The Training curriculum: Introduction:
Although shelter dogs were very prominent in use as Service Dogs just a few years ago, most Service Dog Training organizations now say that they breed their own puppies to be trained as Service Dogs in order to assure the temperament of the dogs they place with handicapped people. We believe this really only skyrockets the cost of the dog and in reality, does nothing to provide a truly higher quality or capable dog to the individual who needs it. We fully believe in utilizing shelter dogs whenever possible. We are confident in our testing process (which follows primarily the guidelines set down by the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners - IAADP) to provide only dogs with a stable temperament and those that will be able to handle the pressures of working and living with a disabled individual. We realize, and admit that very few of the shelter dogs we test will actually make it into the program, much less all the way through our three training phases. The majority of strays & unwanted dogs (shelter dogs) will never become a working Service Dog placed with a disabled individual. These will instead continue to be available for adoption through the organization's regular Adoption Program. But, we believe that even for those who do not make the cut, just the fact that they were able to get even part way through the program, assures them a much better chance of finding that new forever home simply because they now have a very good understanding of at least the Basic Obedience skills that many other dogs never have a chance to receive. On the other hand, we believe that for those dogs who
do make our program, not only will a handicapped individual be able to receive a much needed canine helper at a very reasonable cost, but it also assures the dog the type of caring and appreciative home we had hoped to find for them no matter which form the adoption takes. So, the program itself is worthwhile for the dogs whether or not they actually complete the training and become working Service Dogs.
And, for those that do: training begins. Time in each phase of course, varies from one dog to another as each dog is different and may be more or less cooperative, learn faster or slower, be more playful and have a harder time concentrating, etc. It is highly important to us that each dog works for us not because we tell it to, and force it to do what we asked, but instead because he or she wants to. We want to see dogs that are happy and take joy in doing tasks for a person. At the end of each task, we want to see that exuberant doggie smile that many times looks more like a tail wag... We understand that a disabled person's life is usually hard enough by itself without the extra added burden of trying to make a dog do what they ask. It is our responsibility and duty to our clients to provide them a dog that will stay by their side and be ready to do the things they need quickly and with no extra hassle. With each of our staff being disabled ourselves in one way or another, each of our dogs are prepared for walking with crutches, next to different types of wheelchairs, walkers, etc. They also understand that each person is different and that our movements are not the same and each dog learns how to adjust for different human disabilities. We understand that our clients are each different too and that the dog they choose, and that chooses them, must be able to handle whatever this person may require of them. If this is not what we provide, then we should be doing something else. Puppies in our program, in fact, grow up believing everyone is disabled, just each one differently.
The Bonding Phase: Is not so much a phase of training as it is an ongoing building of a partnership between human and dog. As much as possible, and when the disabled person is available, we try to keep them together with the dog during all phases of training. We want the dog to understand
this person is his or her partner and the only real constant. The trainers, as fun as they are, come and go. The person the dog will eventually work for should be as much a part of the entire training process as possible. We simply do not believe the bond needed between the person and their dog can be made during a short two week training period after the dog has grown up in the hands of a trainer who has been assigned to it. The dog does not understand assignments, he or she understands who has been there and who has provided leadership. To develop a true bond, this leadership must come from the individual the dog will eventaully work for. It can only be developed by utilizing the disabled person in the training process as much as is absolutely possible.
Phase One: Each step of the way is handled with the thought in mind that this dog will complete the full training successfully. Our attitude can be picked up easily by the dogs and our own enthusiasm is a big part of their success. Dogs that have passed the entrance level testing are placed in a training regimen which begins with Basic Obedience. Basic Canine Obedience, of course, includes the normal commands of Sit, Stay, Heel, Lay Down, Come and Fetch. No one trainer works with any dog specifically during this time. All trainers work together to be sure the dog will respond to different people and in different situations. Each of our staff uses
positive reinforcement along with
attention transference techniques when training our dogs. This is
designed to make each training period fun for the dog. Dogs learn best when playing. Keep the dog interested and having fun, and you will be successful in your training. By switching each dog around to different staff members, we socialize each dog with both male and female trainers. This makes sure we do not wind up with a dog that will only work for, or respond to, a man or woman, as we have seen in one organization's promotional video aired on PBS. This in itself was nearly disastrous for a young handicapped boy with whom the dog would only respond to his mother. At the same time, this does not allow the dog to create the bond with any one person that we want to reserve for the eventual disabled person the dog will partner with. Once the dog has successfully learned Basic Obedience and is now considered by our staff to be a well-mannered companion, and not overly interested in people other than the one who is working with them at the moment, not bothered by cats and other dogs or animals, and is at home inside of our homes, he or she is ready to move up to Phase Two.
Phase Two: Consists of Public Access training. During this time, the dog now works with each trainer at different times going to public areas such as stores, parking lots, parks, restaurants, banks, hospitals, and anywhere a staff member may be going. The dog now learns how to behave in these situations. He or she learns how to go under chairs or tables whenever possible to be out of the way and for the most part unnoticed by other people in the room. He or she learns not to rush up to other people seeking attention, not to excessively pay attention to all the interesting smells in stores or other areas, and not to eat leftovers he or she may find lying on the floor as we walk by. As soon as all of our trainers agree that the dog is well behaved, totally under the trainer's control when in public, and a true pleasure to have along with us when we go out, he or she will graduate to Phase Three of the training.
Phase Three: This is undoubtedly the most important phase for both the dog and the disabled person. This is where it all comes together, or doesn't. During Phase Three, the dog lives with the disabled person (now called "partner" 24 hours a day. Training is done at the person's home, out in public, and only sometimes back at the facility. This is the Advanced training phase. The dog is now taught specifically how to work for its new partner doing the things this person needs him or her to do. This can be a frustrating time for the disabled person and we prefer to do it this way so that we can also be there to provide support to them during this time. It is during this time that the person begins to question the sanity of bringing a large dog into their
comfortable environment and being solely responsible for its welfare while continuing to struggle through their own lives. During this phase the disabled person usually becomes more interactive with our support group which consists of other people who share the same type(s) of disabilities, and who have gone through this phase themselves. We also spend time with other family members, in-home care takers, other health professionals who assist the person during this time to help as much as possible with the transition. As for the dog, he or she is now truly developing the bond with his or her partner. He or she is beginning to learn the different ways the partner will need them by learning the tasks that be required of them from now on. He or she also begins to work with the new partner to expand the Basic Obedience training skills they learned in Phase One to be all off-leash, so that the partner will be able to have faith in his or her new dog as they venture out into the public and must deal with daily life as a returning member to society. Faith between the two partners is just as important as the bond. If the dog should happen to become frightened in a new situation, he or she must trust the partner to get them trough it safely. The human partner must be able to have faith that the dog will perform when and how needed no matter what the circumstance. This can only come from bond first, training second, and faith last. As well, both partners must participate in the development of the bond. Both partners must receive the training to work together, and both must learn to trust each other in any situation and explicitly at all times. This is the final Phase of the training. It is an all-out effort by every member of the staff as well as our support community. It requires a 24/7 dedication to cause and purpose, not just on the part of the disabled person learning to cope with a new way of life, but also each of our staff as we work to make this as rewarding and easy fro them as possible. By making sure each and every disabled person who comes through our doors is treated with this same respect and concern we believe we can fulfill our duty to them.