What Is The Puppy Program
Our puppy program is designed to train a service dog from puppy to adulthood in order to better meet each of our client’s needs.
The program was originally designed to train service dogs for children in order that the child and the family could learn together. However, it was such a success that we decided to extend it to people of all ages no matter what the disability.
Dogs perceive their world through their noses. We use this natural trait to train your puppy by exposing your puppy to your scent from the very start of training. Thus, the service dog is ingrained with the conditioning to be with and take care of his particular human.
The young puppy begins training in public places as soon as the trainer takes custody. This training starts early so that the puppy becomes comfortable to all the noises, people, and everyday happenings that could scare a grown dog that has never experienced it.
The person, their family, and friends also learn along with the puppy and it helps to get over the public fear of having a dog everywhere you go. That does not mean that you are the trainer and have to go it alone, we train your puppy in public places before you are included in on the training.
How It Works
Most people ask how their dog will know who they are or how the dog knows that he is working for them and not you. Since dogs interpret their world through their noses, we ask you to take a dozen bandanas, a few t-shirts, and a few throws or small blankets, and sleep on them for a few nights then place them in a zip lock bag and give them to us before we get the puppy.
Trainers tie the bandanas with your scent around their ankle and wrist. When the dog is in his crate a T-shirt or a small blanket with your scent is thrown over it. When lying or training on the floor, the dog is on a small blanket with your scent on it. Because smell is a dog’s strongest sense your scent is imprinted upon their memory. The dog will recognize you from your scent whenever you come together.
For the first six to eight months we work with the dog in our neighborhood and town and you are encouraged to come work with us as often as possible. If you live out of town or too far away to drive back and forth then we have hotels near that you can stay while you train with us.
The in-training service puppy stays with you at night at the hotel and we come to you to train. We go to restaurants, shopping, the movies, the museum, and/or any activity that you may enjoy in your life at home. We often bring one of our “trainer service dogs” along or another client and their service dog.
We come to your home and your neighborhood to train once the puppy and the client successfully reach assigned goals. We stay at your home or a nearby hotel and accompany you and your service dog to work, school, restaurants, shopping, church, etc. We educate your public, friends, and family members as we train with you and your service dog. If you have other animals, we work with them too.
Placement Time
Once the dog matures, the family becomes educated, and the time is right then the dog goes to stay for good. This does not mean that the service dog and human do not need additional training. We at MSD hope to have a lifelong relationship with you and your service dog. The learning process is a lifelong process and you will find that your dog can do things he was not even taught by the trainer, as you may have needs that you did not notice before. The good news is that we will always be a phone call away to help you with any new needs.
Where Do We Get The Puppy?
We choose the puppy from a trusted breeder. The puppies undergo a Volhard aptitude test and other tests to ensure he is the best puppy for your needs. The lineage of the dogs affords us to choose from the healthiest, most intelligent, and most willing to serve dogs available.