How is Paws and Stripes different from other Service Dog Programs?
Paws and Stripes is different in many ways. Typically, other agencies will require you receive a specific dog provided by specific breeders (to maintain a bloodline of good temperament, which is no more of a guarantee than getting a rescue dog). Usually the disabled individuals never pick their own dog, they are assigned as the agency sees fit. The dog is trained with a professional for a year or more to perform certain predetermined tasks. After the dog is certified, they are then given to the disabled individual with or sometimes without a brief introductory period. If later in the future, the disabled individual is having issues with obedience, the dog must be sent off for reinforcement training. Paws and Stripes allows the veteran to pick which dog they feel they have that connection with, and then begin training the dog with the trainers during the entire program. There is never a need to send off for reinforcement training, the veteran will be able to maintain training him/hersel
