Private Ownership

Thank you for your interest in Service Dogs Australia (SDA).

Occasionally we place our puppies in homes that purchase and wish to own their dog privately, either as a prospective service dog (whereby they are raised and trained by the owner alongside qualified trainer supervision/organisation) or as a companion pet. 

We do accept applications and reservations from families who wish to own an SDA puppy privately as family pet. Submission of a questionnaire for private ownership is required, along with a phone call and home visit from SDA staff prior to confirmation of a puppy reservation. 

We invite you to complete the Private Ownership Questionnaire and return it to us. This information about your lifestyle and your expectations of a dog, will assist us in working together to see if a puppy/dog from SDA is a good match for you.

Our aim is to match healthy, relaxed pups/dogs in caring, committed placements that acknowledge the pups’ heritage and capabilities.

Specialised service dog breeding program

SDA is a specialised service dog breeding program that serves the global Guide, Assistance and Facility Dog industry. Occasionally we accept reservations for family pet placements for our puppies if we believe the placement will be a great success for both the puppy and the home.

Our program breeds service dog proven lines. For multiple generations, these breeding lines have had specific health and temperament traits selected for, or against, with the goal of developing an ideal service dog that demonstrates excellent trainability, adaptability to a range of environments, comparatively lower distraction and anxiety levels than most dogs, natural willingness and intuition toward people and of course sound, reliable health through assessment of orthopedics, cardiac health, ophthalmic health and inherited disease (DNA testing). 

If an SDA adult dog is deemed suitable for pet placement as opposed to placement in a working role, the adult dog may have reduced confidence in working environments or be more mentally sensitive to it’s surroundings than we think will serve it’s level of enjoyment in such a role. A dog with this temperament profile often makes a loving, compliant, settled family member.