Program Timeline

1. Talk to your doctor and obtain a letter demonstrating your need for a service animal to mitigate your disability. Remember, this is required by Ontario law, and Alliance Service Dogs must receive a copy prior to the Meet & Greet. If you need help with the letter wording, please see a template here.

2. Apply through the form below. Please allow yourself 30 minutes or more to complete it with care and detail.

3. Book your Meet & Greet. This is a 60-minute meeting with your instructor, you, your dog, and any support people you’d like to bring along. Your instructor will have some specific questions for you, and the rest of the time will be spent on environmental exposures and introductory training. The Meet & Greet is designed to provide a low-stress introduction to your instructor, and to evaluate your dog for any immediate behavioural issues.

4. Attend your Trial Period lessons. The Trial Period is a 12-week series of private lessons, paid in a single package. Please see this page for information about payment plans, completion timeframes, refund policies, and cancellation policies. Trial Period lessons occur only in pet-friendly environments. Please note that completion of the Trial Period does not guarantee a successful Entrance Exam.

5. At the end of your Trial Period, complete the Entrance Exam. Passing teams earn their branded “In Training” vest and continue to the next phases of the program. They also gain access to our other services, such as Group Classes, Day Training, and Board & Train. Please note that completion of the Entrance Exam does not guarantee graduation from the program.

6. Public Access & Task Training. Private lessons continue at a weekly or bi-weekly pace. Teams complete service dog specific training and work toward graduation. Please note that every student will progress through these stages of training at different rates due to a variety of factors.

7. The Final Evaluation is a 90-minute test that covers public access skills, team relationship and communication, handler knowledge of body language and service dog legislation, and more. Most teams need approximately 2 years of training before graduating this final step.