Circle Tail, Inc.

Back to Home

  Assistance Dog Program

  Assistance Dog Types

Application Process

In-Home Assistance Dogs

Owner-Trained Assistance Dogs

Assistance Dog Teams

Assistance Dogs in Training

Retired Assistance Dogs

Assistance Dog Club

Full member of Assistance Dogs International, Inc.

 Owner-Trained Assistance Dogs

In some cases, individuals may choose to train their own dog to assist them in public. Circle Tail provides assistance with training and certification for individuals who are interested in or are in the process of training their own dog.

Circle Tail follows the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP) guidelines.

Circle Tail will first assess the dog to evaluate his/her appropriateness as an assistance dog. Not every dog makes a good assistance dog. NOTE: The dog MUST be spayed or neutered prior to training for assistance work.

A program for training and socializing the dog will be developed.  Training may involve group classes along with several private lessons. The program will depend on how far the dog and you are along in the training process. 

Criteria for having an owner-trained assistance dog team certified through Circle Tail include:  

1. Successfully complete the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Test

2. Successfully complete the Assistance Dogs International Public Access Test 

3. Successfully complete a skills test individual to each team.

Certified teams and teams in training are also eligible to join the Assistance Dog Club of Circle Tail.

If you are interested in learning more about training and/or certifying your own assistance dog, please email training@circletail.org or call 513-877-3325.

Back to Home