FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions we get. Don’t see your question here? Feel free to contact us and we’ll get back to you with an answer!

Who is eligible to receive a dog from BSD?

In general, you should meet the following criteria:

Have specific physical and/or psychiatric need that a dog could fulfill.
Have a strong desire to have an assistance dog.
Be willing and able to follow simple instructions, practice with the dog, and in general work hard at making the team a success.
Have a support system of family, friends, and/or staff that is committed to helping the team succeed.
All persons living with you must be strong supporters of your goal to receive a service dog.
Have a plan for paying for your dog according to BSD's fee schedule.

How long with I have to wait to get a dog?

While many non-profits have waiting lists of 3-4 years, BSD’s goal is to get you the best dog possible as quickly as possible. Usually, it is around 9 months from the time you are approved to get a dog until you begin team training. Sometimes, it’s significantly sooner.

Do you specialize in a particular type of service dog?

Due to the escalating levels of severe anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other significant mental health challenges among our young people, BSD has prioritized on providing psychiatric service dogs for the past ten years. BSD also provides service dogs with persons with mobility impairments. Many of our dogs are task-trained to provide psychiatric assistance, medical alert, and mobility assistance.

What's your experience with service dogs and persons with disabilities?

Since 1980, Christy Talbert has worked with adults, and young persons/teens affected by various disabilities including:

Paralyzing anxiety, severe depression, eating disorders, CPTSD and other life-limiting mental health diagnosis.
EDS, POTS, Mast Cell Disease
Deafness and deaf/blind
Autism
Spinal cord injury, MD, MS, ALS, CP, and multiple disabilities.
Christy is a former program manager for Franklin Co. MR/DD and a former program staff of Recreation Unlimited.

She began training service dogs in 1980 and has trained and placed more than 400 teams, and trained dozens of trainers and volunteers.

Will BSD train a dog I already own?

BSD may evaluate your own dog for training. However, in most cases, your dog will not be suitable for service work. Please do NOT go out and select a dog or puppy with the idea that it will become your service dog.

We do use owner dogs in our Co-Train program. However, they must pass our evaluation. If you want to participate in Co-Train and do not have a suitable dog, we will work with you to find one.

How will the dog placement be conducted? Will I have to travel?

One of the benefits of hiring a private trainer is that we are able to travel to your home. As part of the placement process, you will need to be able to transport to public locations in your area such as malls, restaurants, and parks.

Do placements ever fail? What then?

Placements can fail for a number of reasons. Sometimes there is a personality issue between the dog and client. Other times, some characteristic about the dog does not show itself until after the placement has begun. Non-compliance on the part of the client can also cause a team to fail. Except in cases of client non-compliance, BSD will work with the client to find a more suitable dog for their situation.

I have a pet dog/cat/giraffe. Is that ok?

If you have no more than two total other dogs and cats in the household we will work with you. The animals may not aggressive toward the service dog. Having young puppies in the home when a service dog enters is difficult for all involved, so we will not place a SD into a home with a puppy under one year old and you must agree not to acquire another dog or cat for the first year after getting your service dog.

How long have you personally been training service dogs?

Christy Talbert has more than 40 years training service dogs and has placed more than 400 teams. Christy also has extensive experience training trainers and volunteers.

Where do you obtain dogs for training?

BSD uses dogs in need of homes. We obtain dogs from owners who can no longer keep their pets. We also carefully select animals from dog pounds and shelters across Ohio. Once a candidate is chosen, extensive behavioral evaluation occurs in the trainer’s home. All dogs receive thorough vet check, altering, and needed medical treatment.

Myself or someone in my home has pet allergies. Is it possible to get a low-shedding, low allergy service dog?

One of the benefits of working with BSD is our desire to match a dog to the needs of you and your household as well as possible. In response to the growing need for non-shedding dogs, we are providing standard poodles and labradoodles to families that request them.

There is an additional charge of $1,000 if you require a non-shedding dog, as they can be more difficult to obtain. If you desire an allergy friendly dog, please let us know during your assessment interview.

Fees

Is there a fee to obtain a service dog from BSD?

BSD is not a non-profit organization. We do charge a fee for our dogs. Fees will be discussed during your assessment interview.

Fees may be paid through the I/O waiver, Level One waiver, or some other agency. If you are not sure whether you can obtain such funding, BSD will work with you to explore your options.

How much does a fully trained Buckeye Service Dog cost?

Through our traditional training program, you will receive a fully trained service dog and then participate in training to bond with and learn to use your dog and maintain their training. If you are located in Central Ohio, the fee for a fully trained dog is $16,000. If you are elsewhere, our fee is increased to $17,500, due to the need for our staff to travel and stay in a hotel for the dog placement and follow up.

While there is no doubt that this is a substantial sum, we are still able to produce a service dog at around 60% of the cost per dog of most non-profits, which by nature tend to maintain large facilities, fundraising professionals, and other overhead expenses.

For clients requiring a non-shedding, allergy friendly dog, there is an up-charge of $1,200, which reflects the higher cost of purchasing these dogs (usually standard poodles).

Are there any more economical ways to get a service dog from BSD?

If you live in Ohio, are willing to participate in your dog's training,

and are looking for a psychiatric or medical alert dog, please check out

our Co-Train program, which has a fee of $7,500. To learn more

about Co-Train, press the button to the right.

When is your fee due?

Typically are fee is divided into three payments. The first payment of $3,500 is due after the assessment appointment, when the client and BSD have agreed to work together. After BSD receives this payment, we will begin searching for a dog that will be selected specifically to meet our client’s needs.

The second payment of half the remaining balance is due 4-6 months later, when the dog has completed training with us and begins team training with the client.

The final payment of the remaining balance is due 4-8 weeks after the team has been together, when we see the team is headed toward a successful partnership.

That’s a ton of money for a dog! Where does that money go?

Our out-of-pocket costs per dog, when you average every dog we take in to evaluate and train, are about $3500. Besides these vet fees, transportation costs, etc., there is six months board, hundreds of hours of obedience, specialized function, and socialization training. Also, with your dog you get follow-up appointments, which require more training time, travel, and sometimes hotel expenses.

We are not the cheapest private program, nor are we the most costly. Keep in mind that with BSD you are benefiting from more than 40 years of experience training service dogs. BSD also takes pride in going the extra mile for our clients and doing what it takes to make things right when a placement does not go as expected.

I have a medical savings account. Can I use these funds to pay for my dog?

We have clients who have paid for their dogs using this type of account.

I’ve filled out an application and would like an assessment appointment. Is there a fee?

Most preliminary interviews are held on zoom or in the Polaris area of Columbus. There is no charge for an interview, however you must fill out an application first (your application does not obligate you to anything).

What can I expect during our assessment appointment?

The assessment appointment is a "first date." I'll tell you about myself and the various programs we offer. Then, you will have the chance to tell me about yourself and the disability-related challenges you are hoping a dog could assist with.

The appointment is NOT a sales call. There will be no pressure for you to get a service dog from me. I view my job as helping you determine if a SD is a good fit for you and if I believe that you are a good fit for the BSD program to which you are applying. If I do not think you are a good fit, I will tell you this, and explain why. I will only move forward with you if I believe you have a very good chance at success with our program and dog.

Soon after our appointment, I'll let you know by email whether I think you are a fit for BSD. If I believe you could be served well by our program, then it will be entirely up to you whether to move forward (and when).

What other costs are associated with obtaining a service dog from BSD?

You should budget about $300 in dog equipment and supplies to be purchased during team training.

During team training, all clients will go on various public outings, to be determined by you and your trainer. These outings will include restaurant trips and malls, and may also include things like movies, the zoo, or other attractions. Every client is responsible for their own transportation and expenses during team training outings.