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Service Dog Training
We have service dogs available for placement. We also have a puppy raiser program. Please call us for more information. Serious inquires only.
Through socialization, basic training and providing proper health care and nutrition, our goal at Denver Dog Works is to assess and train your dog to develop into a dog that is suitable to enter advanced training as a service dog.
Service dogs assist independent adults with physical by enhancing their ability to perform practical daily activities such as retrieving dropped items, opening doors and turning on and off light switches.
Robert Forto, Ph.D. is a certified trainer/instructor and has successfully trained and placed service dogs with adults and children with disabilities. Remember, not all dogs or a particular breed can become service dogs. To Dr. Forto, an ideal pup selected for training to be a service dog has the following qualities:
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Walks by your side on a loose leash and follows your stride.
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Remains calm and confident in public situations with distractions.
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Resists eating food off the floor.
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Will toilet on command, on or off leash, at home or away, on most any surface.
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Remains calm while other animals are around and does not vocalize.
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Remains calm when introduced to children adults and strangers.
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Does not protect toys, food, home or handler.
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Is not aggressive towards other animals or people.
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Can be trusted while left alone for short periods.
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Is well groomed.
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Possesses a willing-to-work attitude.
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Is friendly to all, but mannerly, and seeks direction from handler on how to act in social situations.
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Does not: jump or sleep on furniture, grab food from handler or others, lick excessively.
If you are interested in having your puppy evaluated for becoming a service dog, the next step is to call our school at 303-522-1727 or email rforto@denverdogworks.com and schedule an appointment. At the appointment we will discuss the following:
1. Discuss and confirm disability with
a letter from a health care provider that
states that the person is disabled according to the American With Disabilities
Act (ADA). The letter does not have to name the disability. Just confirm that it
is present.
2. I temperament test the dog. If the dog is not appropriate I decline to train
the dog and recommend a better choice.
3. I explain the ADA as to definition of a disability as well the definition of
a service dog as an animal individually trained to perform tasks for a person
with a disability.
4. I will refer you to www.iaadp.org
for lists of tasks for both physical and mental illness. Or you can then bring
me the tasks you will need.
5. If the dog is over two years it must have hip and elbow x-rays.
6. The dog's goals are to pass the AKC, CGC, then the ADI Public Access Test plus
demonstrate reliable task training.
For more information on our service dog training program click on these links:
MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR SERVICE DOGS
STANDARDS AND ETHICS REGARDING ASSISTANCE/SERVICE DOGS