Frequently Asked Questions

How much do your dogs cost?

The cost of our dogs varies depending on the individual dog, age, level of training, and the program they are enrolled in. Dogs may be available as well-trained companions, therapy dogs, emotional support dogs, or service dog candidates. Pricing reflects the dog’s acquisition costs and the amount and type of professional training completed prior to placement.

We are happy to discuss your goals and help determine which available or upcoming dog may be the best fit.

What types of trained dogs do you offer?

Dawgs at Work works with dogs for several different placement paths, including well-trained companion dogs, therapy dogs, emotional support dogs, and service dogs. A dog’s eventual path is determined by temperament, structure, health, training progress, and suitability for the work.

Can I purchase one of your dogs just as a companion?

Yes! Not every family is looking for a working dog. Some of our available and upcoming dogs may be purchased as well-trained companions. Training and placement recommendations will vary based on the individual dog.

How do you select dogs for your program?

Dogs are evaluated by our training team for temperament, structure, soundness, confidence, engagement, trainability, recovery, and overall suitability for their intended work. For upcoming litters, we may reserve a puppy from the litter before selecting the individual puppy. Final selection occurs after the puppies are old enough to be appropriately evaluated.

Can I apply for a puppy before it has been selected?

Yes. We may begin accepting early applications for upcoming litters before the individual puppy has been selected. This allows us to learn more about interested homes and their goals while our training team evaluates the litter.

Can I choose which puppy I want from a litter?

For puppies entering our working-dog program, selection is based primarily on suitability rather than appearance or color. Our training team evaluates the puppies and selects the puppy we believe has the strongest potential for the program and prospective placement.

What training does a puppy receive before placement?

Training depends on the puppy’s age and program. Puppies typically begin with our preliminary Puppy Bootcamp to establish foundational skills, routine, confidence, handling, socialization, and age-appropriate manners. From there, training progresses according to the puppy’s intended placement and development.

What titles do your dogs earn?

Depending on age and program, our dogs may work toward AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, Canine Good Citizen (CGC), Community Canine (CGCA), and Urban Canine Good Citizen (CGCU), along with additional training and evaluations appropriate for their intended work.

Are your dogs fully trained when I bring them home?

That depends on the dog and program. Some dogs are offered after completing significant training, while younger puppies may be placed earlier with continued owner-guided or professional training required.

Dog training is also an ongoing process. Even a highly trained dog requires consistency, continued practice, and clear expectations after transitioning into a new home.

Do you guarantee that a puppy will become a therapy or service dog?

No. No ethical training program can guarantee that a young puppy will successfully become a working dog. We carefully select and develop dogs with strong potential, but temperament, health, maturity, and individual development can change as a dog grows.

The welfare of the dog always comes first. If a dog is not suited for its original working path, we will evaluate alternative options that better fit that individual dog.

What happens if a dog isn’t suited for service or therapy work?

A change in career does not mean the dog has failed. Some dogs may be better suited to therapy work, emotional support, or life as a well-trained companion. We evaluate each dog individually and make recommendations based on what is safest and most appropriate for both the dog and prospective handler.

What’s the difference between a therapy dog, service dog, and emotional support animal?

A service dog is individually trained to perform specific tasks that mitigate a person’s disability.

A therapy dog works with a handler to provide comfort, support, and positive interactions to other people in settings such as schools, churches, hospitals, assisted living communities, and community programs.

An emotional support animal provides comfort through its presence but is not individually task-trained as a service dog and does not have the same public-access rights as a service dog.

Can you train my current dog?

Yes. Dawgs at Work offers multiple training options for privately owned dogs. We can evaluate your dog, discuss your goals, and recommend the training path that best fits your needs.

For therapy or service work, acceptance depends on the individual dog’s temperament, health, behavior, and suitability for the intended job.

Can any breed become a therapy or service dog?

Many breeds and mixes can be successful working dogs, but not every individual dog is appropriate for every job. Breed characteristics, adult size, structure, temperament, grooming requirements, energy level, and the specific tasks required should all be considered when selecting a working dog.

Can you help me find a dog if I don’t already have one?

Yes. If you need a dog for a specific purpose, we can help identify an appropriate breed or type of dog and assist with sourcing and evaluating potential candidates. For specialized service work, sourcing a dog specifically for the handler’s needs may provide a better chance of success than trying to make an unsuitable dog fit the job.

Do you work with breeders?

Yes. We work with ethical and reputable breeders when sourcing puppies for our programs and individual clients. Our priority is finding dogs with appropriate health, structure, temperament, and genetic backgrounds for their intended work.

Do you only work with puppies?

No. While beginning with a carefully selected puppy offers several advantages, older dogs may also be considered. Suitability is determined through evaluation rather than age alone.

How long does it take to train a service dog?

Service dog training is a long-term process and varies considerably depending on the dog’s age, maturity, tasks, temperament, and the handler’s needs. A young puppy is not a finished service dog after a few weeks or months of training. Development continues as the dog matures, and advanced task and public-access work are introduced appropriately over time.

How long does therapy dog training take?

There is no single timeline. It depends on the dog’s starting point, age, temperament, previous training, and the environments in which the dog will eventually work. Our goal is readiness and reliability rather than rushing a dog through a predetermined timeline.

Will I receive training with my dog?

Yes. Handler education is an important part of successful placement. Dogs perform best when their handlers understand how their dog was trained, how to communicate clearly, and how to maintain expectations after placement. The amount of handler training included or recommended depends on the program.

Where does training take place?

Training may include work in trainer homes, training facilities, public environments, businesses, community settings, and in-home or off-site lessons depending on the dog’s program and stage of development. Real-world exposure is an important part of preparing dogs for life outside of a controlled training environment.

Do you use real-world environments during training?

Yes. Once a dog is ready, training may take place in appropriate public and community environments. We want dogs to learn how to work around everyday distractions rather than only performing skills in a quiet training space.

Do you offer Board & Train or Bootcamp programs?

Yes. Dawgs at Work offers structured Bootcamp and training programs in addition to private lessons and other training options. The appropriate program depends on the dog’s needs and the owner’s goals.

Do you offer virtual training?

Yes. Virtual training is available and can be a great option for behavior coaching, foundational training, handler education, follow-up support, and clients who live outside our regular in-person service area.

Do you train dogs outside of Wisconsin?

We can provide virtual training regardless of location, and some specialized placements or programs may be available to clients outside Wisconsin. Availability and logistics are evaluated individually.

Can I foster one of your program dogs?

We periodically seek qualified foster homes for dogs enrolled in our programs. Foster opportunities depend on the individual dog and current program needs. Foster homes must be willing to follow training, management, and care requirements established by Dawgs at Work.

Does fostering mean I own the dog?

No. A foster placement is different from purchasing or adopting a dog. Program dogs remain under the ownership and direction specified in the foster agreement while in foster care.

Can a foster family eventually purchase the dog?

Potentially. This depends on the individual dog, program, placement plans, and agreement in place. If you are interested in both fostering and potentially purchasing a dog, let us know when you apply so we can discuss available options.

How do I apply for an available or upcoming dog?

Contact Dawgs at Work and tell us which dog, litter, or program you are interested in. We will gather information about your household, lifestyle, goals, experience, and intended role for the dog to help determine whether the placement may be a good match.

Does submitting an application guarantee that I will receive a dog?

No. An application begins the matching process but does not guarantee placement. Our priority is creating a successful match between the dog, handler, household, and intended work.

What if I don’t know whether I need a therapy dog, service dog, ESA, or companion?

That’s okay. Part of our job is helping you understand the differences and determine what type of dog and training program actually fits your goals. Contact us and tell us what you are hoping the dog will help you accomplish, and we can help guide you toward the most appropriate option.

How do I get started?

Reach out to Dawgs at Work at dawgsatwork@propetware.com or 262-259-3031. Tell us a little about what you are looking for, whether you already have a dog, and your goals. Our team can help determine the best next step.