Veteran & Woman-Owned  •  De Leon Springs, FLMon–Fri 9am–4pm  |  (386) 223-1472
Request Evaluation
Home Fully Trained Service Dogs Client-Owned Service Dogs Obedience Training About Service Dog Laws Reviews FAQ Contact Call (386) 223-1472
Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Service Dog Programs

Becoming a Service Dog

Can my dog become a service dog?
Not every dog is suitable for service work. Every dog undergoes a thorough evaluation of temperament, confidence, drive, and emotional stability before entering our program.
Does my dog have to pass an evaluation?
Yes. Every client-owned dog must complete an evaluation assessing temperament, confidence, environmental stability, food and toy drive, obedience foundation, sociability, and overall suitability.
What behaviors will disqualify my dog?
Human or dog aggression, excessive fearfulness, timidity, skittishness, severe environmental sensitivity, excessive whining, poor recovery after startling, or an inability to work comfortably in public.
How long does training take?
Most client-owned service dogs require 4–9 months of board-and-train. Our fully trained Command K9 service dogs are developed over approximately one year before being matched with a handler.
How often will I receive updates?
Approximately 1–3 times each week, including photos, videos, and detailed training notes documenting your dog's progress.
Do you guarantee my dog will become a service dog?
No ethical trainer can guarantee that every dog will complete service dog training. Success depends on genetics, temperament, health, motivation, and environmental stability.
What happens at graduation?
Clients participate in a comprehensive Handler Transfer Program covering obedience, public access, customized task work, handling techniques, and maintaining training at home.
Fully Trained Dogs & Reservations

Reserving a Service Dog

How do I reserve a service dog?
A $5,000 non-refundable deposit reserves your place on our waiting list and secures a puppy from one of our planned litters. It is applied toward the total purchase price. Payment plans are available, with a discount for paid-in-full.
How long is your waiting list?
Generally 6–12 months, depending on demand and planned litters, due to the roughly 1 to 1½ years of training each dog receives. We recommend contacting us early.
Can I choose my puppy, color, or gender?
Temperament and suitability always come first. We carefully evaluate every dog and match the one whose temperament, confidence, and personality best fit your disability and lifestyle.
Why do you match dogs instead of letting clients choose?
Experience has taught us that successful teams are created through compatibility rather than personal preference. We pair each dog with the client whose needs best match that dog's strengths.
Obedience & General

Training & Logistics

Where are you located?
Command K9 Behavior is located in Volusia County, Florida (De Leon Springs), where we provide obedience training, client-owned service dog training, and fully trained service dogs.
Do you accept clients from out of state?
Yes. We proudly work with clients from across the United States. Many travel to Florida for graduation and handler training, and we offer virtual follow-up sessions when appropriate.
Can I visit your facility?
Yes — facility visits are available by appointment. We encourage prospective clients to visit, meet our dogs, and see our training process firsthand.
Will training change my dog's personality?
No. Proper training builds confidence, improves communication, and establishes boundaries while allowing your dog's personality to shine.
Can my dog still be a family pet?
Absolutely. We teach dogs when it's time to work and when it's time to relax, play, and enjoy life with their family.
Training Tools

Prong & E-Collars

Do you use training collars?
Depending on the dog and its goals, we may incorporate prong collars and e-collars. Every dog is evaluated individually — no tool is one-size-fits-all. The tool does not train the dog; the trainer does.
Is e-collar training humane?
Yes. When introduced properly by experienced trainers, modern e-collars are safe and humane. Dogs are conditioned at very low working levels and the collar is used for communication, not punishment.
Do you use these collars to punish dogs?
Absolutely not. We teach every behavior first using positive reinforcement. Tools simply create clear communication as dogs progress. Our goal is a dog that works because it understands what's expected.
Will my dog always need a training collar?
Not necessarily. The goal is a dog that responds reliably because it understands its training. We also provide hands-on instruction so you can use any equipment safely at home.

Still have questions?

Ask Us AnythingCall (386) 223-1472