Project Description:
2.13 Aggie Guide Dogs (AGS)
Aggie Guide-Dogs & Service-Dogs (AGS) is a student-run organization at Texas A&M University that began in 1997. The mission of AGS is to educate about, fundraise for, promote the training and use of service dogs, and to increase awareness about how these animals help the individuals with disabilities who use them. The main outcome of AGS is training a small number of puppies to extremely high levels in order to become service dogs that can be placed with human partners to increase independence and overall quality of life. In addition to helping with daily life tasks, service dogs have also been found to facilitate social interactions and decrease social distancing that individuals living with disabilities sometimes experience.
Through the assistance of Puppy Raisers, AGS trains carefully-screened puppies to obey and behave appropriately in public places, as well as perform commands unique to service dogs. Puppy Raisers are carefully selected from the university student body and local community, and must complete rigorous training in dog behavior/care, legal rights of people with disabilities, and in interacting with the public, before being training a for 12 to 18 months. During this time, the Puppy Raisers provide Phase I training, which includes basic obedience training and socializing the puppy to a wide variety of people, dogs, and social context.
Members of AGS serve as informal educational resources for those interested in either disability services or service dog training. AGS holds biweekly meetings through which it educates its members on the needs of people with disabilities and the service animals that serve them. Puppy Raisers, in particular, are highly visible resources for people interested in training or obtaining a service dog. AGS Trainers dispense information about service dogs and the needs of people with disabilities. AGS members routinely educate businesses on access laws for service dogs and their handlers through in-person interactions and, through occasion letters when advocacy is needed. Furthermore, AGS members educate individual citizens about disability access laws when they inquire why AGS dogs in training are allowed into public facilities. The confident, knowledgeable presence of AGS Members combined with high, strict standards for AGS dogs' behavior has notably increased the overall level of access for service dogs in Brazos County and in the State.
After the conclusion of training, AGS puppies are donated to a nationally recognized service dog training school for Phase II training. Phase II typically lasts six months and focuses on training specific skills. At that point, the dog is then permanently placed with their partner with disabilities. AGS endeavors to graduate three to five dogs to advanced training facilities, who then match these dogs with individuals with disabilities requesting service dogs.
AGS members also deliver formal presentations and interactive, hands-on demonstrations throughout the state of Texas to a wide variety of age groups. AGS includes community members in weekly dog training sessions alongside its service dogs in training and through therapy-dog programs. Additionally, AGS responds to numerous emails from people through their website, thus providing education about service dogs and their training for individuals across the country. AGS has many professional contacts to whom they refer if they cannot directly assist them in their needs. AGS Members frequently wear AGS merchandise and answer inquiries about the AGS' mission and service dogs in general.
