by a homebound child or a child unable to manage a dog alone. These dogs will require the same care as Service Dogs and may have some of the same skills. Social Dogs will not be allowed in school or out in public alone with the child, but an exception may be made for the team to go in public as a trio (parent, child and dog) if they pass the public access test and meet other standards set by Loving Paws. Social Dogs are available to children and young adults age 5 and over.

Loving Paws does not provide Guide Dogs for the Blind, Hearing Dogs for the Deaf,  Seizure Alert Dogs, Diabetic Alert Dogs, Psychiatric Support Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Protection Dogs or dogs to keep children in the yard.  You can find information about many other organizations that are accredited through Assistance Dogs International at www.adionline.org.

Team Training
Loving Paws accepts qualified applicants from throughout the United States.  Applicants are matched with dogs that complement their personalities and needs.  Each applicant, along with a parent or guardian (if applicable), receives two to three weeks of specialized training with the dogs, which includes mastering skills in dog training, dog care, leadership, public etiquette, and safety.  We offer one Team Training class per year, in either Oregon or California, typically during the summer.

There is a $1,000 class fee for Team Training.  Our assistance dogs are always provided free of charge, thanks to our generous volunteers and supporters.

Applicant families are responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses as well as class costs such as field trips and meals.  Each child must be accompanied by a parent or primary adult caretaker for the duration of the class.  Annual home visits from LPAD staff ensure the team is safe and working well. 

How do the applicants learn to control the dogs?
Loving Paws provides a Team Training class for the applicant. If applicant is a minor, a parent or guardian must attend the entire Team Training class as well. Team Training consists of lectures, training exercises, working with dogs in the classroom and in public, and several written and practical tests. Both the applicant and, if applicable, the parent/guardian must successfully complete the Team Training class before a dog will be placed.

What happens after the dog is placed with the applicant?
An instructor makes regularly-scheduled home visits to evaluate the team’s progress and resolve any problems. Graduates can call or e-mail Loving Paws for advice or help at any time.

Why does this concept work?
It works because these special dogs want to be loved. They enjoy their work and are willing to be on call 24 hours a day whether it’s going for help or just providing companionship. These dogs will provide unconditional love and companionship as long as they live, and that may well be the most important of all the tasks they do.

Owning an Assistance Dog
While the benefits of owning an Assistance Dog are great, the responsibilities are many.  This dog is not a toy that you can put in a closet when you’re tired of working with it.  He is not a robot who will do things perfectly every time.  The dog will live in your home with you.

As a parent, you must be willing and able to care for an assistance dog.  They can add $50 or more per month to your family budget with the cost of vet care (routine and traumatic), food, grooming, toys, and equipment.  They also require a lot of time, attention, and exercise which the child may not be able to provide on his or her own.  You will be the one responsible for the care of the dog at all times.

We urge all parents/applicants to think carefully before applying for a dog.  If you wouldn’t adopt a 3-year-old child, you shouldn’t get an assistance dog.