Autism Service Dog -
Application Received!

We have received your application for an autism service dog.

The BluePath admissions team will review your application and reach out by email with any follow up on information or questions.

The review of the application is usually completed within 6 weeks.

Included below is a general rundown of BluePath and the admissions process for your review:

Our dogs, purebred Labrador retrievers and Golden retrievers, as well as Golden/Labrador crosses, have been purpose bred to possess the health and temperament needed to work as service dogs.  BluePath dogs are raised from puppyhood by skilled volunteer families who teach them good manners and take them out in public to expose them to all of the sights and sounds that a service dog needs to know about.  At approximately 18 months of age, the dogs begin their formal service dog training, which takes about eight months.  Once completed, the dogs are then specifically matched for the needs of your child and family.

BluePath service dog’s primary role is to provide safety for a child out in public. The dogs are trained to prevent a child from eloping/bolting, either into the street or away from parents in a crowded area. They also provide children with much needed companionship, increased social acknowledgment from peers, opportunities for independence and increased levels of confidence.

We utilize a careful matching process to ensure we place the right dog in each home. As a result, wait times vary from 9 months to 2 years.

The process begins when you complete the application on our website with all of the supporting documentation.  The application is then reviewed by our admissions committee and if complete, we will contact you to arrange a virtual interview within 6 weeks.  The virtual interview is generally 1 hour in length and it’s important that all parents attend the virtual interview. Children are not required at the virtual interview. The virtual interview is an opportunity for you to meet BluePath staff and learn more about service dogs, our program, and if it’s a good fit for your family. For BluePath, it’s an opportunity to get to know your family, your routines, and your current lifestyle as well as provide education about autism service dogs. After the virtual interview, we will discuss the next steps in the process; that step could be recommendations to be best prepared for a service dog or BluePath will ask you to submit two videos to us.

BluePath requests two videos, approximately 15-20 minutes in length of your child walking in an outdoor location and an indoor location of your choosing. There is a 4-month window for videos to be returned to BluePath once they are requested. After the admissions team reviews the videos, a team member will reach out by email to communicate next steps.

If the next step is the home visit, here is what to expect: The home visit is a time for us to evaluate your child and family needs and another opportunity to answer questions.  It is important for all family members to be present.  BluePath staff will bring a couple dogs with us to see how your child interacts with them.  These dogs are not necessarily going to be a match for your child and family.  If meeting the dog and spending time in the home with your family goes as anticipated, the next step will be to go for a walk with you, your child and the dog to see how your child might travel with a dog.  Once the visit is over, the admissions team reviews the findings and will communicate next steps to your family.

If your family is qualified for a service dog, you will be put on our wait list. This ensures that you will have a second home interview closer to dog placement. As the wait time for a dog is often upwards of a year, a second home interview is required to ensure a service dog is still a good fit for your child and your family. At this second home interview, we will walk with you, your child, and a dog in a known outdoor environment as well as an indoor environment that your child enjoys. It is crucial that your child be able to walk with the dog in these environments. At this time, BluePath will also leave a dog with your family for a 3 to 5 day family preparation experience. This gives your family the opportunity to experience everyday life with a service dog and begin to figure out how to incorporate the dog into your daily routine and schedule. A BluePath staff member will be in touch with you on a regular basis while you have the dog in your home. At the end of the family preparation experience, you will return the dog to the BluePath training center in Wappingers Falls, NY and sit down with a training staff member to talk about the week with the dog; what was good, what was challenging, etc. At this time, if you decide and BluePath agree that a service dog is a good fit for your family we will begin looking for a dog match.

Once a dog is matched with your family, the five day and four-night formal training period (called “parent training”) will be scheduled with you.  You will be required to stay near our offices in Wappingers Falls, NY to work with us one-on-one to learn how to use your service dog.  Only one parent must attend, but both are welcome.  Your child does not come to parent training. Upon completion, you will return home with your BluePath dog, and our training staff will then travel to your home the following week to work with you and your child.  In-home follow-up visits will continue as needed.

After reviewing the admissions process above, don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. We are happy to communicate with you by text or phone if that works best.  The best number for that communication is 845-377-0477.

Thank you again for submitting an application and we will be in touch within 6 weeks.