FAQs

CHAMP places assistance dogs with individuals who have mobility-related disabilities and, on a case-by-case basis, cognitive disabilities. Applicants must be at least 5 years old. Children may qualify for a family placement dog, while applicants age 18 and older may apply for a public access assistance dog.

To be eligible for an individual placement, applicants must reside within a 50-mile radius of the CHAMP office.

Facilities applying for a CHAMP dog must be located within 250 miles of our office. Organizations outside this service area may still be considered but are responsible for covering travel expenses associated with CHAMP’s required training program, including travel to St. Louis for in-office training and on-site training visits by CHAMP staff.

No. CHAMP places dogs at no cost to recipients. The full cost of raising, training and placing each dog is covered through generous donors, grants and community support. There is a $50 nonrefundable application fee. Inquire here

The timeline can vary based on individual needs and dog availability, but it typically takes 2 years from application to placement, including training and matching.

Service Dogs are individually trained to perform specific tasks that help a person with a disability achieve independence and manage daily life. They live full-time with their partner.

Facility Dogs are highly trained dogs that live and work with a professional (such as a therapist, teacher, or counselor) to support groups of people in settings like hospitals, schools, or rehabilitation centers.

Therapy Dogs are personal pets trained and certified to visit community settings with their volunteer handlers. They provide comfort, emotional support, and joy during scheduled visits.

Yes, to become a therapy dog team with CHAMP, you need to have your own dog that has lived with you for at least 6 months. This helps ensure a strong bond and that the dog is settled and comfortable before starting therapy visits.

Two (or more) people in the same household can get certified to handle the same family dog 

On rare occasions, someone can be certified to handle a dog that does not live with them (such as a friend’s or neighbor’s dog). These cases are reviewed individually.

Complete a volunteer application to learn more about current opportunities and discover how you can help

Yes. We provide continued training, guidance and follow-up to ensure every partnership remains strong and successful through the life of the partnership.

If you are interested in a service dog but live outside the greater St. Louis, Missouri area,  please visit the Assistance Dogs International (ADI) website to locate an ADI member agency that serves your needs. CHAMP is proud to be a member of ADI, a coalition of assistance dog providers dedicated to excellence!

If you are interested in a facility dog, contact us so that we can learn more

CHAMP strongly recommends that partners obtain health insurance for the service or facility dog in their care. CHAMP also has a Client Angel Fund (CAF) and a Tigger Fund available to assist with a portion of extraordinary expenses such as surgeries or special food or medications if the client is unable to afford the expense. Although CAF funds are limited, the well-being of our dogs is very important to us and we will assist if we can.

CHAMP mainly uses English Labradors and Golden Retrievers (as do most service dog providers.) We’ve also used crosses, and a few dogs of undefined heritage which came to us from the rescue community. We prefer that the parents of the puppies entering our program have full health clearances, including genetic screenings where appropriate.

The most important qualities we look for in a dog, regardless of breed, are health (especially orthopedics), a friendly, intelligent personality, a strong work ethic and a desire to please. All CHAMP Service Dogs and Facility Dogs are spayed or neutered.

Service and facility dogs in good health often work until 10 to 12 years of age. A very high quality food, excellent veterinary care, exercise, grooming, keeping the dog at a healthy weight, and plenty of love and attention all help to increase the working life of a service dog.

CHAMP maintains ownership of the assistance dog throughout the partnership of the team. The graduate is responsible for the dog’s care and maintenance including food, toys, veterinary services and so on.

Retirement is an emotional time for both the human partner and the dog, after having worked so closely together for so many years. Retired assistance dogs are welcome to live out their retirement with their partner, and our Client Angel Fund or Tigger Fund can assist with the added expense of keeping the retired service dog in your home. If the partner is unable to keep the retired dog, a mutually-agreed-upon family member or close friend may adopt the retiree, or, the dog will be welcomed back to CHAMP and we will find a great retirement home for their friend’s golden years. In selecting an appropriate retirement home, the dog’s well-being is always our first consideration.

No. We find it more successful to work with dogs already in our training program. Our dogs have already passed our temperament requirements and our stringent health requirements, and we are able to match each particular dog’s strengths to best fit each clients’ needs.

No. We suggest you contact the organization through which you received your dog, as they would be most familiar with its training and should be able to assist you. You might also wish to work with a qualified private dog trainer.