Training and Certification of Service Dogs, Emotional Support Animals, Therapy Dogs and Facility Therapy Dogs
We will work with pretty much any person, any dog, and any situation! We do not have any Breed Restrictions or financial needs.
We do prefer to not work with service dogs for the blind as there are already quality agencies such as “Dogs for the Blind” that only work with this disability.
We try to be an affordable place for people to go to get training and certification for their own dog. Or, if you don’t already have a dog, we will help you find a dog that will meet you needs and wants and has the trainability and personality needed for the job required. While we do occasionally have partially to completely trained dogs available, we mostly start with an already owned dog or help find a dog that will work for the wants and needs,
There is no set price. Since we work with such a variety of dogs, people, needs and wants, as well as the existing skills and abilities of people and dogs, we cannot predict a price for a final product. What we do is work with each individual and their financial situation and establish an individualized payment plan. Most clients pay a set amount each month, typically $200/month. This payment is applied to the account balance for the ongoing training and expenses incurred finding a dog, training, travel, equipment etc.
There is no set timetable for training to certification. Each situation - person, environment, needs/wants, and dog in training, has its own timetable and we cannot predict how long it will take to certification.
Below is a generalized step by step procedure we use in getting you the assistant animal you want and need:
*** The first step is to meet with you to determine what type of Support or Therapy animal you need/looking for as well as what your needs and wants are in a support animal. We will then evaluate an animal already owned or help find a appropriate animal.
*** Second Step If you are wanting a Service Dog or Emotional Support Animal.....Next we will need a prescription from a medical provider in order to get started working with you. This RX can be something as simple as a statement from your medical provider on their letter head. The statement needs to include a statement of need for a support animal (service and what tasks the service animal will need to do to mitigate your disability. It does not need to state the exact diagnosis.
If you are wanting a Therapy Dog or Facility Therapy Dog ....... No script is needed to start working with you. We will be able to skip this step!
***Third Step. Once there is a dog (or other pet such as a cat) in place (see above), we will meet with you to establish a training agreement to get that animal to certification. AND we will get started in the training!!! Exciting time...
***Fourth Step. The Hardest and longest stage/step to certification... The first step in certification is getting the client and animal to the level of “Certified In-Training Team”. At this level the client and their dog can now go out in public without a trainer! BUT FIRST they must be able to maintain basic obedience and public manners fairly consistently via one quiet and subtle command/signal when out and about. Until then, they CAN NOT go out and about as an intraining team without an RPP trainer with them.
If wanting a Therapy Dog or Facility Therapy Dog, this is the final step to certification! It is quicker step than that of a Service Dog Team as the needs/wants are much simpler! Once Certified, the therapy team moves to step 6.
The basic obedience commands include but are not limited to: walking on a loose leash staying within a foot of their person, sit, stay, stand, come, ignore people, other animals, and distractions.
Public manners include but are not limited to: the ignoring of distractions, staying calm and relaxed under a variety of distractions, ignore food on the ground, moving to and staying in any place as quietly and subtly commanded by the handler, staying calm and quiet when people approach.....
This level may also include fairly consistent ex*****on of some of the specific skills and tasks needed to mitigate the handlers disability with one calm and subtle command/signal.
***Fifth Step. Once working out and about as an In-Training Team it is just a matter of becoming at minimum 90% consistent in getting the dog to respond and do with one calm and subtle command/signal the needed/wanted basic obedience, Public Manners and skills/tasks. Once the In Training Team can do this in a variety of environments such as - Malls and Stores, parks and playgrounds, around animals, public transportation, restaurants..., they will become a fully “Certified Service Dog” team!
***Sixth Step. Once fully certified, this step is pretty much ongoing. RPP is committed to help the team “for life”! That is because situations may arise that need to be addressed through training. When working with disabilities the persons needs/wants may change or new skills tasks desired. In this case, training is charged at the standard Private Lesson rate.
From the first training through the Fifth Step, most people pay their monthly payments against their account. If there is a balance due once fully certified, a payment agreement is reached to pay the balance due. If there is a credit on the account, it will be applied to future training needs as they arise in the 6th step.
Hopefully this generalized description of getting a certified Support animal is helpful to understanding how we, at RPP, work with the team to reach their goals!
