FAQ

How can I learn more about becoming a professional Assistance Dog trainer?
The Assistance Dog Institute has Associate of Science degree and certificate programs aimed at preparing trainers to enter the Assistance Dog industry.
Can you provide a speaker to make a presentation at our event?
We will do our best to accommodate your requests. For speaking events outside an approximately 25 mile radius of our office, we appreciate a suggested donation to compensate for staff wages and travel expenses. You may contact us at 608-250-WAGS (9247) or send us an email.
Which other organizations in the Assistance Dog industry is WAGS, Inc. associated with?
WAGS, Inc. is a member of Assistance Dogs International and The Assistance Dog United Campaign. Our Program and Service Directors are both graduates of the Assistance Dog Institute.
Is there any time when a business has the right to ask that a Service Dog leave the premises?

According to the U.S Department of Justice, a business has the right to ask that a Service Dog leave the premises only if the dog is:

  • Not under control
  • Wandering unattended
  • Barking inappropriately
  • Whining excessively
  • Showing aggressive behaviors towards adults, children, or other animals.
However, a business does not have the right to refuse access or ask that a Service Dog be removed because someone:
  • Does not like, or is afraid of, dogs
  • Feels that dogs are dirty and should not be in public establishments
  • Has allergies.
What are some other resources available regarding Assistance Dogs?

You can find more information on Assistance Dogs at:

Do laws exist to protect the rights of people with disabilities and their service animals?

    Yes, in the United States, there are both federal and state laws that mandate access for Service Dogs.

Public Accomodations

    Section 36.302(c) of the The Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) requires public accommodations generally to modify policies, practices, and procedures to accommodate the use of service animals in places of public accommodation.
    Place of public accommodation means a facility, operated by a private entity, whose operations affect commerce and fall within at least one of the following categories:

  • Places of lodging
  • Establishments serving food or drink
  • Places of exhibition or entertainment
  • Places of public gathering
  • Sales or rental establishments
  • Service establishments
  • Stations and facilities used for specified public transportation
  • Places of public display or collection
  • Places of recreation
  • Places of education
  • Social service center establishments
  • Places of exercise or recreation


    Section 36.104 of the ADA defines a service animal as

        “any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair or fetching dropped items.”

    According to Wisconsin State Statute 106.52:

        “No person may refuse to permit entrance into, or use of, or otherwise deny the full and equal enjoyment of any public place of accommodation or amusement to a person with a disability or to a service animal trainer because the person with a disability or the trainer is accompanied by a service animal; charge a person with a disability or a service animal trainer a higher price than the regular rate, including a deposit or surcharge, for the full and equal enjoyment of any public place of accommodation or amusement because the person with a disability or the trainer is accompanied by a service animal; or directly or indirectly publish, circulate, display, or mail any written communication that the communicator knows is to the effect that entrance into, or use of, or the full and equal enjoyment of any of the facilities of the public place of accommodation or amusement will be denied to a person with a disability or a service animal trainer because the person with a disability or the trainer is accompanied by a service animal or that the patronage of a person with a disability or a service animal trainer is unwelcome, objectionable, or unacceptable because the person with a disability or the trainer is accompanied by a service animal.”

Airline Access and Housing

    The first Federal legislation to directly address public access rights of people with disabilities who have service animals was the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986. The act amended the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to provide that prohibitions of discrimination against handicapped people apply to air carriers. Regulations clarify that air carriers must permit “dogs and other service animals used by handicapped people to accompany the people on a flight.” As a result of these 1986 stipulations regarding air transport, the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act does not reference air carriers in its Title II and III transportation requirements.

Dog License Tax Exemptions in Wisconsin (Chapter 174.055: Exemptions of dogs for blind, deaf, and mobility impaired)

        “Every dog specially trained to lead blind or deaf persons or to provide support for mobility-impaired persons is exempt from the dog license tax and every person owning such a dog shall receive annually a free dog license from the local collecting officer upon application.”

What are the various roles that Assistance Dogs play?

WAGS, Inc. specializes in one type of Assistance Dog that assists people with mobility impairments, called Service Dogs. Service Dogs retrieve dropped or out of reach items for their partners. They can also push elevator buttons, open and close doors, and operate light switches.

Assistance Dogs help people with disabilities become more self-sufficient. They guide people with vision impairments safely through obstacles and traffic; alert people with hearing impairments to sounds in their daily lives such as a crying baby, a ringing telephone, or an alarm clock; offer assistance for people with mobility impairments; and offer therapy and love to people who are lonely or sick. New programs are constantly being developed to explore innovative ways in which dogs can assist people, including alerting a person with a seizure disorder to an oncoming seizure, detecting cancer, teaching children to read, working with children with autism, even alerting diabetics to a drop in their insulin.

What are the different types of assistance dogs that WAGS trains?

Types of WAGS dogs include:

Service Dogs

Partnered with an adult client with mobility impairment, who is the sole handler of the dog. The dog has skills appropriate to attend work or other public venues with their client handler.

Family Service Dogs

Partnered with a child with a physical disability, who is unable to assume responsibility for the dog on their own. Therefore, a parent will be the primary handler of the dog. The dog has skills appropriate to attend public venues provided the primary parent handler is present. WAGS dogs stay home while the child is in school.

Clinical Therapy Dogs

Partnered with a clinical, professional or para-professional. The dog will reside in the home of the clinicians(s) who will handle the dog at the facility as a therapeutic modality. The dog has skills specifically appropriate for positive impact in therapeutic settings.

Home Helpmate Dogs

Partnered with children and other individuals who will be assisted by the skills of a service dog in their home, but do not need access to public venues with a service dog, or are not able to assume responsibility for the dog in public on their own.

What is the appropriate way to interact with an assistance dog team?

In general, when you meet a person with an assistance dog, please remember that the dog is working. You do not want anything to interrupt the dog from performing its tasks. Keep in mind that even though it may appear to you that the team is not performing a task at the moment, that assistance dog is still on call and must give his or her attention to the assistance dog user. Here are a few specific “Dos” and “Don’ts”:

  • Do speak to the person first
  • Do ask to pet their dog
  • Do keep in mind that the dog has a very important job to do
  • Do be aware that assistance dogs are allowed in public places
  • Do know that the dog loves to work and is well treated
  • Do remember that the dog is friendly and loveable
  • Do teach others that the dog is working
  • Do not talk to, call, or make sounds at the dog
  • Do not touch the assistance dog without asking permission
  • Do not let others freely pet the dog
  • Do not feed the assistance dog
  • Do not give commands to the dog; this is the owner’s job
  • Do not ask personal questions about the handlers disability or intrude on his or her privacy
  • Do not be offended if the handler declines to chat about the assistance dog
  • Do not be offended if asked not to pet the dog.
How do I arrange a visit to the WAGS training facility?
We enjoy having visitors. Simply call 608-250-WAGS (9247) or send us an email. We would appreciate knowing at least a week or two in advance, and what your primary interest in WAGS is.
Are donations to WAGS tax deductible?
Yes, WAGS, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Therefore your contributions are tax deductible.
Where do WAGS dogs come from?

Starting with the right dog is an crucial aspect of determining our success. We have found Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers to be the breeds that are best suited for the life of a service dog. Most WAGS dogs are currently donated from breeders throughout Wisconsin. If you are a breeder interested in donating a puppy, please contact the WAGS office.

A WAGS dog should be able to help their person for many years, so only puppies with a family history free of orthopedic and other health problems can be considered. Evaluations on the temperament of each incoming pup are also conducted. WAGS dogs should have a calm demeanor and be utterly without aggression to either people or other dogs. They should get satisfaction from working and helping their owners. They should have a deep and abiding desire to please their people. They must have the potential to care more about their person than about other dogs, other people, or even a squirrel or a cat that crosses their path.

How do I find out about volunteer opportunities at WAGS?
You will find an overview of our volunteer programs and volunteer position descriptions in the Volunteer section.
How can I apply for a WAGS dog?
The process for requesting a service dog is outlined in the section of this web site that describes Our Program.
How long does each WAGS dog work?
The average working life of a WAGS dog is eight years. Upon retirement, these dogs live out the rest of their lives as pets, often times with their partner, or with family or friends of the client.
What happens to the dogs that do not graduate?
WAGS is proud to have a very high rate of dogs that graduate as Service Dogs, Family Service/Therapy Dogs, Companion Dogs, Facility/Therapy Dogs. From time to time we do have a dog that due to health or temperament is unable to be placed in one of the four WAGS dog roles. Those interested in adopting a non-graduate dog need to fill out a non-graduate application, pass a home visit and pay the required adoption fee. A non-graduate is usually released between 1-2 years of age. They are spayed or neutered and are current on vaccinations.
What is the fee to obtain a Service Dog from WAGS?
The cost for two years of raising and training a WAGS dog is approximately $12,000. This includes, but is not limited to, veterinary care, dog food and treats, training materials and supplies, ongoing client training and services, facility rental, and training and administrative costs. The current portion of these costs that a WAGS client is responsible for is between $2,000 - $6,000, depending on the type of dog being placed.
How long is the wait for a Service Dog from WAGS?
The demand for Service Dogs far exceeds the current supply. Nationally, the average wait time for a Service Dog is approximately three to five years. WAGS is constantly evaluating and improving upon our program in an attempt to shorten the waiting time. Because we use social style matching between a person and a dog to identify an optimum pairing of a Service Dog team, it is difficult to determine the exact waiting time. On average it takes six months to two years to find a suitable match.
What kind of life does a WAGS dogs lead?
The life of a service dog is one full of joy, love and fulfillment. Service dogs get to accompany their human partner anywhere, and are almost always with them twenty four hours a day. Unlike a lot of pet dogs they are not left chained up in a backyard or kennel for a large part of their day. They receive lots of love, toys, treats, and play time. WAGS dogs are given a quality dog food, veterinarian care, and grooming. All of their basic physical and emotional needs are met, and they get to work!
Can WAGS help me to train my own dog to become a Service Dog?
WAGS only trains dogs that come into the program as puppies and then places those dogs with individuals who have gone through the application process to receive one of our dogs. If you own a dog and would like to train it as a service dog, WAGS cannot help you. You may be able to find a program that does owner training at Assistance Dogs International.
Who is eligible to apply for a WAGS dog?
WAGS considers many factors before accepting applicants to be a client. At the very least, our clients must:

 

  • Live within about an 80 mile radius of Madison, Wisconsin
  • Be able and willing to utilize the dog’s training
  • Be able to care for the dog physically, emotionally, and financially
  • Be willing to work, practice, and play with their dog.
How are WAGS dogs trained?
WAGS dogs are raised, socialized, and trained using positive reinforcement methods by volunteers under the constant supervision and evaluation of our training director.