Training your own SD

[Roxie]

Belinda -

You are so right about inexperienced and unqualified SD trainers training program dogs. Many SD orgs depend upon volunteers to do the training and get a hodge podge of people who love dogs... but can't train a dog to be worth anything. So many organizations are founded to shelter a person's property and assets, not pay taxes, get "free" money and increase the $$$$$$$ of the organizations administrators. A good example is the service  dog training program in Crete NE, and then there is one in Amarillo TX... and of course the one in St. Louis MO.

Roxie and Tay

[Linus]

I also agree with the 'bad school' issues.  I even contacted one school who claimed 100% success rates and were placing 'fully trained' to your 'individual needs' dogs at eight months of age!   They had a disclaimer on their page that they only placed dogs with people who were disabled as defined by the ADA and that they required doctors notes, etc.  Their reply to me was an e-mail with several links to photos of a six month old "SD" puppy who was 'fully trained' to do exactly what I wanted and when did I want to come and pick her up?'  If that really wasn't convenient, they were willing to ship her to me.

Oh, BTW, she would cost me $8,000.     I wrote back and said "fine, what about team training with the dog?"  I was told I wouldn't need it since the dog was so highly skilled.  However, if I wanted them to train her for 'personal protection' as defined by the ADA, that would take another month and cost me an additional $500.  What about my medical information?  They 'trusted' my word.

Yeah, right.  Just what I'm looking for in a SD - NOT.

I know at Linus's school the trainers are ADI accredited, as is his school.  Accreditation of trainers is independent of the school being accredited.  I know they must also do a two year apprentenceship but I don't have any more details.  The schools must have successfully graduated a number of working teams and does contact them.  At least membership in the ADI isn't for life and the schools are checked periodically.  Granted, not ideal but better than a mom & pop place.

While our school uses the ADI PAT as a guide, their test is much more stringent and the initial test lasted five hours at a large mall.  We are retested every year, and it's the trainer's descession about how thorough it should be.  Linus's sister was washed out early because she didn't enjoy working. I can hand anyone the leash and Linus is happy to go with them if I do so.  He will obey their commands as well, although it helps if they are the same commands he learned at school (ie: down works, lie down doesn't unless the emphasis is on the DOWN).

I guess it's a case of 'buyer beware.'  Like all things, people should do their homework when choosing a school.  Being realistic though, how many people know what constitutes a good school?  Probably not many.  But I agree, things like accredited trainers, breeding programs - especially if they work with other top schools by trading dogs for the breeding programs - are something anyone wanting to go the school route should check out.