A Service Dog's Lifetime Timeline

Below is some information provided by Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) that shows how long it takes to train their Service Dogs.

This timeline also holds true for us self-trainers, except we do ALL the work. We do everything the CCI volunteers do and everything the CCI trainers do.

More importantly, we also can experience the same failure rate shown below. Something all self-trainers have to keep in mind.

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Only 40% of the puppies that enter the Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) program will complete the more than 2-year-long training and be matched with a human partner.

Dogs are removed from the program along the way for health, behavior or temperament issues.

Puppies that are released from the program are generally adopted by their volunteer puppy raisers or placed in carefully selected homes.

At two months old:
  • Puppy is turned over to a volunteer.
  • Volunteers work with their dogs for up to 16 months.
  • They provide a secure and safe home.
  • They teach 20 core commands and socialize the dogs so they are comfortable and confident in cars, using mass transit, going to the office and working in public.

At 13-18 months:
  • Puppies declared fit to continue in the program are returned to CCI for advanced training for up to six months with a professional trainer to learn 30 more commands.

At 19-24 months:
  • Dogs are matched with prospective recipients based on personality, need and abilities during an intensive two-week training program.
  • Training culminates in a graduation ceremony in which the puppy raiser presents the dog to its new partner.

For the rest of the Service Dogs lifespan:
  • The average service life of each dog is eight years.
  • After a dog retires, it stays on as a family pet.
Source: Canine Companions for Independence (CCI)
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Comments

Anonymous said…
Interesting information. Most of us would have no idea of what is involved.
1:18 PM
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