Owner Trained Assistance Dogs

Our assistance dog training package is provided as an online subscription to allow us to fully support our teams throughout their training journey.  There is a monthly fee that includes:

• 1 x 60 minute in-person 121 per month
• Online access to a range of training courses including notes and videos
• Training log to complete during your training
• Fortnightly check in
• When appropriate your 'in training' vest will be issued to you, on loan, until you qualify
  

The costs is £60 per month. 

Our assistance dog training is run by Jo Martin. 

Jo M has been a dedicated member of our team at My Dog since May 2019. Transitioning from a qualified primary school teacher with a decade of experience, Jo brings a wealth of knowledge to our community. In the summer of 2020, she made the exciting leap to become a full time trainer, drawing from her own experiences training her own dog, Patti.

Not only is Jo passionate about modern, science-based training techniques, but she has also embarked on a journey to make assistance dog training more accessible and understandable. Her dedication extends beyond professional aspirations, as she owner trained Patti, to be an assistance dog for her 9-year-old daughter.

Currently pursuing a Level 5 Canine Behaviour Management Diploma, Jo M's commitment to continuous learning is evident. With a keen interest in all things puppies and a vision to progress to Level 6 in the future. 

Public access tests (required at the final stage of training) are completed by Jo Philpott. 

We have 4 stages to our training program:

Puppy:

Commence your assistance journey from the moment you bring your puppy home at 8 weeks.  You will have access to our online puppy course. If possible it would be ideal to join our in-person puppy course as well (this would be an additional cost). During your scheduled monthly 121 sessions, we will delve into the important aspects of effective socialisation, emphasizing its significance for potential assistance dog candidates. We will explore the crucial elements of building confidence and resilience, fostering calmness, enhancing focus and engagement. Our sessions will also address the importance of providing adequate downtime and understanding age-appropriate puppy behaviours. Additionally, we are well-equipped to address any behavioural challenges that may arise during the process. 

Foundation:

When ready we will move you on to working through the foundation behaviours.  These include building strong skills in loose lead walking, focus and engagement as well as advanced settling skills. We will get you practising out and about in dog friendly locations and various environments. We will also begin training the foundation for individual tasks that may be required in the future. 

Your loaned branded 'Assistance Dog in Training' vest will be issued within this stage when your dog is displaying a good level of general behaviour in various locations (such as loose lead walking, beginning to settle, being able to focus and engage with the handler).  We find it beneficial for your dog to wear a training vest to increase public awareness, allowing them to give you space and to ignore your dog.  When your vest arrives your dog is then classed as an 'Assistance Dog In Training' (ADiT).  

Intermediate:

Once you have demonstrated proficiency in the foundation behaviours, we will progress to intermediate-level training. This phase encompasses training in diverse environments, including non-dog-friendly locations. We delve deeper into behaviours and training techniques designed to assist handlers in mitigating their disabilities, placing a strong emphasis on refining and proofing these behaviours across a variety of settings. Distractions during training will become notably more challenging in the intermediate stage. 

Qualified:

Once you have successfully completed the previous stages and demonstrated a consistently high level of skills you will be ready for your public access test.  This public assess test will be completed by another trainer.  If passed, your dog will then be classed as an 'Assistance Dog' (AD).  You will now be able to order your long term vest. 

You can start training with a dog of any age.  If you join us with an older dog, no longer a puppy you will start at our foundation stage but we will make sure you have covered all the relevant puppy content, setting a solid groundwork for further development. 

If your dog already has good basic training in place it is possible you will be able to progress through the stages of training more quickly.  

To become fully trained assistance dog it is likely to take between 18 and 24 months if started as a puppy. There is not a minimum or maximum time that you must train for, it takes how long it takes for the dog to become proficient in all the required behaviours.  The length of training may also depend on individual training needed for mitigating handler disabilities. 

We cannot guarantee that all dogs will be suitable to complete the full training program or able to pass their public access test and become a fully trained assistance dog. 

When you are half way through you foundation stage you will be loaned a vest that identifies your dog as an 'Assistance Dog in Training.  Wearing an a vest that identifies your dog as an ADiT is a good way to help the general public identify that your dog is a working dog, not a pet dog and should not be engaged with or distracted.  ADiTs should be identified as 'in training' not a full assistance dog.  Legally non-dog friendly venues do not have to admit an ADiT.     

Once you have successfully completed your public assess test you will be able to purchase a long term vest for your dog that identifies them as an 'Assistance Dog'.  Although there is no legal requirement for your dog to wear a vest we find it is beneficial that they do to clearly identifies them as a working dog and helps with access.  Legally all venues should admit a fully training AD, whether owner trained or trained through an organisation. 

Your training log will begin as soon as training starts. The log enables you to keep detailed records about the training that has taken place. It allows you to reflect and build upon training goals and next steps and also see patterns in any areas that we might need to work on more closely. Completing your training log is a necessary part of your training with us. 

Whilst there is no legal requirement for further training once you have passed your public access test, we believe on-going training and a yearly top up 121 is ideal.  This allows you to maintain a high level of overall training maintaining your public access level standards, introduce any new task specific training and troubleshoot any problems that may have developed.

A yearly fee of £80 provides:

• continued access to our online training
• a yearly 90 minute 121
• a 6 monthly check in via whatsapp, email or phone  
• use of My Dog branded vests if appropriate