Determine if you meet the age, location, housing situation, and training requirements.

• Our minimum age requirement is generally 14 years of age. Placement is based on maturity and the disability of the child. The child must be able to give clear commands and maintain control of their assistance dog at all times, including public places.
• Our geographical area served is approximately 75 – 90 miles from the Greater Cincinnati area.
• No other dogs may live in homes with Circle Tail service dogs or hearing dogs.
• Circle Tail requires 60 hours of formal training. This requires multiple visits to the Circle Tail training center before, during and after the team partnering process.
• A fenced yard may be required in some cases. Daily exercise must be provided to the dog.
• Our teams must maintain membership in the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP) for the first three years of partnership (total costs for first three years is $80), complete the AKC Canine Good Citizen Test, Assistance Dogs International Public Access Certification Test and a skills test within the first year of partnership and yearly thereafter for a minimum of 3 years, and complete monthly progress reports the first 6 months of partnership and then yearly

Complete a pre-applicant questionnaire. Because there is a $25.00 non-refundable application fee when you apply for a service/hearing dog, we use the pre-applicant questionnaire to ensure that the person will be appropriate for an assistance dog before we send an application packet.

Based on the results of the pre-applicant questionnaire, a potential applicant will be asked to come to Circle Tail for an interview. Following the interview, an application may be emailed or mailed to the person. Once a completed application is received, a home visit and a second interview at Circle Tail are the final steps in the application process.