PawPrint dogs live in their home with their owners. The owner of the dog volunteers their time to train their canine for community service.

Emotional Support or Service animals are trained to assist one individual. A comfort dog is trained to serve in the community in a wide variety of situations and bring joy to all people. Therefore, we do not allow ESA or Service Dogs in our program, as they are already performing an important job helping a particular person. Their energy and attention should not be misdirected towards the general public.

It is best to start training a dog as young as possible. Dogs must be under the age of five years old to enter into our training program.

Comfort dogs train for a wide variety of situations that they may encounter while serving in our community. Our seven phase training program prepares each team for success while serving.

The process of fully certifying a dog takes around 12-18 months. Once a dog and handler demonstrate control and complete a few phases of training, they are able to begin in-training visits in the community.

Although our dogs wear a vest when working, comfort dogs do not have any special rights or benefits, as compared to Emotional Support or Service animals. The vest only indicates they are “working” at training class or on a visit/facility job, and helps identify you as part of PawPrint Ministries for community service at an event or on a visit. The vest does not gain comfort dogs access to places that do not already allow all dogs, or where they have not been invited.

We do not assign visits. We have a calendar schedule of comfort dog visit requests that handlers can view, and choose which ones to attend that work for their schedule. It is expected a dog team will be active at least four times during the month considering training classes, and community visits or facility jobs.

Handler must be at least 18+ years of age, preferred 21+ years of age.