Looking for service dog training ? Available in Shelburne, Alliston, and Barrie areas
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Living with a disability is a daily struggle for many of us. Service animals can be life changing, providing much-needed freedom to their handlers. Service animals should never replace the use of technology or medications in terms of support or alerts, however they can assist us with many day to day tasks which living with a disability can make more difficult.
Whether you are an owner- trainer, are looking to purchase a puppy/pre-trained service dog, or if you are looking to adopt a rescue dog, we can help. We are now accepting Mobility, Anxiety, PTSD, Autism, and Diabetic Alert Dog Applications.
A service dog is trained to complete a task which assists a person with a disability.
There are two common ways service dogs are trained:
1. By an organization, where they are raised from birth and trained to a very high level before being placed in a home.
2. By an owner, who trains their own dog with the guidance of a trainer.
Both of these methods are effective, and both are legal and legitimate ways to obtain a service dog.
If you have a dog you would like to train to become a Service Dog and looking for professional assistance this is the program for you.
The owner trained service dog is a 14 month program where the handler trains their own service dog with weekly guidance. Total of approx. 120 hours of dog training with a certified dog trainer.
Are you an Owner-Trainer? Are you looking to find a service dog to join your family? We can help.
During dog training, the handler must provide their own equipment (collar, leash, vest, and treats). OARC will not start any service dog training or assessments until the paperwork is received and proof of disability is given. Download the application (above) and email completed forms to training@outrunrescue.com
An initial assessment must be done of the dog for service dog work. This assessment is done in a public setting and covers temperament only (not obedience) and takes approx.1 hour to complete. The dog must be a minimum of six months of age to be assessed.
If the team passes its assessment, they begin basic obedience classes starting with a 6-week session. This time serves as an initial trial period where the dog and handler are further evaluated for the handler’s ability to manage a dog and the dog’s temperament and trainability.
Any issues with the dog or the handler’s ability to manage a dog will be identified during this trial period should further service dog training not be advisable.
If the team passes its assessment and their basic obedience, they begin a 6-week session (6 x 1 hour training sessions) to refine their team's obedience skills around distractions.
Any issues with the dog or the handler’s ability to manage a dog will be identified during this trial period should further service dog training not be advisable.
If the dog and handler pass probation and they wish to continue training with OARC, a separate agreement will be signed outlining payment options for the remaining training. Service dog training begins after advanced obedience has been completed and will consist of twice weekly 2-hour training sessions (4 weeks a month) for a minimum of 10 months.
This training will be focused on teaching the required medical tasks in the dog as well as proofing advanced obedience. Upon conclusion of the training, OARC dog trainer will administer a practice Public Access Test (PAT) to ensure the team is ready for any required provincial testing.
Please reach us at training@outrunrescue.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
A service dog should never be your first step in seeking treatment. Close consultation with your doctor or specialist is very important. Medications, technology or other other forms of therapy should always be explored before making the commitment to a Service Dog.
As such, step one is always consult with your team of doctors. In many provinces and countries you must have a letter from your doctor stating that a service dog would be beneficial to your life.
Dogs are a lifetime commitment and they are a lot of work. They need feeding, grooming, letting out, mental and physical stimulation, training, interaction, etc.
In addition to the time commitment, it can be very expensive to have a service dog. Although you can cut costs in certain ways, pre-trained service dogs cost between $15,000 and $25,000 if you acquire one from an organization.
You can train the dog yourself but the cost is still significant and there is no guarantee that the dog will fully meet your needs.
Yes! Some grants and benefits are available to help you pay for the purchase and training of a service dog. We are happy to help you navigate these options and determine which is appropriate for you.
Our team will work with you to evaluate whether or not your dog would qualify for service work. There are different types of service dogs and not all service dogs require public access training.
A potential service dog should be confident, positive and friendly. They should be able to approach new situations ready to learn.
A dog who should not be a service dog include those who get stressed when around new situations or people. Service dogs should not be fearful nor bark, lunge or growl at strangers.
Ontario has laws and standards that are intended to make the province more inclusive by helping to reduce and remove the barriers you may face in everyday life.
Learn about accessibility requirements, review accessibility standards and find resources.
Every province and country has different laws that may impact you and your service dogs. It is important to understand this information.
One of the big decisions you will need to make is whether or not you will train your own service dog or if you will pay someone to train for you.
Will you train your own dog or do you wish to purchase a dog specifically for service work?
Do you have a particular breed that you are looking for or are you looking for a rescue dog?
Do you want or need your service dog to be out in public areas or will he/she stay at home with you?
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