GLAD WAGS ETHICS STATEMENT

 Glad Wags Inc. operates with dedication and passion to the training and placement of Service Dogs.

We are experienced dog professionals.

As a grass roots organization we operate with a low overhead and complete transparency to where donated dollars are being used.

We DO NOT have predatory pricing! Instead feel that an HONEST price for a Service Dog is the ETHICAL way to run our program.

HONESTY AND INTEGRITY IS ALWAYS ASSURED!!! 

 Glad  Wags obtains our service dogs through working closely with  shelters. We choose candidate dogs based  on the lifestyle, preferences, and needs of our service dog applicants –  because each individual and their needs is unique, we do not ascribe to  a one-size-fits-all approach in matching candidates to their dogs. All  potential service dog candidates are assessed using Volhard temperament  testing in a neutral, non-shelter environment; they are assessed for  innate ability (for example, retrieving potential for a dog that needs  to be able to retrieve) steadiness, intelligence, non-reactiveness and  work ethic.

Upon  being selected for candidacy as a service dog, they are placed with  dedicated volunteer fosters who have been training with Marj in  obedience on their own dogs for several years. These volunteer fosters  work hard to teach the dogs house manners, public access manners, and  basic obedience to a highly reliable level. This stage in the dog’s  training lasts as long as necessary to establish each dog’s public  access and personal competency and also allow the fosters to determine  any individual quirks and training strengths or weaknesses the dogs  have. Our service dog people are also involved in this stage, imprinting  the dog on their person, and teaching the service dog applicant dog  handling skills and troubleshooting any issues or concerns the team  might have.

At this point, the dogs are then fostered with one of our three trainers –  Marj, Onyx, or Beth, to be taught the specific tasks for which  they will be used. This stage lasts a varying period due to the  difficulty of teaching whatever tasks the dog needs to know, and a high  level dog will be in task training for much longer than a dog required  for fewer, more specific tasks. At this point, our service dog  applicants meet their dog at weekly classes and they learn to work  together on obedience, task training, and public access. Some visits are  arranged to make sure the dog is going to work in-home as a part of his  team.

When  the dog has learned all of his tasks and responsibilities, the dog is  sent home with the service dog applicant, and they begin proofing the  dog on their tasks and responsibilities in their home environment and in  real life as well as honing the handler’s skills as a dog trainer. Our  service dog teams continue coming to classes and working towards ever  improving the team’s efficacy, the handler’s skillset and the dog’s  reliability. We offer continuous phone and training support for our  teams, and teams are expected to continue on in classes as a training  resource for the both of them for as long as the team can. We believe  that training is a lifelong process and it is important for teams to  continue honing their skills with us, or in the case of relocation with a  reputable trainer that will be able to provide support.