I always want to answer this question but it’s a lot of explaining! Not all well known programs are free or non-profit but many are. Typically they train dogs to a specific disability or need. An example of this are guide dogs and mobility dogs. An important factor in your decision is, will this dog actually benefit me in my treatment for my disability or will managing a dogs needs, getting a lot of unwanted attention in public, and some pushback in access to uneducated businesses, be too difficult for me? I don’t think this needs to be said but providing emotional support is not a task under the ADA and there are no legal registrations for service dogs. Emotional support dogs, therapy dogs, and service dogs are all different things. ESA’s don’t require training but in my opinion, all dogs should have some structure. Some private trainers / board and train facilities can be very poorly ran and abusive. On the other hand, I know some great trainers. The best pick their clients and don’t say yes to everyone. They know the law WELL and sometimes in other countries. Ask where they’ve worked, references, videos, the entire process into which they train a dog (especially before you invest an arm and a leg). If you are getting help training a dog, do the same but let the trainer help you from the beginning. Some really great trainers know breeders that might suit your needs best and can help you start out with the right puppy prospect. And lastly, not all dogs are meant to be service dogs and that’s OKAY. This is called “washing” a service dog prospect. you need to be prepared for keeping a dog as a pet if it doesn’t work out as a service dog. Training typically and realistically takes 1-2.5 years starting from a puppy depending on the dog and your needs. If you have any other questions, feel free to visit my website at www.embraceeveryday.org and click New Life Working Dogs. There’s a waitlist and I can’t train every dog but I can definitely point you in the right direction and know some wonderful trainers. :) ##servicedog##ServiceDogEducation##ServiceDogTrainer##WorkingDogLife##ServiceDogTeam - @embracingecho