This course is for self-directed individuals or teams looking to train a service dog. Clients must be responsive to support, motivated to succeed, and able to participate in the class schedule and complete assigned tasks.
- Live online classes on Wednesdays, 6:30-8:15pm EST, starting 1/17/24
- Class Membership Discussion Forum
- Weekly Training Challenges
- Online Support
- 90 minute private session with Rachel
- And more!
Complete Course Outline:
Part 1: Developing stable and reliable manners inside and out
Weeks Jan 17, 24, 31, Feb.7
WEEK OF FEB 12-16 IS FOR PRIVATE SESSIONS OR A BYE WEEK (No class)
Jan 17:
Orientation/Introductions, Review of outline schedule, Stages of Competency, review of The Six Things All Dogs Should Know. Discuss in greater detail why these 6 Things are going to be coming up again and again in your life with the dog and how valuable it is to teach them correctly or fix them early on in the training process. Introduce Treatment Plans. Boot Camp Protocol (3 day or one day). Introduce concepts of energy, Finding Your Inner Hulk, assessing your dog’s current level of reliability and range of basic manners without distractions and more. Discussion about homework and the 90 minute individual video session for each student.
Q&A
Homework: Fill In Treatment Plan — fill out for you and your dog and submit
Video submission request #1 - Demonstrating basic manners in real life scenarios - “a day in the life of your dog”.
Jan 24:
Brief reviews of past week for each participant. Focus on incorporating The Six Pillars formula as we start working on building the foundation of reliability of basic manners with increased distances, durations, and distractions. Focus on “First Five”. Trouble shoot the “biggest challenge” each owner faces with their dog and help guide a plan to deconstruct and “fix” it.
Q&A
Homework: Produce and send in at least one of the two video assignments:
“I breathe in, I breathe out, My Dog Lies Down” OR Game of “Touch/Go between two participants demonstrating increased distances, durations and distractions”. Both would be great.
Jan 31
Brief reviews of past week for each participant. Doing a deeper dive into on and off leash behavior reliability and manners in dog friendly environments (outside, places pet dogs are allowed, homes of friends and family, etc.) Includes practicing with The 6 Things All Dogs Should Know and new commands you’ll be working on over the course. Trouble shooting.
Q&A
Homework: Video working on areas of need with basic manners and demonstrating leash manners with a video due before Feb. 7th class
Feb 7:
Brief reviews of past week for each participant. Revisiting all topics covered during this first section and the concept of measuring change — will cover multiple method suggestions to help make the process more manageable and useful during any sticky points in the journey for each team. Begin preparing for Public Access Skills Section.
Q&A.
Homework: Will assign a new task to train, reliably with minimal distractions, over break (go under). Will discuss ways to prepare for public access outings in service dog (but not pet) friendly places, understanding if you are or not yet ready to do public access work when Part II begins on February 21st. including assessing if you and your dog are ready for this or need to determine that when the time comes for this section. Should you not be ready to begin in true public access ways, there are options that will help in the interim.