WOOFS! Dog Training Center

Leaders in dog training and behavior in Arlington, VA since 2002. We've got you.

Service Dog Training

Train Your Own Service Dog with Expert Guidance

We provide professional coaching and structured training to help you successfully train your own service dog, building the skills, reliability, and partnership you need.

Our experienced, certified trainers work with families in Arlington, Alexandria, and throughout Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., and offer virtual training for clients anywhere.

Trained service dog walking beside wheelchair
designed for your
Specific needs

Personalized solutions for home assistance, public access, and task training

Golden retriever sitting beside child's wheelchair
flexible training formats

One-on-one training, virtual appointments and support between lessons

Dog greets man in wheelchair
Service Dog MAINTENANCE

Coaching to help trained service dogs refresh their skills and maintain reliable working behavior

Who our service dog program is for

Our Service Dog Coaching program is designed for individuals who want to train their own service dog to perform disability-related tasks with the help and supervision of certified professionals. We help teams with:

  • Mobility assistance training
  • Psychiatric service dog training (including PTSD) for individuals with disabilities
  • Public access training
  • Disability-related assistance tasks for daily living
  • Selecting a service dog prospect
  • Assessing your current dog for service work
  • Maintaining skills for working service dogs

Our trainers are Certified Service Dog Coaches (SDCs) and follow evidence-based, humane training methods to train reliable skills and behaviors.

Our service dog training process

Training a service dog is a long-term commitment, and and our professional trainers are here to guide you through each step. Our process typically includes:

  1. Initial Consultation
    Assessment of your goals, needs, and your dog’s suitability for service work.
  2. Foundation Skills
    Establish excellent basic obedience, impulse control, relaxation, and focus —the building blocks of public access.
  3. Task Training
    Teaching specific tasks tailored to your disability-related needs.
  4. Public Access Preparation
    Training in real-world environments to build the reliability required to pass a public access test.

Training a service dog takes time and consistency. Not every dog will be able to perform all tasks or qualify for public access. We are committed to helping you make informed decisions throughout the process and adjusting along the way.

SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CONSULTATION

Why train your own service dog?

Many individuals with disabilities choose to train their own service dog with professional guidance rather than obtaining a program dog. Owner-trained service dogs can provide reliable assistance when training focuses on public access skills, task performance, and real-world reliability.

  • No Waitlists: Program dogs can take years to obtain.
  • Lower Financial Investment: Program dogs may cost tens of thousands of dollars.
  • Stronger Bond: You develop a working relationship with your dog from the ground up.
  • Customized Tasks: Training tailored to your disability-related needs.
  • Empowerment: Many handlers value the process and independence that comes with training their own dog.

Service Dogs vs. Therapy Dogs vs. Emotional Support Animals (ESAs)

The terms service dog, therapy dog, and emotional support animal (ESA) are often used interchangeably, but they have very different legal meanings and public access rights.

  • Service Dogs: Trained to perform specific tasks to assist a person with a disability. Protected under the ADA for public access.
  • Emotional Support Animals (ESAs): Provide comfort to their handler. There are limited protections in housing. No individual public access rights.
  • Therapy Dogs: Provide comfort to others in places like hospitals, schools, or libraries. No individual public access rights.

We offer training for therapy dogs and ESAs as well as service dogs. Not sure what you need? Let’s have a conversation and get you started on the path of your choice.

Let’s talk about your goals

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Service Dog FAQs—a red and white merle Australian Shepherd sits in heel position beside a woman sitting in a wheelchair

We travel to Arlington and surrounding areas including Alexandria, Washington, D.C., Annandale, Falls Church, McLean, Fairfax, Vienna, Springfield and Great Falls.

You can find each trainer’s specific travel range in their bio when booking, or tell us where you’re located and we’ll find you the right match.

If you’re outside our travel area, virtual training sessions are a great option that allow us to work with you wherever you are.

Not every dog is suited for service work. Service dogs must have the right temperament, health, and ability to remain calm and focused in many different environments. Dogs who succeed in service work are typically confident, socially appropriate, able to remain calm around distractions, and comfortable working in public settings.

As part of our program, we can help assess whether your dog may be a good candidate. If you do not yet have a dog, we can help you find a suitable service dog prospect.

Training a service dog typically takes 1–2 years, depending on the dog, the tasks being trained, and the consistency of training. If you are starting with a puppy, it will probably take longer. The process includes foundation skills, task training, and preparing the dog to work reliably in public environments. We guide teams through each stage and help evaluate a dog’s readiness as training progresses.

Obtaining a fully trained dog from a professional organization can cost from $25,000 to $50,000. Training your own service dog is typically much less expensive. While costs vary depending on your dog and the amount of coaching needed, most teams should expect to invest a minimum of $5,000 in training over time.

Owner-trained service dogs cost less because YOU are doing most of the training yourself, with coaching and guidance from a professional trainer.

Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks that help a person with a disability. Tasks vary depending on the handler’s needs and may include:

  • Retrieving dropped items
  • Opening or closing doors
  • Providing balance or mobility support
  • Interrupting anxiety or panic behaviors
  • Guiding a handler to an exit or safe space
  • Medication reminders
  • Alerting to sounds or medical events
  • Providing deep pressure therapy
  • Turning lights on or off

Training focuses on both reliable task performance and appropriate public behavior so service dogs can assist their handlers in everyday environments.

No. Our program focuses on helping individuals train their own service dog with professional coaching and guidance. This approach allows handlers to build a strong working partnership with their dog while developing the skills needed for reliable service work.

If you do not yet have a dog, we can help you evaluate potential service dog prospects and guide you through the training process.

Let’s start building your service dog team.

WOOFS! Dog Training Center provides service dog training and coaching for individuals and families in Arlington, Alexandria, Northern Virginia, and the Washington, D.C. area. If you are interested in training your own service dog or exploring whether a service dog may help with a disability, let’s discuss your goals and help you get started.

Not sure where to start? That’s exactly what this call is for.

I’m ready to schedule my free consultation

More Content

Expert dog training, behavior modification, and service dog training in Arlington, VA and the greater DC area. Private training, day training, puppy programs, and group classes.

Serving Arlington, Alexandria, Annandale, Falls Church, McLean, Fairfax, Vienna, Springfield, Great Falls and Washington, DC