Apply for a NEADS Service Dog

NEADS offers the following programs:

  • Service Dogs for adults and children (ages 12 and older) with physical disabilities
  • Service Dogs for Hearing for individuals aged 15 and older who are deaf or who suffer severe hearing loss
  • Service Dogs for children with autism or other developmental disabilities (children ages 8-12)
  • Assistance Dogs are partnered with professionals in classroom, ministry, therapy, hospital, and courthouse settings
  • Service Dogs for Veterans who have a permanent disability, are deaf or who suffer from severe hearing loss, or who are diagnosed with PTSD

The Application Process

Step 1: The Pre-Qualifying Questionnaire

The process begins with several pre-qualifying questions which will help determine if NEADS is the right Service Dog organization for you. The questions will take just a few minutes.

Step 2: The Full Application

If you complete the Pre-Qualifying Questionnaire and are able to continue to the NEADS application, you can expect to spend about 30-45 minutes completing the application, which will ask for details about your specific situation and how a Service Dog or Assistance Dog can help. You may find it helpful to have the contact information for your doctor, employer, and landlord with you as you go through the application.

Your application will be carefully reviewed and a member of our staff will personally respond to you within 6-8 weeks of your application. Thank you for your interest in NEADS.

Applications will open on a program-by-program basis, as listed below. If you do not see information about the program you are interested in, please check back at another time.

Once applications do open, the average waiting period for a NEADS Service Dog could be 1 to 4 years after application, interview, and acceptance into the program.  You may want to research other programs through Assistance Dogs International.

Applications currently open for:

NEADS Service Dogs

NEADS® trains a wide range of Service Dogs to meet the needs of people with a variety of disabilities or hearing loss. Assistance Dogs are partnered with professionals in school, courthouse, hospital, and therapeutic settings.

NEADS does not train balance dogs, seizure alert dogs, guide dogs for the blind, diabetes alert dogs, dogs for people with Alzheimer's, emotional support, or psychiatric dogs. NEADS does not train dogs that are already owned by individuals. Contact Assistance Dogs International for information about other organizations who may be able to help.

Cost of Obtaining a Service Dog

Many people ask us about the cost of obtaining a Service Dog. Please review our Fundraising FAQs here prior to completing this pre-qualifying questionnaire. Please note that thanks to generous donors and federal and state funding, there is no charge for veterans who are eligible for our services for receiving a Service Dog. Veterans will need to pay for annual dog supplies such as food and veterinary services that can average $1,000-$2,000 a year.