Service Dog Certification Preparation
Service Dog Training Level II
Just getting started? For entry-level programs, see our Puppy Prodigy program or Bond and Behaviour Program.
British Columbia and other provinces have procedures in place to verify the legitimacy of service dogs. This program helps prepare your dog to take the test administered by the province, but note that Wag The Dog Training cannot certify your dog.
A legitimate service dog behaves appropriately in public while assisting the handler with their disability.
Their job could be telling a schizophrenic what is real and who is not, alerting a diabetic to low blood sugar, alerting a Deaf person to an alarm or phone, guiding a person with poor vision through a crowd, or nudging someone out of a dissociative state.
The key issue is that you need your dog to assist you when you go out in public due to a disability.
Our certification preparation course is focused on teaching the dog to do these things, as well as behave in public, and is intended for those who have already done the groundwork of developing dog training skills and socializing their dog to public life.
In order to qualify...
your DOG must be able to:
Walk off-leash in "heel" position in low to medium distraction settings.
Be relaxed in stores and public places.
Enjoy being touched and patted by strangers including children.
Glance frequently at you without being prompted.
Come joyfully to you when called at a park.
Be free of physical illness or disability themselves (allergies are usually ok).
In order to qualify...
YOU must be able to:
Demonstrate safe leash handling.
Direct your dog without using the leash to steer or puppeteer.
Show good ability to read dog body language.
Communicate clearly and lovingly with your dog.
Demonstrate that your dog has a secure attachment.
Be able to show evidence of your disability (see below).
Secure
The dog confidently explores new places with their caregiver, checks their reaction to startling events for reassurance, and communicates needs clearly. They look for their caregiver if left with a stranger, bark or whine but don't panic, and quickly relax when the caregiver returns.
Associated behavior problems:
None
Anxious
The dog clings to the caregiver and remains anxious, seeking physical contact when startled but staying stressed. They panic if left with a stranger, remain distressed after reunion, and may not communicate needs clearly or engage in persistent attention-seeking.
Associated behavior problems:
Aggression or fear toward strangers, separation anxiety disorder, negative
attention-seeking, destructiveness, reactivity.
Avoidant
The dog avoids eye contact with the caregiver, may dodge away when reached for, and doesn't seek closeness when startled or confused. They respond minimally to their caregiver's return, don't differentiate between strangers and the caregiver, and try to meet their own needs directly.
Associated behavior problems:
Aggression toward caregivers, ignoring caregiver, "stubbornness", avoids being leashed, rebellious behaviour, reactivity.
*This is a general guideline to help you determine which program is the best fit. Some personal cases might be an exception. Check out the FAQ at the bottom of the page for more information.
Service Dog Certification Tuition
$7000 for one year of in-person coaching
Three private sessions/month
with group classes and meet ups
$279 for two coaching sessions per month*
plus group classes and meet ups
$400 for three coaching sessions per month*
plus group classes and meet-ups
*Minimum 3 month commitment required for monthly rates
Private training sessions at your home and in public places.
How to train the service dog skills your disability requires.
Develop advanced skills like escalators, remaining calm in restaurants etc
How to work with your dog's individual personality and temperament.
Group field trips to practice public behavior around other dogs who follow the same rules.
Group park meet-ups for fun and community.
Online community where you can share your successes and get support when needed.
Choose between a one-time fee or monthly payments
Service Dog Certification Program Packages
Good Service Dogs Aren't Trained... They Are TAUGHT. Learn with the professionals that have the secrets to success!
$7000 for 1 year of in-person coaching
Three private sessions/month
with group classes and meet ups
$279 for 2 coaching sessions /month
$400 for 3 coaching sessions /month
Private training sessions at your home and in public places.
How to train the skills & public behavior you need your dog to learn.
Learn how to teach your dog to problem solving and goal-setting.
How to work with your dog's individual personality and temperament.
Group field trips to practice public behavior around other dogs who follow the same rules.
Group park meet-ups for fun and community.
Group video meet ups and check ins where you can share your successes and get support when needed.
Choose between a one-time fee or monthly payments.
Beware! Scam sites encourage you to "register" or "certify" your dog as a service dog or therapy dog. Some of them look very fancy and official and even send you a little vest and card.
They do not have .gov in their web address and are not listed on ADI International's list of accredited schools.
No real program certifies dogs without in-person assessment and proof of disability. These websites are SCAMS and will not be recognized by airlines, government bodies, or courts of law.
Want to know more?
Find your question below!
Can You Certify My Dog For My Strata/ I Can Take My Dog On A Plane?
We do not certify service dogs and cannot help you with this.
Our graduates are certified by the provincial government through an independent certification test administered. We help people with recognized disability who want to train their own dog to assist them medically, physically, or psychiatrically. This training takes months to years.
What Does This Program Actually Do?
Many people wonder why anyone who qualifies for the program would even need the program! After all, if the dog can already heel with a loose leash, be calm in public, and all of those other things, what else is there?
Well, all of those are vital for any potential service dog, but a dog who can do those things is not yet a service dog! Your dog must be able to medically/psychiatrically assist you while in public and while also doing all of those important things. Your dog must be able to do it when old ladies are cooing at them, and children are playing with their tail, and a chihuahua is barking at them from a stroller.
That takes practice and a lot of hard work. That's what we are here to help with.
We help people train their dog to assist them - scent detection, medication reminders, retrieving objects, pulling wheelchairs, bracing, guiding, blocking, and anything else their person would like them to do. Then we help them get their dog comfortable and relaxed on escalators, glass elevators, buses, malls, grocery stores and everywhere else until they can do their job anywhere with joy and comfort.
What Does This Program Involve?
Certification Prep is a combination of private coaching sessions with your trainer, and group sessions at public locations. Many of the classes are held at Coquitlam Centre, which is the primary testing location in the Lower Mainland, but sometimes we do fun field trips to other places.
In your private sessions we will help you troubleshoot stumbling blocks you've encountered, show you how to teach your dog new skills, push you to take the next step to getting your dog ready for certification, and be coached on appropriate public access etiquette.
You will also have access to our online community where you can connect with other clients and share successes and struggles.
When Does A Dog Legally Qualify As A Service Dog?
In a nutshell...
1. You have a disability.
2. The dog has been taught to assist with your impairment.
3. Your dog is taught to behave like a person in public... Except they don't have to wear pants.
Who Do You Accept For This Program?
We cannot accept every applicant for our Level II Program. Spaces are limited. We consider people who:
a) Have medically recognized disability.
b) Have a suitable dog candidate who shares a good bond with them.
c) Have developed some good dog handling skills.
The Level I Program is online and available to all, and will greatly improve your chances of being accepted into the Level II Program. For those starting with a puppy, we strongly recommend the Puppy Prodigy Program, which is a Level I Program aimed specifically at the developing brain of the puppy.
What Does Application Involve?
To apply you must schedule an assessment with our trainer in a pet friendly store such as Canadian Tire, Winners, Home sense, etc.
Before meeting, we will ask Our trainer will meet your dog, and you can show her what your dog already knows and how you handle various challenges and distractions. Our trainer will then give you honest feedback about the good things she has noticed, and the things that need to be addressed. You will also be given helpful tips and training help.
If you are unsure whether your dog is ready for the pubic safety test, an assessment with our trainer will give you a good idea of your chances of passing.
Possible Outcomes:
a) We may approve the dog's temperament but recommend starting at our Level I Course.
b) We may express concern about the dog's temperament/suitability for the work at hand and discuss it with you and make recommendations based on our observations.
c) We may find that the dog is well suited for public life and that your knowledge of dog handling is sufficient, and tell you that you are accepted into the program!
I Already Have Dog Training Experience. Do I Need Your Level I Course?
You can take our quiz to see if you need to take the Trainer Foundation Program! You can find the quiz just underneath the flow chart.
We work on land which was taken from the nations who had lived here for thousands of years. They are still here and they are still waiting patiently for us to stop being jerks about it.
© 2024 Copyright Wag The Dog Training
All Rights Reserved
We work on land which was taken from the nations who had lived here for thousands of years. They are still here and they are still waiting patiently for us to stop being jerks about it.
© 2024 Copyright Wag The Dog Training
All Rights Reserved