Living with a disability in New Jersey doesn’t mean you need to struggle with your everyday tasks – a trained service dog can help you achieve your daily goals and provide you with the assistance you need to go about your days, weeks, and months with less stress.
In New Jersey, there are a few different laws that protect service dog access rights. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) allows anyone in need of service dog assistance to bring their dog into public spaces; these wide-reaching public access laws include businesses, restaurants, and housing access rights. Additionally, state laws in New Jersey uphold these requirements and ensure protections for individuals who need accompaniment from their service dog at all times.
There are no formal certification or registration requirements for service dogs in New Jersey, but a dog must be adequately trained to qualify as a service dog under the ADA and state laws. In this article, we’ll cover what to consider when searching for a service dog trainer and then review the top five providers in New Jersey.
What to Look For When Choosing Service Dog Training
As you start to think about choosing a service dog training center, you should keep some considerations in mind to help you select the right facility for you. We recommend looking for a trainer with significant experience in the field, especially if you are looking to train your dog to help with a certain type of disability.
We also recommend looking at a trainer’s criteria, as some trainers only accept certain types of dogs, and some have breed or age restrictions on the dogs they train. You should also decide between online and in-person training, as there are pros and cons to both, and it’s important to figure out which type of training suits you and your dog’s needs best.
Finally, it’s important to keep costs in mind, as service dog training costs can vary quite a bit. Some trainers will offer grants and financial aid to help you afford the training and adoption of your service dog; you can check directly with a facility to learn more about your financing options.
Online vs In-Person Service Dog Training
There are a few pros and cons for each training type when it comes to online and in-person training, and it’s important to consider these pros and cons when choosing the type of training you’re interested in.
To start with, online training is convenient, and you are able to train on a flexible schedule based on your needs and free time. You can also repeat lessons until you are sure that your dog has the skills down. Online training options are usually more cost-effective than in-person training options, but they do have the drawback of not offering socialization to your dog.
In-person training is a great option for individuals who need to socialize their dog or those who benefit from a set training schedule and group or private lessons. In-person training can also be very helpful if you are having trouble with a specific skill or behavioral issue in your dog – the trainer can work with you directly in person to address your problems.
| Pros of Online Service Dog Training | Pros of In-Person Service Dog Training |
| Cost-effective | Encourages dog socialization |
| Flexible scheduling | In-person training can specifically target tough behavioral issues |
| Training can be completed at home, or wherever you wish | Offers a consistent, set training schedule |
The Best Service Dog Training in New Jersey
After reviewing the pros and cons of online versus in-person service dog training in New Jersey, you likely have a better idea of the type of training you are looking for. Below, we give you our top choices for the best service dog training in New Jersey to help narrow down your choices.
US Service Animals Online Training
US Service Animals offers one of the top programs in online training, and this program gives you everything you might need to start teaching your dog service skills from the comfort of your home. The training programs with US Service Animals consist of six modules that contain 12 videos each. These videos provide training tips and animal behavior information in addition to training information for teaching your dog how to best assist you.
A certificate is awarded at the end of training, equipment is provided when enrolling in the program, and there are no breed, age, or size restrictions for dogs that can learn from this course.
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
Alpha & Omega Working Dogs
Founded by Sergeant Ray Harris, an 8-year Veteran with the Delaware State Department of Corrections, Alpha & Omega Working Dogs specializes in training service dogs to support veterans, first responders, and other individuals who have undergone trauma. Therapy dog training and basic obedience skills are also offered by the facility, and individuals interested in service dog training should contact the facility for more information on pricing and the specific training process needed.
If you are looking for training to help socialize your dog before you move up to service dog skills training, Alpha & Omega also conveniently offers group classes and day camp programs.
Cost: Contact for Pricing
Location: Moorestown, NJ
Certificate: No
1:1 Support: Yes
Equipment Provided: Unspecified
Link: https://aoworkingdogs.com/
Kathy Santo Dog Training (KSDT)
Kathy Santo Dog Training is one of the largest training facilities in New Jersey. When you show up for your group or private lesson, you and your dog will be pleased to see large training spaces with all training equipment provided. KSDT trains both mobility assistance and psychiatric service dogs, with future plans to expand into training for medical alert dogs.
If in-person courses don’t quite work with your schedule, KSDT provides select online training options to help your dog build basic obedience skills and target specific training issues.
Cost: $70-$500+
Location: Waldwick, NJ, Online options available
Certificate: No
1:1 Support: Yes
Equipment Provided: Yes
Link: https://kathysantodogtraining.com/pages/service-dog-academy
Full Service Canine
Full Service Canine has two locations in New Jersey, with the Ocean View location offering service dog and therapy dog training programs. Individuals interested in training their dog to be a service dog can contact the facility for specific details on the type of service dog skills taught and the pricing of each service dog training course.
All trainers at Full Service Canine utilize positive reinforcement training methods, and you can also choose from group classes and private lessons if you need more training options to reach your goals with your service dog.
Cost: Contact for Pricing
Location: Ocean View, NJ
Certificate: No
1:1 Support: Yes
Equipment Provided: No
Link: https://www.fullservicecanine.com/
Thunderbolt Assistance Dogs
In addition to basic obedience training and socialization training, Thunderbold Assistance Dogs offers full, partial, and owner-assisted training for service dogs. Full service dog training may take up to two years to complete, while the partial training program trains your pup until they are 9 months. After this, the owner can take over and start bonding while still receiving guidance from Thunderbold Assistance Dogs.
Service dog training includes basic obedience and behavioral training, basic public access skills, and service dog-related tasks.
Cost: $5000-$10000
Location: New Jersey
Certificate: Unspecified
1:1 Support: Yes
Equipment Provided: Unspecified
Link: https://www.thunderboltassistancedogs.com/