Service Dog Training
A Service Dog Helps a Person with a Disability Lead a More Independent Life.
Pawsitive Connection Dog Training is dedicated to protecting the sanctity of the Service Dog industry. We understand that there are many types of disabilities for which Service Dog's are trained, and we want to help those in need. As quoted from the ADA, a person with a Service Dog must have a specific disability for which the dog performs a specific act. An Emotional Support Dog is not considered a Service Dog under the ADA.
The service dog curriculum consists of a mandatory $55 evaluation, a six week service dog base obedience class, a 12 week service dog task class, and a six week public access class.
Foundation
This class focuses on the foundation your dog will need to become a successful service dog as well as strengthening obedience skills and introducing new skills. Evaluations are required before sign up.
Assistance/Task Training
This is a 12 week class to train you and your dog to start and complete tasks that are required for an assistance dog. Tasks include (but are not limited to) mobility, medical alert, seizure response, TBI, hearing alert, and more.
Public Access
Classes will be held in various locations where you and your dog will be required to work together in various public situations. Emphasis will be on learning etiquette and familiarizing you and your dog with what to expect in all situations. A certificate and badge will be issued on completion of the public access test.
How to Get Started
Does Your Dog Qualify? Before enrolling in our classes, it’s important to determine if your dog is a good service dog canidate.
Dog Assessment:
We Welcome dogs as young as 6 months old. Prior to enrolling all dogs must undergo a temperament and trainablity evaluation. This assessment estimates your dog’s potential as a service dog. It’s crucial to understand that passing the evaluation doesn’t guarantee you dog being a service dog, as younger dogs encounter lots of challenges along the way.
**Participants in our Service Dog Program are required to provide a letter from a medical professional advising that the use of a Service Dog would be beneficial to their treatment.**
Resources and Links
U.S. Department of Justice - A Guide to Disability Rights Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Service Animal?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service animal as, “…dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.” The key words in this definition are “trained to perform tasks”.
Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties.
Service Dog Certifications and the ADA: What you Need to Know
Certification is not required by the ADA for Service Dogs. Be cautios of website selling service dog vets an IDs without proper verification, as there’s not national service dog registry or official certifying organization under federal law. Thes sites are businesses selling gear, not legitimate organizations. The ADA does not recognize online certification or registration documents as proof of a Service Animal.
Can your dog be a Service Dog?
Assessing your dog’s temperament: Beyond training, it’s about their reactions.
How does your dog react to strangers? Does your dog want to greet everyone or is he/she timid and needs time to warm up to new people? How would your dog react if random people/kids came running towards him/her?
How does your dog react when seeing another dog? Does your dog pull or bark on leash? Does your dog try to engage the other dog in play or simply ignore the other dog?
How does your dog react to loud noises? Does her or she run away? When he/she startled does your dog quickly recover and invesigate the souce of the sounds?
How would your dog handle going into stores and other public places?
Does your dog pick things up off the floor: food, toys, paper, treats?
Assessing these questions is crucial to evluating your dog’s anilities to remain safe and focused in a public setting on their handler. Whie some ddgs are egar to begin training, others may require additional support, while some might find the demands overwhelming, making then unsuitable for Service Dog work.
While we are committed to supporting your sucess and welcoming your business, it’s important to note that is your dog doesn’t possess the necessary temperament for Service Dog work, regrettable, we won’t be able to accommodate them into our service dog training program
Why Train with Pawsitive Connection Dog Training?
Our program takes about a year and covers different dog behaviors and training methods. We teach you to train your dog roughly 25 obedience commands. We follow strict guidelines to insure your success. The duration of training depends on your needs and goals. We aim for training at a minimum of 120 hours of obedience/task training, including 30 hours in a public setting. By the end, your dog will be ready to assit in your daily activites.
Do you know the difference?
Service Dogs (SDs): For individuals that need a dog to help them live their life. An intensive lifestyle that requires constant training and management. Service Dogs are defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act as dogs that are specifically trained to help people with disabilities. Service Dogs are allowed in many places where ordinary pets are not permitted.
Emotional Support Animals (ESAs): Are not the same as Service Dogs. Legally allowed on planes, trains, and automobiles. For the most part, ESAs are not allowed in places where ordinary pets are not permitted.
Therapy Dog: A Therapy dog does not have the same access rights as a Service Dog. Provides comfort to the general public during stressful life events. They go to schools, nursing homes, hospitals, retirement centers, or hospice on a pre-arranged schedule to visit the staff and individuals in these facilities.