This course will be an overview of what is needed for a successful service dog program. It is geared for those already involved in dog training not beginners. Our goal is to give attendee’s a look into a week as a service dog trainer, and what is involved from many aspects. The week will also give you more confidence in working with positive reinforcement training with dogs and humans in general. We will look at ethics as it pertains to selecting and training service dogs, as well as the ethics of working with disabled clients. We will touch on fund raising for non-profits, as well as the benefits and challenges with private service dog training. A strong focus on the science of learning and use of positive reinforcement for training the dogs and their humans. The 5 - day course will combine lectures and hands on training of dogs in our veteran service dog program. Our program is focused on rescue dogs vs purpose bred puppies, but both are viable options that will be discussed for acquiring dogs. Lectures will include: Overview of types of assistance dogs, selection of dogs, body language and communicating with fellow trainers what we are observing, record keeping, science of learning, clicker training, ADA, ethics, teaching the human student, behavior problems. Hands on training with shelter dogs using primarily clicker training. You will be assigned a dog to work with throughout the week with a training partner. Hands on practice teaching to improve your skills with clients. Practice working dog’s in training out in public settings.

Sponsor:Operation Delta Dog
Speaker(s):Carolyn Barney CPDT-KA primary, Nona Alexander, MS, Kerry Hildebrand, Assisting (CPDT testing in fal

Contact: Carolyn Barney CPDT-KA CNWI
 Email: cbarney@operationdeltadog.org
 Phone: 603-921-5253
 Web: http://www.Operationdeltadog.org/