We are proud to be one of the few service dog programs in the United States that is entirely rescue-based. We have placed
over 200 service dogs in the last 20 years, and have proven that by rescuing dogs we can select the unique temperament required for success.
We love that while helping you we’re also changing the lives of our dogs!
Service Dogs
Our Programs
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Psychiatric
Service dogs have the remarkable ability to give their person a sense of purpose, greater independence, and newfound confidence navigating the world.
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Mobility Support
Mobility service dogs help their person to be more mobile, giving their person a greater independence, confidence, and freedom.
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Autism Assistance
We are one of the few service dog programs within the U.S. that provides autism service dogs for both children and adults. These dogs change lives!
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Seizure Response
Service dogs have the remarkable ability to give their person a sense of purpose, greater independence, and newfound confidence navigating the world.
Foundational Training Standards
Our service dogs meet the guidelines of the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP). To ensure that our service dog meets these standards, each dog receives a minimum of 120 hours of training over at least six months.
We spend over 30 hours solely devoted to public outings tailored to your needs.
Our service dogs:
Perform at least one task to assist their handler with their disability.
Respond to 18 basic obedience commands consistently with high distraction on and off-leash.
Tolerate strange sights, sounds, odors, etc. in a wide variety of public settings.
Distraction trained, able to ignore strangers, other dogs, and animals while working.
Works calmly on a leash in heel.
Eliminate in appropriate areas on command.
Focus on their handler, refraining from sniffing merchandise while working.
Do not bark or behave inappropriately in public.
Ignore food off the ground in public.
Zoomer, a service dog traveling on a plane.
Email
rollingmeadowsdogs@gmail.com
Call
336-590-4354
Do you need a service dog?
Contact us today!
Success Stories
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![Rough collie pschiatric service dog for PTSD]()
Indea & Laila
Laila, a psychiatric service dog, has been with Indea through young adulthood. Through college, international travel, and medical treatments!
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![Bloodhound pschiatric service dog]()
Dan & Daisy
Daisy accompanies Dan everywhere, from traversing the streets of Manhattan, to cruising around in a motorcycle sidecar through Florida.
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![Doodle service dog traumatic brain injury]()
James & Skiff
Skiff, a service dog for traumatic brain injury, has positively impacted his family and person. It was a journey to find each other, but very worth it!
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![Service dog for cerebral palsy story]()
Amy & Sandy
Sandy is a servce dog for cerebral palsy. She is the best companion for Amy and her daughter at home and an amazing working dog!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are service dogs?
Service dogs are specially trained to perform specific tasks to help people with disabilities. Under the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), service dogs have public access rights, which means they can accompany their handler everywhere. This includes restaurants, airplanes, hospitals, and anywhere the general public is allowed.
Is a service dog right for me?
Service dogs change lives for the better, but they are not for everyone. Service dogs are not a replacement for mobility aids, or other physical and mental therapies/treatments. Instead, they are a helping hand to help you live a better, more fulfilling life.
Ask yourself some questions: In what ways could a service dog benefit you? Are you able to physically and/or mentally take care of a dog? This includes proper exercise, regular feeding, grooming, and training upkeep. Are you prepared to have a dog accompany you nearly everywhere you go?
We can help you answer these questions, so please do not hesitate to contact us!
Read more! (link)
How long does it take to get a service dog?
The time it takes from first contacting us to delivering your service dog varies widely. We put great effort into ensuring our service dogs are well trained, and perfect for your lifestyle, which can take time. If we have a suitable match currently in our program and the dog’s training is nearly complete, it can be as short as 4 months. If that dog is not within our program, training typically takes at least 6 months, and at most 1 year, depending on additional factors.
Do you offer financial assistance?
No matter how much we would love anyone who needs a service dog to have one, our jobs and life passion is training and selling dogs. We follow industy standard, which is between 20k-40k. Rolling Meadows Academy has worked with several organizations that have helped provide financial assistance for specific cases. A few examples are Make-A-Wish Foundation, Sign Post Ministries and several Veterans Organizations.
Do you provide service dogs for children?
Yes, we are proud to be one of the few programs in the United States that offers service dogs for children. We have placed service dogs to families with the child as young as 4 years old. Teenagers, college students, and older adults are our most common clients.
How will I get my service dog?
Over the past 30 years, we have perfected the best way to match and deliver a service dog. Barbara personally delivers each service dog to your home. This allows her to see the dog in your home environment, and will not force you to travel and take you away from life responsibilities. Over a 3-4 day period, she will teach you all of the obedience commands and tasks, how to navigate public spaces with your service dog, accompany you to frequented stores, an exercise walk, and an introductory veterinary visit.
Read more about this process here!
What are the training requirements for a service dog?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) only stipulates that service dogs must be under control, potty trained, and perform at least 1 task for the handler’s disability.
However, Rolling Meadows has far more extensive training requirements for our service dogs. This includes the dog being in heel, refraining from sniffing while working, obedience commands, and much more.
What dog breeds do you train as service dogs?
At Rolling Meadows Academy, we strongly believe that individual temperaments matter far more than the breed. Through our rescue-based program, we have trained a huge variety of breeds as successful service dogs. Clients often request specific breeds, which we usually accommodate unless we do not think it will be a good match.
Read more! (link)