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Fall Basic & Intermediate Dog Manners Classes — New Location!

September 4, 2017 by sharon Leave a Comment

Sharon Wachsler of At Your Service Dog Training and Steve Drew of Mount Tully Kennels in their new training room

We are excited to announce that At Your Service has a new home in the North Quabbin for our group classes! After wrapping up our last Family Dog Manners & Obedience class at the end of July at Orange Innovation Center, we moved to Mount Tully Kennels.

The new training space has several advantages, including…

  • new rubber floor — easier on dog and human muscles and joints
  • convenience of Mt Tully’s store, easily pick up treats, food, or other dog gear before or after class
  • the store to train “leave it” or loose leash walking with distractions for intermediate and advanced classes

We are offering several classes this fall…

Family Dog Manners & Obedience

  • Thu., Sep. 14 at 5:30 PM
  • Thu., Oct. 26 at 5:30 PM

The basic manners every dog needs to fit in the family. Perfect for adolescents or newly adopted dogs. Leash manners, greeting, focus, down, stay, leave it, drop it, come, touch, and wait. Trained with positive methods for dogs — and humor and clear instruction for owners. Six-week class for only $138. Register your dog for class. (NEW! Choose Better Manners Bundle. Register for both Family Dog & Intermediate and save $27! Register your dog for Better Manners Bundle for only $249.)

Photo courtesy Hero Dogs

Intermediate Manners & Obedience

  • Thu., Sept 21 at 6:45 PM

For graduates of Family Dog. Get reliability with behaviors that make life better for you and your dog: maintain leash manners and focus around distractions, longer and more reliable stays, coming when called from a distance or away from a distraction, and fun training games, too! (1 space left) Six-week class for only $138. Register your dog for class.

Learn more about our group classes.

We are also offering a specialty class on public access training for advanced service dog teams. This class will meet in a variety of different locations in the Pioneer Valley, including stores, restaurants, medical settings, malls, and more. Please get in touch for information about service dog training classes.

Enter the raffle to win the Good Dog Goody Basket

Open House!

Saturday, Sep. 16 from 12-3 PM

  • Meet the trainer
  • Get free pet training tips and handouts
  • Questions about service dog training? We can answer those, too
  • Training demos or bring your friendly dog
  • Enter our raffle to win the “Good Dog Goody Basket” — includes At Your Service towel for training “go to place,” At Your Service clicker, Kurgo car convenience harness and tether, Karen Pryor Clicker Training treat pouch, lump of “coal” feeder toy (for bad dogs that want to learn to be good), and lots of yummy treats and chews!

Stop by! We’d love to see you!

Filed Under: Events, Group dog training classes

One Obedience Behavior NOT to Train a Service Dog

April 30, 2017 by sharon 1 Comment

Sharon walking a big, shaggy dog, walking at heel position on a loose leash on a suburban street. The dog is looking at Sharon as they walk.
Loose leash walking is an important skill for pets and service dogs alike

Are you a pet dog trainer who sometimes has service-dogs-in-training (SDiTs) in your classes? Or are you training your own service dog? This post is for you! It is about one simple change to make in basic manners training for SDiT teams.

I sometimes hear from clients and trainers, “Manners and obedience are the same for a service dog as for a pet dog, so the dog can take a class with any trainer.” To a certain extent, this is true. All SDiTs need to know basics like sit, down, come, walk on a loose leash, leave it, eye contact, hand targeting, etc. These can be trained well by any competent, positive trainer.

However, the focus of training and the skills that may be the most useful can vary a great deal. This is why I offer the Service Dog Foundations class (learn more or register) in manners and obedience for SDiTs. For most SDiTs, handler focus, leave it, and a relaxed down in any environment are a lot more useful and important than polite greetings and sit-stays.

In particular, for teams taking basic manners classes with pet dog trainers, there is one simple change to the curriculum that can help service dog owner-trainers. This little change may significantly reduce future training time and hassle for the average SDiT owner-trainer.

Obedience trainers usually work a lot on “loose leash walking” or “polite leash,” starting in the first basic manners class and continuing to CGC or advanced obedience classes. We start by training the dog to keep some slack in the leash, to walk on one side of the handler (usually the left), and to sit when the team comes to a stop. It is this last piece of the chain — referred to as an “auto sit” or a default sit — that creates the problem for SDiTs.

The purpose of the auto-sit is for the dog to clearly demonstrate that she realizes the team has stopped and is under control. The sit can be useful in preventing the dog from wandering or forging. It can help both members of the team to notice that they are at a stop and thereby foster better communication.

The trouble with auto-sits for service dogs

Service dog in a “sit”

When I trained my first service dog for myself, I trained an auto-sit because that’s what the books recommended for basic obedience. I later regretted training that auto-sit. With my next two service dogs, I trained a stand-stay at stops instead.

I was physically disabled. One of my training goals was to occasionally be able to go to the grocery store without human assistance. Because of my disabilities, my dog wore a backpack in which I stored water, medication, my wallet, etc., and into which I’d load some small grocery items.

The first problem was that most grocery stores have very slippery linoleum tile floors. When my dog sat in the store, to stay sitting, she had to use considerable energy not to slide into a down. Meanwhile every time she sat, too, the pack would slide down her back, rocking her momentum off-center and making it harder to stay sitting. So I ended up having to choose between allowing her sit to slide into a down, remembering to cue her to down when we stopped, or watching her struggle to maintain the sit. I eventually started cueing her to down if we’d be stopped for more than a few seconds, but it all would have been easier for us if she’d just stayed standing.

The second issue — a problem for some SDiT teams I work with — is that an auto-sit can interfere with one of the main reasons the handler needs a service dog. Many people want their service dog to assist in some way with balance or steadiness. For example, if you have vertigo, dizziness, migraines, poor proprioception, or even psychiatric issues involving panic, dissociation, anxeity, etc., you may want your dog to walk and stand next to you to help you feel steadier on your feet. For many people, simply resting their hand lightly on the dog’s shoulder helps them feel more centered. Those with balance issues may sometimes need to stop to get their bearings. If that dog has been trained to do an auto-sit, when the handler stops to cope with dizziness or other issues, and the dogs sits, their balance touch-stone has just moved away.

I am working with two teams right now where the dog was trained to auto-sit in basic manners classes and we are now trying to retrain the dog to stand at stops. Both dogs are making progress. However, it takes a lot of time and work. Further, because the “sit” was trained from puppyhood as the default behavior, the dogs tend revert to it in times of uncertainty.  (Indeed, for service dogs, sits have much less utility in general as compared to a relaxed “down,” which is a crucial skill for service dogs.)

Of course, for some SDiT teams, the auto-sit is perfectly fine and serves the purpose of keeping the dog under control. An auto-sit can be great for small dogs, for example. For other service dog teams, however, it is counterproductive.

When should you train an auto-sit?

Service dog in a stand by handler’s side

Dog trainers can save everyone time and hassle by asking, before the course begins, if a dog is being trained as a service dog. (I include this question in my class registration form.) Dogs being trained as pet can be trained an auto-sit.

You can also confidently train an auto-sit in any future service dog that clearly could never be used for any sort of balance work or carrying gear in a pack, such as toy and small-breed dogs.

For medium-sized dogs, the handler’s size and the dog’s future job is part of the equation: if the handler is petite and/or wants to have the dog wear a small pack, proceed as if with a large dog (below). If the handler is tall and therefore could not use the dog as a touch-stone for balance and doesn’t need the dog to carry gear in a pack, you can train the auto-sit.

For large breed dogs, if the owner/handler thinks they may want to use the dog for balance at all or to wear a pack, I recommend training an auto-stand. In fact, because I’ve worked with clients who originally did not plan to have the dog do balance work and then changed their minds months or years into the training, if the handler reveals that they have balance issues or conditions that can affect steadiness on the feet (migraines, dizziness, or even sometimes panic attacks), I would encourage them to train an auto-stand regardless.

What about you? Are there other common manners and obedience behaviors for pets that you do differently for service dogs? Post in the comments!

Are you training a service dog that has already completed one or more basic manners and obedience classes? Get your dog to the next level with our upcoming Northampton Service Dog Foundations class.

Filed Under: Group dog training classes, Loose Leash Walking (Heel), Service Dog Training, Service Dogs, Training

Service Dog Training Classes in Northampton

April 27, 2017 by sharon Leave a Comment

Mastiff puppy curled on floor on a woman's feet under a table, wearing a red and black service dog vest.
Photo courtesy of Tamar Paltin

This summer, we’re offering group classes in two locations — service dog classes in Northampton and pet manners and obedience in Orange.

We’ll be offering three service dog classes in the Pioneer Valley:

  • Service Dog Foundations — intermediate/advanced manners and obedience focusing on the most important skills SDiT teams need for public access, starts on June 1
  • Assistance Tasks — an advanced class, training several assistance tasks for mobility, psychiatric, or medical alert service dogs, starts on June 15
  • Public Access training — intermediate/advanced class training in a variety of public spaces in the Valley (Hadley, Northampton, Holyoke, etc.), starts this fall

Looking for pet dog classes in the North Quabbin? We are still offering these year-round! Learn about Family Dog Manners & Obedience group classes.

Which is right for you and your dog? Learn more…

Service Dog Foundations

Service Dog Foundations is an intermediate/advanced manners and obedience class specific to the skills most important to SDiT teams, including “working dog walk,” handler focus, leave it, and settle. In every class, we also train how dog and handler work with with human interactions in public accommodations, including how to head off access challenges. The class also is a way for teams to work in a group with other SDiT teams that are sharing similar goals and challenges.

SDF Details

Classes are one hour, meeting weekly for six weeks. Dogs attend all classes. Class size is limited to 6 dogs. Enroll today to reserve your dog’s place in class.

Date: Starts Thursday, June 1 (runs through July 6)
Time: 1:30 PM
Location: Animal Alliances, 137 Damon Rd., Northampton, MA 01060
Fee: $160
Registration required: Yes, register your dog
Prerequisites: This is an intermediate level class…

  • Dog/handler team must be able to work well around other dogs and people
  • The team must have completed at least one (and preferably two) group classes in manners/obedience with At Your Service or Animal Alliances, or equivalent (classes with trainers with compatible methods may be acceptable — please get in touch to discuss this)
  • Teams that are new to At Your Service will be asked to complete a history on their dog
  • For more information visit Group Classes or register now
  • Have questions? Email or call us. We are happy to help.
Finn takes out the trash. Photo courtesy of Barbara Handelman

Assistance Tasks class

Assistance Tasks is an advanced class training common assistance skills often used by service dog teams, particularly for psychiatric or mobility-related disabilities. If your dog already has an excellent foundation in obedience and manners and is ready to move on to task-training, this is the class for you.

Assistance tasks are fun to train and are the “brass ring” that SDiT teams are reaching for! They are also complex, must be built slowly, and are usually extremely important to the handler, so they must be done right. Because tasks are unique to each team, they usually also necessitate private training. This class aims to reduce owner-trainer costs and errors by providing instruction in basics of common tasks in a group setting.

The class will start your dog on these skills:

  • Shaped retrieve (foundation for any task your dog does with their mouth, including retrieving dropped or named items, opening doors, covering with a blanket, dressing/undressing, etc.)
  • Guiding (take the handler to an exit, their car, an available seat, a specific person)
  • Alerting (alert to specific sounds, sights, situations, handler’s behavior, etc.)
  • Chin rest (foundation for deep pressure therapy and shaped retrieve)
  • One public access skill — “make yourself small” — training to fit in small spaces.

AT Details

Classes are one hour, meeting weekly for six weeks (but skipping one week in the middle — so the class will take 7 weeks). Dogs attend all classes. Class size is limited to 6 dogs. Enroll today to reserve your dog’s place in class.

Date: Starts Thursday, June 15 (runs through July 20)
Time: 12 PM
Location: Animal Alliances, 137 Damon Rd., Northampton, MA 01060
Fee: $160
Registration required: Yes, register your dog
Prerequisites: This is an advanced class…

  • Dog/handler team must be able to work well around other dogs and people
  • The team must have completed at least one (and preferably two) group classes in manners/obedience with At Your Service or Animal Alliances, or equivalent (classes with trainers with compatible methods may be acceptable — please get in touch to discuss this)
  • Skills will primarily be shaped. Both dog and handler must have relatively fluent marker/reward (clicker training) skills.
  • Dog must be reliable in two cued behaviors in a group class setting: 1. nose target (when cued, dog touches nose to handler’s hand or any other object) and 2. a down-on-target (usually referred to as a go-to-mat or go-to-place behavior)
  • Teams that have not worked with Sharon before will be asked to complete a service dog questionnaire before enrolling and may also need to attend a lesson/assessment, prior to enrolling
  • For more information visit Group Classes or register now
  • Have questions? Email or call us. We are happy to help.
Luca at the grocery checkout. Photo courtesy of Barbara Handelman

Coming in the fall: Public Access Training class

This intermediate/advanced class will focus on manners, obedience, and for dogs that are ready, tasks, in public settings. The class will be held in the Valley (Hadley, Northampton, Holyoke, etc.) and will meet in a variety of different settings — stores (home goods, grocery, pharmacy), restaurants (fast food or sit down), medical, possibly one rural location, etc. The class will end with an optional public access assessment for each team. Because of the complexity of finding the venues, etc., details of this class (including the cost, dates, etc) are still being determined. If you’re interested in this class, get in touch now to reserve your dog’s place.

Not sure which class would be right for you and your dog? Get in touch. I am happy to guide you.

Filed Under: Group dog training classes, Public Access Training (PAT), Service Dog Training, Service Dogs, Training

Family Dog Manners & Obedience – Class starts in January

November 30, 2016 by sharon Leave a Comment

Psst, Mom, jot this down! I need training. (Photo copyright Barbara Handelman. Used with permission.)
Psst, Mom, jot this down! I need training. (Photo copyright Barbara Handelman. Used with permission.)

Do you have a newly adopted dog who needs to learn how to behave in your home?

An adolescent pup who has forgotten how to listen?

An older dog you just never had time to train?

Now is the time to get better behavior: Take your pet to class! School is in session for your dog starting next week.

Enroll your dog in Family Dog Manners & Obedience class.  Classes meet Thursdays at 5:30 PM at Orange Innovation Center (the former mattress factory) at 131 West Main Street, Orange, MA. Class is scheduled to begin January 5, but will run once it fills. Register now to hold your dog’s place.

This six-week course gets your dog started on all the basics for good manners. Here’s a peek at what we cover:

Week 1: People-only Orientation

What is good training? How associative learning and learning by consequences combine. SMART (See, Mark, And Reward Training). Games to practice timing and mechanics. Practice on the guest Demo Dog.

Week 2

Concept: Consequences matter more than words

Behaviors: Mannerly mat (settle on a mat), Sit, Attention (respond to name), Down, Loose leash (polite leash walking), Wait at the door, drop it!

Week 3

Concept: High rate of reinforcement

Behaviors: Settle on mat, Sit, Polite greetings, Down, Attention, Loose leash walking, Touch (nose targeting), Wait

Week 4

Concept: The 3 Ds of Difficulty — Distraction, Duration, and Distance

Behaviors: Settle, Attention, Touch, Polite greeting, Down, Loose leash walking with side-sit, Leave it

Red and white short-coated Border Collie running across a field.
Coming when called is a critical skill in an emergency.

Week 5

Concept: Build Powerful Cues!

Behaviors: Settle, Touch to build Recall, Polite greetings, Recall (coming when called), Loose leash walking with distraction, Stay, Leave it

Week 6

Concept: Bringing training into real life

Behaviors: Stay — Sit-stay, Down-stay, Recall — counterconditioning collar grabs, Recall past distractions, Loose leash walking with distractions, Leave it, Training Fun and Games, Raffle drawing

Orange Innovation Center sign with orange, blue, green sign in front of large industrial cement building

Classes are fun, informative, helpful, and local! See what previous students have said:

“We’re very happy to have found you & are really enjoying the class.” -Deb & Jake Smith

“It’s a great class! We are loving it. The best part of class for me is… Working around other dogs. Seeing his confidence build.” -S.L. of Greenfield

“I’m so happy with all we are learning. The best part of class for me is… Just learning all the steps to teaching my dog correctly. A great class I have learned a lot and will continue to work with my dog.” -T.E. of Shutesbury

Read more testimonials.

Your six-week class, including homework and access to our library of helpful training handouts, is just $128.

Ready for better behavior? Register your dog for class today!

Filed Under: Dog training, Group dog training classes, Loose Leash Walking (Heel), Pet dog training, Recall (Train Your Dog to Come when Called)

Update: Upcoming Classes – Manners & Obedience and Service Dog Foundations

September 16, 2016 by sharon Leave a Comment

You don't have to tie yourself in knots to find a training class! (Photo copyright Barbara Handelman. Used with permission.)
You don’t have to tie yourself in knots to find a training class! (Photo copyright Barbara Handelman. Used with permission.)

At Your Service is offering three classes this month in Orange. Each class is six-weeks long. Spaces is limited, so register right away to reserve your dog’s place. NOTE: If you’re looking for a class, and there’s no time that works for you, get in touch and let us know what you need.

Our Current Roster of Classes

Family Dog Manners & Obedience: Saturday, September 17 at 11:30 AM.

UPDATE: This class is FULL. Please register for one of our next classes. Learn the basics of sit, down, come, polite leash walking, polite greetings, wait, settle, and more. ONE SPACE LEFT. One of the teams has had to drop out due to illness. If you would like to join us, contact us right away to get your dog registered.

Service Dog Foundations: Saturday, September 24 at 10 AM

For dogs being trained to assist their disabled handler. Dogs must already have taken Family Dog Manners & Obedience or equivalent. Training on settle, handler focus, working dog walking, and foundations for working in public. 1 SPACE LEFT. Register or learn more about service dog training.

Family Dog Manners & Obedience: Tuesday, September 27 at 6 PM

Learn the basics of sit, down, come, polite leash walking, polite greetings, wait, settle, and more. 3 SPACES LEFT. Learn more about our classes. Register your dog for class.

Looking for a class that’s not offered here? Drop us a line. We may be able to add it.

Looking for helpful training tips or want to be first to sign up for a class in the future? Like us on Facebook or subscribe to our blog for the latest information on pet and service dog training.

Filed Under: Group dog training classes, Loose Leash Walking (Heel), Pet dog training, Recall (Train Your Dog to Come when Called), Service Dog Training, Training

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Public Access Classes

For dogs that have completed at least intermediate manners training and are ready for advanced public access training, including stand-stay, curl up under chairs and tables, etc. Our next class starts soon. Space is limited.

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