What is a Service Dog in Training?
This is, in most cases, a shelter dog, one that has been left along side one of our county back roads no longer wanted by its owner, which has somehow found its way to our shelter. Since the inception of the Service Dog Training program, as these dogs are surrendered to us, they are first tested for size and strength, just a quick look obviously to see if the dog is large enough to be able to stand tall and support a person who has fallen and needs something to hold on to in order to get up. The dog is then tested in other areas such as basic temperament, and the ability to focus on both a specific task and just one person at a time. For instance, can it come to me when called and not be distracted by you? If so, we place the dog on a "Possible train" list. He is still up for adoption until he is actually chosen to begin training, but once he enters the program, he undergoes immediate and drastic changes in his up to now, confused life and a normal adoption to a new family is no longer an option.
He is moved into a mobile home here at the facility which is used by our Training Director, both for her personal home and for her primary training area. He begins to live with her 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. He also now gets a new title. He is now a Service Dog in Training, or SDT. If he's not already, he is housetrained, and starts a rigorous lesson plan that will result in the dog having been trained in Basic Canine Obedience and Public Access Skills. Basic Obedience of course, includes commands like sit, down, stay, heel, and such. Things that every dog should know anyway. But, Public Access Skills are ones that few other dogs ever enjoy knowing how to do. These are the skills he will need to accompany his eventual owner into public access areas like stores, restaurants, post offices, etc. He learns manners which would put most kids to shame. He also learns to be comfortable around and ignore things like automatic doors, all those super interesting smells in the meat aisle at the grocery store, children running and screaming, things like that. Basically he learns how to control himself and be "one very mellow hound" at all times when in public.
Once his training here is completed, he is placed on hold to be matched with a handicapped individual (a partner). Training in Advanced Skills such as opening doors, turning on and off light switches, etc, are not taught until he has been placed and we know specifically what his new owner is going to need for him to do for them.
This is where you come in.
While the Service Dog in Training is awaiting placement with his new partner, he is in limbo. He really has nowhere to go. He must continue using the things he has learned so far or it will have been a waste of time for all of us and him. That being the case, we can't just stick him back into an adoption kennel, in fact, he is no longer a dog that can be kept outside at all. Beth, our Training Director cannot keep him with her for an unlimited amount of time simply because she must begin work with the next dog on the list as soon as possible. Everyone else who lives at the shelter also has as many shelter dogs and cats inside their homes as each of us can truly handle. Along with our own dogs, we each also have an SDT we are working with. Just the socializing skills the dogs receive by moving from each of our homes to the other, allows the dog or puppy to learn all about other dogs, cats, and people too. Thus, the need for a Foster Family for our SDT's when they reach the point we must move on whether we have a placement for them at the moment or not.

What is involved in Fostering an SDT?
More than fostering the normal shelter dog or cat for sure. This is a dog that must remain indoors at all times except to be let out to "do his business". He needs to go everywhere the trainer goes as much as possible. This means, when you go to the store or out to a restaurant, we need for you to take him with you. He must continue using his training and making it second nature to him in order to fully be prepared for the rigors of being a Service Dog. It will be up to you to continue that training. Don't worry if you do not know how, we'll teach you, but we will also have to insist that you follow our instructions so that he doesn't backslide into being just another shelter dog who's now away from the shelter. Your job is very important to us, to the dog, and to the success of the Service Dog Training program in general. It can, and will, also be very rewarding for you as you watch each incredible dog you foster grow into a worker that does things that will truly amaze you. That and the feeling of seeing him go to a person who is physically or mentally challenged, who really needs someone to do for them the things this dog can do, and to watch him gladly help and assist this person, is absolutely one of the best feelings in the world. You will also, once you've had the dog for awhile begin to teach some skills that are used by nearly every Service Dog but that are kind of in between Basic and Advanced Skills, such as "pick-em ups". We will show you how to train for this task, and how to work with him to perfect it. Not only will you be teaching him how to do it, you will be benefiting from him doing it for you!

What do I have to do to become a Foster for an SDT?
First you have to be wiling to open your home to one of these great dogs and let it live with you as a member of your family. Then you have to be able to take the dog with you, (and your family) whenever you go out. You also have to guarantee that you will work to continue the dog's training. This is not as much "work" as it sounds. You will find many, many opportunities throughout every normal day to have the dog do something for you, even if it's just "sit/stay", or "heel" as you walk from one room to another. Believe me, it's fun and it's easy. The hard part will be when it comes time to let him go to a disabled person who needs him. But, don't worry, we will probably have another one ready for you take and begin again.

What breed of dog will I get?
Can't say, because we never know. All we can really tell you is these are large dogs in most cases. Dogs may be in one of two categories:
1) Dogs or puppies we have tested and are interested in. These are dogs or puppies that are waiting to go into training as soon as we can work them in. As this time, these dogs will probably have hardly any, if any at all, training. We will work with you to teach you what you need to do, but it may even include potty-training. We will provide any equipment needed such as crates, training collars, etc, but it will be up to you primarily to get this dog started for us.
2) Dogs that have been trained through Phase Two. These dogs are awaiting placement with a disabled individual. While dogs and puppies in the first category may be fostered in homes that may not be located close to our facility, for purposes of being able to match them with a new partner, dogs in this second category must be kept reasonably close to home so they can be gathered up as quickly as possible. Your duty with these dogs will be to continue the training the dog has received. He or she needs to be allowed to live in your home and by your side as much as possible. He or she needs to be allowed to go with you whenever and wherever you go to maintain the public access skills.
As an answer to the question, that's the best we can do. We never know what breed will pass the initial testing, or what breed of puppy may be donated to us. Again, all we can guarantee you is that more than likely it will be a large breed.

Ok, well, I need to think about it.
We understand that. This is not something just anyone can do. It's not something we can just let anyone do for us. We are looking for a few special people to assist with special dogs. It's also not a decision to be made on your own. If you have a wife or husband, this decision will directly affect every minute of every day of their lives as well. Kids too. Kids cannot be out of control and only interested in what they'll be getting for Christmas this year. They must be able to maintain good behavior whenever they are around the dog so, it is just as much a decision which must consider and include them too. We wish you the best of luck. If you and your family doesn't believe they can do all it takes, we surely understand. Rest assured you are not in a minority. Yes, we need to place dogs however, for both, the good of you and your family, and for our dog, we do not want to create a bad situation.

Ok, I think I'm ready!
That's great! Next, you need to contact us at the shelter office - 870-453-7249, and let's set up a time and day that's good for all of us to meet and discuss it some more in detail. We'd be happy to have you on the team!

Thanks again for your interest! We're sure you will find Fostering a Service Dog in Training just as rewarding and fun as we do!