Where is your training facility?
We do all of our training out in public in real life experiences. That way we can work on public access skills, distractions and more. At the same time we are working on basic skills and task work. It helps our students to graduate from our program in less time than other programs saving you and your family time and funding.
What types of disabilities do you train for?
We train for ALL disabilities except full visual impairment. We have had dogs for diabetic alert, seizure alert/response, mobility support, narcolepsy, autism, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and much more.
What is the average cost of your Owner Training Program?
We offer a payment plan for these programs of $400 per month for private training and $200 per month for Group Classes. So, on average, if training with your dog takes 10 months (or around 40 weeks) the average cost would be about $4,000 for the Private Training option. Or, a total of $2,000 for the 10 month commitment of the Group Classes. With either option, the 10 months of payments are required to finish out the series. If you have chosen our Private Training option and do not use all the lessons in the paid series, you can "bank back" or save these lessons for 12 months after graduation. If you drop out or wish to discontinue training, you are still responsible to finish making any payments in the 10 month series.
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Are classes in groups or individual?
Most of our sessions are private while there is the occasional shared session with 1-2 other students. The small group classes help your dog to learn to work around other people and well behaved dogs while learning the skills they need for their new job.
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Do you have any breed restrictions or size requirements?
We accept any breed or mix of breed for our Owner Training Program. While we accept all sizes, shapes, and colors of dogs, there is a height and weight requirement for any dogs to be used for mobility related tasks. The requirement is based on the handler’s height and the type of mobility tasks that are needed.
What things should I look for when choosing a dog?
If you are evaluating a dog on your own here are a few things to look for:
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See if the dog is interested and willing to do anything for a treat.
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Drop a loud metal pan or clip board and gauge the dog’s reaction. We are looking for a dog that doesn’t startle but is willing to investigate what the noise is and has a confident relaxed wagging tail.
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What is the dog’s reaction to meeting you? We are looking for an outgoing happy dog that is not shy but is also not out of control to have visitors.
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Try to test the dog with other dogs, children, and small animals. The dog should be happy to see them or ignore them all together.
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Examine the dog and make sure they are accepting to have a collar/leash put on them, have their ears, face, feet and tail touched and played with.
What are signs that my dog might not be a good match for service work?
Behaviors that would be of concern to us are: aggressive barking, lunging at strangers, fearful of loud noises, stressed in public (whining, panting, shaking), fearful of strangers approaching to pet, not wanting to take a treat or toy as a reward, and or a dislike for other dogs. These are just a few of the red flags that would fail a dog out of an evaluation.
What training tools do you use in your classes?
We use a wide variety of training tools based on what we feel works best for each individual dog and handler. These include, but are not limited to: head halters, prong collars, training or chain collars, buckle collars, martingales (suggested with the chain, not fabric top), E-collars (ONLY E-collar technologies brand), and slip leads.
How long does it take on average to graduate from your program?
Our students complete training with us, on average, in about 10 months of time. The length of time that each student is in training depends on the types and number of tasks that the dog needs to learn how to do for the handler.
Do you require a doctor’s not to enroll?
No, we do not. Any organization or trainer that requires disclosure of your disability is violating the HIPAA law. While we can better help our students develop a training plan and list of tasks their dog can do to help them, we do not require the student to disclose the actual disability to us. We respect your privacy!
Will your organization help write a letter to my apartment complex or dorm for my dog in training?
Yes, after evaluation and at least 4 training sessions with you and your dog, we will gladly help in any way we can to write a letter of accommodation for you and your dog.
How old is too old to start training?
You CAN teach an old dog new tricks! While it is much easier to train a dog that is younger and has an open mind, there is no cut off age for dogs to be enrolled in our program (with the exception of mobility related tasks). In general, it is best for dogs enrolled to be under the age of 2. But we have had several successful students graduate with dogs between 6 and 7 years of age.
What is the best breed to choose?
While we accept any breed or mix of dog, the breeds we suggest sticking to are: Standard Poodles, Golden doodles, and Golden Retrievers. Which ever breed you select choose wisely if you are going with a puppy from a breeder rather than a rescue. A responsible breeder is one that raises through the Puppy Culture and ENS program. They will do extensive health testing on the parent’s hips, heart, eyes, and genetics (or more). They also further should be demonstrating the dog’s abilities to stay true to the breed through performance sporting titles such as Agility, Rally, Obedience, Barn Hunt, and more.
What if the travel is too much for me on a weekly basis?
Please inquire about our option for video lessons through our Remote Learning Library.
Does my dog need a vest?
A vest is not required to start with our program. We spend the first 8-10 weeks focusing on the dog’s ability to ignore and work around distractions, basic command and skills for public access. While a vest is not required at any time, it is suggested each student have one when we start doing outing to restaurants and grocery stores so their dog is clearly identified and does not get any unsolicited petting from store patrons.
What if my dog is distracted, jumps, barks or doesn’t know any commands?
While we understand these types of behaviors are frustrating, we are here to help! If a student is not comfortable working on these issues while in a store and first starting out their training, an alternate training location can be arranged. We are here to help you and your dog be successful and understand that not all dogs are the same.
What should I bring to training?
We ask that all students bring the following items to training classes:
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Treats (a hip bag, bait bag, or treat bag is helpful)
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Clicker (if the student is choosing to use one, but not required)
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4-6-foot leash (leather or bio thane is best ½” no flexi leashes are allowed)
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Your preferred training collar (see above – no harnesses please)
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A notebook if you would like to take notes, log your sessions or record your homework.
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A great attitude and ready to work!
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What is your training philosophy?
Our training philosophy has been created by a culmination of many different styles of training put together to encompass the many different learning styles of each different dog that has enrolled in our program. All of our trainers are categorized as being “balanced” in their training methods with each of the dogs they work with. Both reward and punishment are used in training to teach the dog the skills they need to learn to graduate as a Service Dog.
