Nevada is a desert state on the west coast, known primarily for its tourist destinations like Las Vegas, Reno, and the Grand Canyon. Nevada follows the federal Americans with Disabilities (or ADA) guidelines, which means that service dogs are allowed everywhere that the handler is allowed to go (so long as their presence isn’t a public health hazard.) This is especially great for those who suffer from crowd-related anxiety but wish to go to Las Vegas, which is Nevada’s biggest city as well as being a year-round tourist destination.
Nevada doesn’t have any additional requirements for service dog training, nor does it have any additional legal protections for service dogs. Luckily, the ADA comprehensively covers housing, public access, and transportation. It should also be noted that the state of Nevada and all its cities don’t have breed restrictions in place, though service dogs are considered exempt from such legislation.
Though service dog registration isn’t necessary for the state of Nevada, having certification can help avoid unwanted questions about your service animal in public. When you certify with U.S. Service Animals, you also get access to our legal team which can help you navigate any sticky situations.
What to Look for When Choosing Service Dog Training
There are many things to keep in mind when it comes to shopping for a service dog trainer. Your budget and the amount of time you’re able to spend on classes are likely to be the biggest factors, but it’s also important to consider the trainer’s experience.
When it comes to service dog training, especially if you’re training for complicated tasks like medical alert, it’s important to know whether or not the potential dog trainer can effectively provide guidance. Most trainers will list their limitations on their website, but clarifying during your consultation is always a good idea.
An often-overlooked point of consideration is whether or not the trainer has breed restrictions. If you’re looking to train a service dog whose breed is frequently targeted by restrictions, it’s worth double-checking that the dog trainer will accept your service dog before making financial commitments. This is a big perk of online service dog training classes, as they tend to not have breed restrictions.
Waiting list times are a big factor to consider if you’re looking into purchasing a dog that has been matched with you and trained in the tasks you need. Many waiting lists are years long, which is years that you’ll have to spend without an aid. In addition to the wait time, purchasing a pre-trained service dog may also be significantly more expensive (though it may be worth it if you’re physically unable to attend service dog training lessons yourself.)
Finally, you’ll also want to consider the physical location of the dog training facility. Obviously, you won’t want to be driving 2 hours one way once or twice a week for training lessons if you can avoid it!
Online vs In-Person Service Dog Training
Online dog training is a great choice for busy people who would like to train their dog on their own schedule. Online dog training offers extremely flexible scheduling as well as the ability to go back through any lessons that need to be reviewed at any time.
The biggest perk of in-person dog training is that it provides socialization for your dog. This is particularly important if your dog is a puppy, as socialization with strangers and other dogs is essential to them being well-adjusted later on (which service dogs need to be). While online dog training doesn’t provide socialization, if your dog is older and already properly socialized, this doesn’t need to be taken into consideration as much.
In-person training also gives you direct one-on-one attention throughout the lesson process, which can be helpful, especially for people who have never trained a dog or puppy before. In online training sessions, you will typically still be able to contact your dog trainer over text or video for pointers or general advice, so you won’t be left on your own.
Training your service dog with online lessons tends to be more cost-effective than in-person training, especially when it comes to purchasing a pre-trained service dog. When you’re comparing costs, don’t forget to factor in commute time and related expenses to and from the facility when considering in-person dog training lessons.
| Pros of Online Service Dog Training | Pros of In-Person Service Dog Training |
| Flexible schedule | Socialization (in group classes) |
| Direct 1:1 attention | Direct 1:1 attention (in private lessons) |
| Can go at your desired pace | Pre-trained dogs are less work for you to do |
| Cost-effective | |
The Best Service Dog Training in Nevada
Now that you know what to look for and what pros and cons you need to take into consideration, let’s take a look at the best service dog training options in the state of Nevada!
US Service Animals Online Training
US Service Animals Online Training makes virtual training a breeze with a six-model program made up of twelve videos. These models outline training influences by cutting-edge animal behavior theories and give you step-by-step processes for applying them to your pup. Along with the training videos, you’ll also receive customized support from our trainer, which can be helpful if you get stuck or need clarification on a training point.
Since it’s totally virtual, there are no breed restrictions for the US Service Animals Online Training program. Service dogs can be trained in tasks for an array of disabilities including blindness, hearing loss, seizures, diabetes, and mobility.
Cost: $349
Location: Online only (6 video modules)
Certificate: Yes
1:1 Support: Yes
Equipment Provided: Clicker, plus optional service vest, collar, collar tag, and leash
Link: https://usserviceanimals.org/service-dog-training
The K9 Handler
The K9 Handler offers an individualized training program to meet the needs of the service dog handler. The K9 Handler operates with verbal discipline and rewards (based on police dog training methods) and doesn’t use treats, clickers, or uncomfortable collars. This is great if you frequently find yourself in situations where such tools would be inconvenient.
Training with The K9 Handler takes anywhere from 18 to 24 months depending on how old your dog is and what tasks you’re training for. The K9 Handler can train psychiatric service dogs, including PTSD, as well as service dogs for mobility, balance, hearing alert, and partial vision loss. There are no breed restrictions in place for The K9 Handler’s program.
Cost: $4,800-$5,600
Location: Henderson and Las Vegas, NV
Certificate: No
1:1 Support: Yes
Equipment Provided: No
Link: https://www.dogtraininginhenderson.com/
Michael’s Angel Paws
Michael’s Angel Paws offers training for dogs that handlers bring in, guidance on finding a puppy that passes their temperament test for training, and puppies of their own that they will train for you. The waiting time for a puppy from Michael’s Angel Paws is 2-4 years. When it comes to service dog training, Michael’s Angel Paws utilizes positive reinforcement methods.
It’s unclear if Michael’s Angel Paws has breed restrictions or limitations on what tasks they can train service dogs for. Potential applicants are encouraged to reach out for details.
Cost: $5,000
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Certificate: Unspecified
1:1 Support: Yes
Equipment Provided: Unspecified
Link: https://www.michaelsangelpaws.org/
Loyalty Service Dogs
Loyalty Service Dogs is an organization that matches applicants with puppies that they train. They use positive reinforcement training methods and request scent samples from clients (as opposed to generic scent samples) which is perfect for clients with diabetic and seizure alert needs.
Loyalty Service Dogs offers dogs that are trained for tasks regarding autism, diabetic alert, seizure alert, and PTSD. There is a comprehensive application and prescreening review process, which helps Loyalty Service Dogs tailor their dog training tasks to your individual needs.
Cost: $25,000-$30,000
Location: Mesquite, NV
Certificate: Yes
1:1 Support: Yes
Equipment Provided: Unspecified
Link: https://loyaltyservicedogs.com/
Smarty Paws Canine Coaching
Smarty Paws Canine Coaching covers service dog training for PTSD, anxiety, mobility, medical alert, hearing alert, and diabetic alert. They recommend that your dog take an obedience class with them prior to enrollment in their assistance dog program. Each dog must pass their preliminary evaluation as well as the Canine Good Citizen Test before they can be enrolled in the assistance dog training program.
Smarty Paws makes an effort to train your service dog tasks that match your individual needs with their application process. In addition to service dog training, Smarty Paws also offers ESA and therapy dog training, as well as a doggie day care program.
Cost: $300 per 8-week session
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Certificate: Unspecified
1:1 Support: Yes
Equipment Provided: No