Service Dog Training Workshops

Our Service Dog Training Workshops are designed to dramatically improve your training program results – making your progress smoother and more efficient. Workshops provide valuable insights for operating training programs as well as improving trainer skills. No matter what kind of training you do or how experienced a trainer you are, everyone’s training can be improved and expanded.

Goals for Trainers

Sometimes trainers get stuck in their “old ways” or don’t fully evaluate their methods and results. Increased knowledge and experience will help you become a more creative and versatile trainer and allow you to better adjust your training techniques to fit each dog. Input from an experienced “outside observer” can give you a changed perspective.

Workshop goals for individual trainers are that:

You follow a humane and ethical philosophy of dog training.
Your techniques are effective, efficient and enjoyable.
Your methods get results but don’t take forever.
You set high but realistic standards for you, the recipient and the dog.
You follow a “step by step” approach but aren’t afraid to modify things when necessary.
Your goals are clear and your transitions between steps are smooth.
You become a creative and versatile trainer, who is not afraid to try new things.
Your end result is always a happy, reliable dog and handler.
Others can be taught how to effectively use your methods.

Goals for Training Programs

Workshop goals for training programs are that:

Recipients receive dogs that meet their needs and improve their lives.
Your training program produces superior dogs that function at the highest levels.
Dogs are engaged and enjoy their training.
Dogs are consistent, reliable and perform well beyond minimum standards.
Trainers give each dog the training they need.
Training records are complete and easy to follow.
Trainer morale is high and teamwork is emphasized.
Follow-up provides valuable information to improve your training.
Your percentage of successful dogs increases due to improved systems.

Workshop #1: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Your Training Program

Do you set your training goals too high or too low? Have you truly set “high standards” for your dogs’ performance? Are your benchmarks reasonable? When you’re “finished” do the dogs you’ve trained perform as expected, i.e. do they consistently do what you said they would do? Are your dogs happy, willing workers? Do you do follow-up assessment to make sure your training is long-lasting? How do you incorporate follow-up findings into your selection, training or placement of dogs? How long does it take you to train a dog for a particular set of skills? Is the fastest (or the slowest) method always best? How can you integrate new training ideas and techniques without violating your training philosophy? How do you know if your new methods are improving your results?

Workshop #2: Comparative Training Methodology

Is there a “best” or “one right way” to train a dog? Are you guilty of “my way is the right way” thinking? What are the pros and cons of the various approaches or methods of dog training? Which methods are best for teaching certain behaviors? How do your methods really compare with others? Are you a “purist?” Can you truly become an effective, versatile trainer if you only use one method? How do innovators think and act? How can you follow one specific, defined method and still be creative?

Workshop #3: Improving your Training Techniques

How can you evaluate the effectiveness of your training methods and techniques? Are your techniques consistent with your training philosophy? How do you ensure a happy, consistent response to your commands? Have you set reasonable benchmarks and standards to help determine your effectiveness? How do you collect the right data and evaluate your effectiveness? Do you have other options? Are you a purist or an eclectic trainer? What are the pros and cons of each approach? Do you want to combine training techniques or stick with only one method? If you want to combine methods, how can you do this most effectively? If dog training is supposed to be a dynamic field, how can you become more innovative in your training?