FAQ

Learn more about Disabled Advantage and read through the frequently asked questions about our dog training program.

Disabled Advantage is a private dog training business—not a service dog program. I don’t provide fully trained service dogs. Due to the nature of my own disability, hands-on training with dogs is physically painful for me. That’s why my approach is different: I teach you, the owner, how to train your own service dog or pet dog at home.

Wondering About the Dogs in the Photos?
The dogs you see on the website are either my personal service dogs, dogs owned by friends who’ve helped with training demos, or service dogs belonging to current and former clients.

I work with clients one-on-one through private Zoom lessons, scheduled weekly or every other week. Once you contact me, I’ll help you enroll in the right course and support you throughout the entire training process. 

Whether you’re starting from scratch or need help finding the right dog, I’m here to guide you—often for 1 to 2 years if you’re training a service dog from start to finish.

What You’ll Get

  • Personalized training plans
  • Session recaps & homework logs
  • Handouts and extra resources
  • Support between sessions
  • Gear recommendations
  • Access to a private video classroom

Book A Consult Now 

All service dogs need a strong foundation of core skills. I primarily work with owner-trainers focusing on mobility, alert, or psychiatric service dog tasks.

My specialty is in mobility-related tasks and dynamic disabilities, including CRPS, POTS, EDS, fibromyalgia, and similar conditions. I’m always expanding my task knowledge, and I offer support for a wide range of cross-trained service dog teams.

Please Note: Due to the limits of my own disability and resources, I may not be able to accommodate all training needs. I do not work with:

  • Guide dogs
  • Hearing dogs
  • Autism support dogs
  • Dogs working exclusively in medical alert

When you book a consult, I’ll ask you to fill out a short questionnaire about yourself, your conditions, and your goals. This helps me understand if my teaching style—and my own limitations—align with your needs.

Because of my disability, I can’t work with everyone. I may also decline to work with clients who aren’t ready to fully commit to the training process. My program is supportive, but not laid back—it requires dedication.

In some cases, I’ll guide clients through obedience, socialization, and public access, then recommend other resources for task-specific training outside my expertise.

If you’re interested in working with me, book a consult here.

By U.S. law, there’s no required number of training hours for service dogs—just that they’re trained to reliably perform their tasks. That said, major organizations recommend around 120 hours of public access work and 1–2 years of total training.

At Disabled Advantage, you can expect to spend closer to 2,000 hours training your service dog over 1–2 years of guided lessons and at-home practice.

If you’re starting from scratch, here’s what the full process typically looks like:

  • Dog Search & Selection (optional) – separate fee
  • Puppy Paw Camp or Beginner Paw Camp (based on age)
  • Foundation Obedience
  • Advanced Obedience
  • Fundamental Retrieve (if needed)
  • Service Dog Life – task training and public access

Estimated total investment: $8,000–$9,000

Already have a dog? I’ll customize the plan based on your team’s current skill level. If your dog struggles with basics like stay, recalls, or staying focused around distractions, I may recommend starting (or restarting) with obedience work to build a stronger foundation.

Where you begin depends on your dog’s age, background, and current skills:

  • Starting with a puppy?
    I’ll recommend starting with Puppy Paw Camp, followed by Foundation Obedience.
  • Adopting a dog (or I help you find one)?
    You’ll begin with Beginner Paw Camp, then move into Foundation Obedience.
  • Already have a dog?
    I’ll ask a few questions to understand your dog’s current training level and your goals. You may start with Foundation Obedience, or we might work session by session to focus on specific training needs.

Discounts & Pricing Policies

  • I offer seasonal discounts and returning client discounts for those who’ve trained with me before.
  • Occasionally, I run event specials—if you attend and book during the event, you may receive a discount.

Please note:

  • I’m not able to offer free training.
  • I do not offer discounts specifically for veterans or children.

Common Issues I Help With

I can assist with common training challenges like:

  • Pulling on the leash
  • Counter surfing
  • Selective listening
  • Poor recalls
  • House manners

Please note: I do not work with aggression or reactivity cases. If a current client’s dog develops aggression or reactivity issues, I’ll do my best to assist and may refer you to another trainer for specialized help.

Due to my disability, I am unable to drive, which limits in-person sessions. Additionally, managing the physical demands of handling other people’s dogs during training can be painful for me due to my CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome). If you’re familiar with CRPS, you’ll understand how important it is for me to manage triggers to keep my pain levels stable.

Working with animals can be painful for me, but I’ve adapted to train my own dogs in a way that minimizes discomfort. My dogs know how to move gently with me, but dogs in training don’t always know that. While it’s difficult to handle mistakes in training from dogs other than my own, I’m skilled at teaching you how to train your dog yourself, which I believe has its own valuable rewards.

In addition, my condition sometimes affects my cognitive function, making it harder to find the right words or fully understand someone with an accent or speech impediment. If this is difficult to accommodate due to your own disability, we may not be a good fit for training together.

Lastly, my home environment is not fully accessible. It took me two years to adapt it to my needs, and my service dog has been a key part of that process.