FAQ'S

At this time, Brigadoon does not accept nor train privately-owned dogs. We recommend visiting Assistance Dog International’s membership search to find ADI accredited members that currently work with owners and their personal dogs. Atlas Assistance Dogs is an ADI Candidate program dedicated to supporting service owner-trained service dog teams. For additional resources, visit their website.

Click here to access our application page. The “Apply” button can also be found on our Home Page and in our main menu.  Prior to submitting your application, please review our page Is a Service Dog Right for You?

At Brigadoon, we source Labrador, Golden Retriever, and Lab-Golden cross puppies through our partnership with other ADI-accredited members in an international breeding cooperative. These puppies are purpose-bred for temperament and health, and are promising candidates for service dog work.

There is a non-refundable fee due with the written application (fee waived for veterans). See our Apply page for more info. We have historically asked that non-veteran clients fundraise $10,000 of the cost of our service dog, once you have been accepted into the program. All clients may be responsible for costs associated with travel to/from and lodging in Bellingham, WA for the 2-week Team Training during which they receive their service dogs.

Team Training is a two-week, intensive in-person learning experience that is integral to clients learning to navigate the world with their new canine partners. The Team Training curriculum includes classroom lecture and discussion, as well as ample opportunities for clients to receive hands-on practice & coaching as a Service Dog partner team.

Clients are taught: dog handling & care, understanding dog body language, dog training fundamentals, the vocabulary (cues) that are essential in communicating with the dogs, the disability-mitigating tasks that client’s dog has learned, and how to function as a Service Dog partner team in public.

 At the end of Team Training, clients pass a Public Access Test (PAT) and graduate as certified Brigadoon Service Dog partner teams.

Clients who are accepted into our program can expect the process to take an average of 2 to 3 years from the time they first apply until they attend a Team Training and receive their service dogs. Since we match our clients with their partnered service dogs to prioritize the best fit, this waiting time varies greatly. 

If you click here, you will be taken to the latest edition of the ADA requirements for service animals. This helpful page tells you about many legal requirements about service animals. And, as always, it is best to check the requirements of the city/county/state in which you are located to make sure you are working in accordance with their laws.  To view the current edition of the ADA frequently asked questions, click here.

There are many ways that you can still be involved in our program!  Consider being a short- or long-term respite foster where you can host a dog for an overnight, a couple of nights, a couple of weeks, or months. You can fill out the application on our volunteer page.

Click on this link to volunteer!  Whether it be dog handling, office administration, or a specialty skill,  we have a place for you to help!