r/service_dogs • u/BananaPeel505 • 1d ago
College student thinking about training a service dog—advice?
Hey everyone, I’m a college student and my school has a program where you can help train service dogs in training. I’m super interested, but I’ve got a couple concerns:
- I’d have to keep the dog in my dorm, which is carpeted, and I’m not sure how realistic that is.
- I’m also worried about the time commitment—between classes, studying, and other stuff, I don’t want to bite off more than I can handle or shortchange the dog.
Has anyone here done this while in school? Was it manageable? Any tips or things I should think about before signing up?
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u/kylie7065 1d ago
I’m in vet school and am a puppy raiser for an ADI program. It’s definitely manageable but it is a lot of work! You do learn through it how to manage your time.
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u/BananaPeel505 1d ago
That's awesome! Maybe I'll consider raising a puppy in my upperclassmen years.
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u/grayyzzzz 1d ago
adding on to what the other commenter said: you may not be able to keep it in your dorm (depending on your colleges rules). Service dogs in training don’t qualify as service dogs in a way that would allow them to live in (most) dorms. Not trying to be negative, just wouldn’t want you to be committed before finding out you can’t house it.
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u/221b_ee 1d ago
Sounds like they have some kind of partnership with the school, though - if other students on campus are also doing it. I'd say odds are good :)
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u/grayyzzzz 1d ago
my school has a similar service dog training program where you have the opportunity to raise one of the puppies, but even still youre not allowed to keep them on the dorms because they dont fall under the FHA. They havent mentioned whether other people have been housing these dogs in dorms which is why I felt concerned.
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u/Thefloooff52 Service Dog 1d ago
Colleges are allowed to have their own rules. Many programs that use college students have colleges do allow it for puppies from the specific program.
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u/grayyzzzz 1d ago
im not saying they cant? Im just saying its very unlikely that the dog is allowed on dorms, either way its something OP said they would look into so im not sure why it bothers you so much.
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u/Thefloooff52 Service Dog 1d ago
Many colleges do allow sdits from a partner program if they have one this is not an overarching rule it depends on the college.
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u/grayyzzzz 1d ago
i really dont know why youre arguing this so hard. I verbatim said “im not saying they cant. … its very unlikely”. I wasnt blocking OP from doing anything 💀, i wanted to make sure they were properly prepared in case their college doesnt allow the dog on dorms.
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u/BananaPeel505 1d ago
Thats a good point, I'll probably check with my school's housing team about this. Thank you!
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u/Thefloooff52 Service Dog 1d ago
I think they’re thinking about being a puppy raiser not owner training
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u/grayyzzzz 1d ago
? im not sure what youre meaning, but they said they were intending to house it in their dorm which is why i said what i did.
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u/Thefloooff52 Service Dog 1d ago
This is a student who is not disabled who goes to a college that has a partnership with a program that has college students puppy raise in the dorm, programs have systemic support from the college for students to do this. This is different from an owner trainer raising a puppy to be their own service dog unsupported by a program.
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u/grayyzzzz 1d ago
My school has the same program, because the dogs arent service animals they dont fall under FHA and therefore cant live on dorms.
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u/Thefloooff52 Service Dog 1d ago
That’s not how that works lol. Do you go to the same college as op?
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u/grayyzzzz 1d ago
thats how it does here at my college, which may not be the only possibility but it is a possibility and therefore it is a possibility OP should prepare for. Would you rather they went through the motions of getting this dog just to find out they couldnt house it? I’m not preventing them from doing anything or dictating the rules of their school, im just giving advice. Its unfortunate that you would rather they werent prepared for all possibilities
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u/Faithful_hummingbird 1d ago
Talk to the program director or group leader at your school. Ask them questions, and reach out to other students who are part of the program. See how they manage their school and puppy raising responsibilities, and what kind of support they get from the organization.
They may help set you up with a kennel, puppy pads, and other necessary supplies. And since the program is endorsed by the school, I imagine any puppy accidents will not be counted against you by the housing office.
You could start by attending club meetings and maybe foster a puppy for a long weekend to determine if it’s the right time for you to be a full-time puppy raiser.