Is Servicedogtrainingschool.org Legit?

The question of whether Servicedogtrainingschool.org is “legit” is complex, as it depends on the definition of legitimacy within the context of service dog training.

Read more about servicedogtrainingschool.org:
Servicedogtrainingschool.org Review & First Look
Servicedogtrainingschool.org Cons
Does Servicedogtrainingschool.org Work?

While the website operates as a functional business, offers a product, and provides educational content, its legitimacy is severely undermined by several key factors that fall short of industry standards and legal realities for service dogs.

It presents itself as a legitimate training school, but crucial elements are missing that prevent it from being a truly reputable source for public access service dog training.

Aspects Where It Appears “Legit” on the Surface

• Functional Website: The website is professionally designed, easy to navigate, and appears to be a fully operational business.
• Customer Testimonials: It features numerous positive testimonials, giving the impression of satisfied customers. While these are often hard to verify independently, they contribute to a positive initial impression.
• Clear Pricing and Course Structure: The course cost ($399) is clearly stated, and the curriculum is broken down into modules, providing a sense of organization.
• Money-Back Guarantee: A 14-day money-back guarantee offers a degree of consumer protection, suggesting confidence in their product.

Key Areas Where Legitimacy is Questionable or Lacking

• Misleading Accreditation Claims: The claim of being “Certified by Attorneys and Veterinarians” is not a recognized form of accreditation for service dog training programs. Legitimate accreditation comes from established bodies like Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or educational accrediting agencies. The vagueness of this claim significantly reduces its perceived legitimacy in a professional context. There is no listed board of advisors or specific names associated with this certification.
• Lack of Trainer Transparency: A fundamental pillar of legitimacy in any training program is the transparency of its instructors’ qualifications. Servicedogtrainingschool.org provides no information about the professional backgrounds, certifications, or experience levels of the “professional service dog trainers” who will be providing support. This omission makes it impossible for prospective clients to verify the expertise they are paying for, a crucial aspect for a service as specialized as service dog training.
• Misleading “Certification” and “Registry” Claims: This is the most significant blow to its legitimacy. In the U.S., there is no federal service dog certification or registration. The ADA does not require a service dog to be professionally trained or registered. Public access rights are based solely on the dog’s training to perform tasks related to a person’s disability. Issuing a “Trained Service Dog Certificate” and “Registered Service Dog ID” and implying they grant public access rights is fundamentally misleading and can put handlers in legally precarious situations. These are private documents with no legal standing.
• Inconsistent Data and Statistics: The conflicting numbers regarding the total dogs trained (50k+ since 2016 vs. 75k+ since 2015) point to either poor record-keeping or embellishment, both of which detract from legitimacy. Reputable organizations maintain clear, consistent, and verifiable data.
• Limitations of Online-Only for Public Access: While online courses can provide foundational knowledge, true public access service dog training necessitates extensive, hands-on, real-world experience and direct, in-person supervision by experienced trainers. An online-only model, without any documented practical assessment component, cannot realistically prepare a dog for the complexities and distractions of public spaces. Promising “Full Public Access” solely through an online course is a severe overstatement of what such a program can achieve.
• Absence of Physical Presence/Business Registration Details: Beyond “North America and Europe,” there’s no specific physical address listed. For a business operating internationally and claiming such extensive reach, the lack of a verifiable physical location or clear business registration details adds to the opacity.

Conclusion on Legitimacy

Servicedogtrainingschool.org is likely a legitimate online course provider in the sense that they take your money and provide access to online content. However, it is not a legitimate or fully comprehensive service dog training program in the way that accredited organizations (like those recognized by Assistance Dogs International) are. Its claims regarding certification and public access are problematic and can mislead individuals about the legal status and behavioral preparedness of their dogs. Therefore, while it may be a “legit” online business, it is not legit in its claims regarding official service dog certification and public access effectiveness when compared to industry standards and legal definitions. Users should be aware that the “certificate” they receive will not grant them automatic public access rights under federal law.