SERVICE DOG TRAINING 
 

Although our program provides young puppies to organizations and others who need them, we retain a number of puppies to continue their training through our intermediate and advanced training initiatives.  Once the puppy is through their advanced training and ready for placement, we collaborate with other programs in finding the right client for a particular dog in an effort to foster a mutually rewarding and beneficial partnership.  A Puppy who continues in our program is provided the consistency of his early training which produces a dog with deep-rooted abilities, proficiencies and the enthusiasm to assist. We also provide a partnership support program which assists with after-care and follow up to assistance dog teams as well as organizations.

We focus on quality, not quantity to ensure individualized attention.  Our emphasis is on training each dog based on their learning style.  We use motivational, reward based training which includes clicker training and lure/reward training, with an emphasis on the relationship. We believe that positive interaction through play and training, along with clear communication are the keys to a successful relationship.  We feel that positive training techniques encourage an active, trusting partnership.  We work with each dog to reach a level of proficiency and skill that will enable him/her to excel in all environments.

Since our puppies begin their training from the moment they're born, by the time they're 12 weeks old they have a solid understanding of the behaviors necessary for assistance work.  We can spend the rest of the time refining behaviors, focusing on socialization and customizing to individual needs of a particular client.  To see some of our assistance dog puppies in action, visit our video clips page.

Some of the tasks our puppies and dogs are trained to do include:

• Retrieval of objects
• Turning lights on and off
• Opening and closing doors, drawers and cabinets
• Providing balance and support
• Alerting to sounds
• Summoning help in an emergency
• Helping with day-to-day activities such as laundry, grocery shopping, etc.
• Helping with dressing (taking shoes off, unzipping jackets, etc)
• Pushing buttons such as handicapped door openers, doorbells, etc.

For a more complete list of tasks service dogs are capable of performing, click here.

"The love we put into our puppies, stay in our hearts forever"
Puppy Prodigies

Joy, an assistance dog in training

 

4 week old puppy learning to "push"